Method for washing a gravure printing system

Abstract

A gravure printing system comprises at least one printing unit for printing a material fed from a supply side, a washing system for supplying a washing solvent to the printing unit and duct assemblies operatively connecting the printing unit and the washing system. The printing unit comprises unit frames located on both the sides of the printing unit, a plate cylinder supported by support shafts rotatably supported by the unit frames, an ink pan disposed movably to an upper operating position and a lower waiting position, a device for closing an upper opening of the ink pan in the operating position and the plate cylinder above the ink pan, a device operatively connected to the washing system for ejecting washing solvent to the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder support shafts, and the ink pan, a plate cylinder exchanging mechanism for conveying the plate cylinder out of the printing unit to exchange a used plate cylinder with a new plate cylinder. The washings of the plate cylinder and the support shafts therefor and the ink pan are performed by the independent washing solvent ejecting devices at different times suitable for the printing operation in association with the ink pan closing operation. The washing solvent, preferably a non-inflammable washing solvent, used for the washing operation is recovered and reproduced by the reproduction system operatively connected to the washing system for reproducing the used solvent as new washing solvent.