The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 13, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1994
Richard M Soble, Highland Park, IL (US);
Timothy E Owens, Downers Grove, IL (US);
Gregg E Johnson, River Grove, IL (US);
Graymills Corporation, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
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.