Abstract A cleaning unit is provided for removing ink, sludge and like matter from the blanket of a printing press or machine. In one form, the unit comprises a cleaner roll mounted for rotation and adapted to contact and be driven by the blanket during its travel. A wick roll is mounted substantially parallel to and in wiping contact with the cleaner roll, the two rolls being adapted as a unit to be moved toward and away from the blanket to place the cleaner roll in and out of contact with the blanket. However, the wick roll is periodically repositioned with respect to the cleaner roll while that roll is out of contact with the blanket in order to present another wiping portion of the wick roll to contact the cleaner roll. In this manner, the cleaner roll picks up the ink, sludge and other like matter from the blanket and transfers it to the wick roll. Optionally, as the wick roll continues to be periodically repositioned, the matter collected on the wick roll is removed by a plurality of jets of a cleaning fluid directed against a side of the wick roll that is disposed away from the cleaning roll.
In a printing press having an offset blanket cylinder, apparatus to clean a blanket on the cylinder comprising: a cleaner roll mounted for rotation and adapted to contact the blanket during its travel and rotate, thereby to remove ink, sludge and like matter from the blanket onto the cleaner roll; a normally stationary wick roll having a portion wiping the cleaner roll during its rotation to receive from said cleaner roll the matter collected from the blanket; means to restrict movement of the wick roll at least while said cleaner roll engages said blanket; said cleaner and wick rolls being jointly mounted in substantially parallel contacting relation in movable support means; power means adapted to move the movable support means toward and away from said blanket to place the cleaner roll in and out of contact with the blanket; means periodically to reposition the wick roll with respect to the cleaner roll to contact another portion of said wick roll with the cleaner roll responsive to the activation of said power means when said cleaner roll is out of contact with said blanket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a printing press having an offset blanket cylinder, apparatus to clean a blanket on the cylinder comprising: a cleaner roll mounted for rotation and adapted to contact the blanket during its travel and rotate, thereby to remove ink, sludge and like matter from the blanket onto the cleaner roll; a normally stationary wick roll having a portion wiping the cleaner roll during its rotation to receive from said cleaner roll the matter collected from the blanket; means to restrict movement of the wick roll at least while said cleaner roll engages said blanket; said cleaner and wick rolls being jointly mounted in substantially parallel contacting relation in movable support means; power means adapted to move the movable support means toward and away from said blanket to place the cleaner roll in and out of contact with the blanket; means periodically to reposition the wick roll with respect to the cleaner roll to contact another portion of said wick roll with the cleaner roll responsive to the activation of said power means when said cleaner roll is out of contact with said blanket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The printing press of claim 1 in which said power means comprises an actuating plunger connected to said movable support means and pivotally joined to a pivotally mounted lever; said lever being pivotally connected to a rack meshing with ratchet means fixed with respect to said wick roll; whereby actuation of the plunger moves said movable support means as defined and partially turns the wick roll through said rack and ratchet means.