Cleaning apparatus for a sheet delivery mechanism

Claim 1

In a delivery mechanism for sheet fed printing presses in which grippers for the sheets are provided on an endless chain for conveying the sheets fresh from the press to a delivery pile and for travel along a return path back to the press after the sheets have been deposited on said delivery pile and in which means are provided in the path of movement of the conveyor from the press to the pile for dusting the sheets with powder, the improvement which comprises a cleaning apparatus in the return path having means impingeing upon the chain and grippers continuously incident to the movement thereof for mechanically dislodging and evacuating the powder deposited thereon, said cleaning apparatus and means thereof comprising: a housing having entrance and exit means through which said chain and grippers travel; pairs of opposed brushes disposed within said housing and each opposed brush in contact with substantially all portions of said chain and grippers which travels therebetween; air nozzle means disposed within said housing and directed at said chain and grippers; vacuum means to exhaust said housing whereby to remove all powder dislodged by said brushes and air nozzles and whereby to induce air flow inwardly through said entrance and exit means to inhibit escape of dislodged powder.