Inking and washing circuit for a flexographic printing machine

Claim 1

An inking and washing device for use in the inking and washing circuit of a flexographic printing machine which circuit comprises a feed pump assembly of the immersion type, said feed pump assembly comprising a feed pump for drawing ink from a reservoir and having a delivery tube, and a drive motor for driving said pump, a circuit for feeding ink from said pump delivery tube to inking rollers, and a circuit for returning ink to the reservoir, said inking and washing device comprising: a fixed horizontal plate; means for mounting said plate on the framework of the printing machine; means supporting said feed pump assembly on said plate with said drive motor above said plate, said pump below said plate and said delivery tube passing through said plate; means fixedly connecting said delivery tube above said plate to said ink feed circuit; a fixed ink return tube which passes through said plate; means fixedly connecting said return tube above said plate to said ink return circuit; washing nozzle means fixed underneath said plate and above a closed shape which surrounds the components of said pump assembly and said ink return tube; means fixedly connecting said washing nozzle means to a water-feed circuit; at least one container for forming an ink reservoir and having a top opening which fits inside said closed shape but surrounds the components of said pump assembly and said ink return tube; at least one washing container having a top opening which fits outside said closed shape and includes an overflow connectable to waste; and lifting means for selectively receiving one of said ink reservoir container or one of said washing container, and for moving said one selectively received container under said plate between a high position in which its upper edge is adjacent said plate and low position in which its upper edge lies below said pump.