US5056948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Screen cleaning apparatus
Assignee: NORTHWEST SCREEN SYSTEMS Co A CORP OF MINNESOTA
•
Filing: 1989-10-30
•
Granted: 1991-10-15
•
Expires: 2009-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet comprising walls having an openable portion for placing a screen printing plate in the cabinet. A dispensing subsystem comprises a scanning spray head for discharging cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate and a filter and drain subsystem utilizes pneumatically powered pumps for removing residue and cleaning fluid and pumping the residue and cleaning fluid through filters.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan D. Puder
- 👤 Carl W. Sims
- 👤 Louis R. Hudoba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:11
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B3/00; B05B3/02; B05B3/04; B05B3/0455; B08; B08B; B08B3/00; B08B3/02; B41; B41F; B41F35/00; B41F35/003; B41F35/005; B41P; B41P2235/00; B41P2235/10; B41P2235/26; B41P2235/30; B41P2235/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet comprising: a) wall means comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls constructed and arranged to provide a fluid tight internal chamber suitable for cleaning a screen printing plate therein; b) access means extending through said wall means for positioning a screen printing plate in said internal chamber; c) retaining means located within said internal chamber for retaining a screen printing plate placed therein; d) a dispensing subsystem comprising spray head means, said spray head means having a first single point scanning spray head for discharging a cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate first side to clean said screen printing plate; and e) filter and drain subsystem means for removing residue and cleaning fluid from said internal chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet comprising: a) wall means comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls constructed and arranged to provide a fluid tight internal chamber suitable for cleaning a screen printing plate therein; b) access means extending through said wall means for positioning a screen printing plate in said internal chamber; c) retaining means located within said internal chamber for retaining a screen printing plate placed therein; d) a dispensing subsystem comprising spray head means, said spray head means having a first single point scanning spray head for discharging a cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate first side to clean said screen printing plate; and e) filter and drain subsystem means for removing residue and cleaning fluid from said internal chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said wall means comprise translucent material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 2 wherein said wall means translucent material comprises material selected from the group consisting of non-filled polyethylene, non-filled polypropylene, polymethylpentine, polyolefin, polystyrene, and polysulfone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said access means comprises an openable hinged top wall constructed and arranged for permitting placement of a screen printing plate into said cleaning cabinet internal chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said access means comprises an openable side wall portion for sliding a screen printing plate into said cleaning cabinet internal chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said filter and drain subsystem comprises air driven pumps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said filter and drain subsystem comprises piping means constructed and arranged for recirculation and re-use of said cleaning fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said spray head means comprises a selfpowered scanning spray head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing subsystem comprises a plurality of single point scanning spray heads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing subsystem comprises a manually operated chemically resistent flow-through scrub brush.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A screen printing plate cleaning cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing subsystem further comprises a second single point scanning spray head located substantially opposite said first single point scanning spray head for discharging a cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate second side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A low pressure solvent cleaning system for cleaning screen printing plates comprising: a) cabinet means comprising single thickness plastic wall members constructed and arranged for providing a fluid tight internal chamber; b) access means located in a portion of said wall members to provide access into said cabinet means internal chamber for placement and removal of a screen printing plate; c) a dispensing subsystem comprising a scanning spray head for low pressure discharge of a cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate located within said cabinet means internal chamber; and d) filter and drain subsystem means connected to said cabinet means for removing residue and cleaning fluid from said cabinet means internal chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A low pressure solvent cleaning system for cleaning screen printing plates comprising: a) cabinet means comprising single thickness plastic wall members constructed and arranged for providing a fluid tight internal chamber; b) access means located in a portion of said wall members to provide access into said cabinet means internal chamber for placement and removal of a screen printing plate; c) a dispensing subsystem comprising a scanning spray head for low pressure discharge of a cleaning fluid against a screen printing plate located within said cabinet means internal chamber; and d) filter and drain subsystem means connected to said cabinet means for removing residue and cleaning fluid from said cabinet means internal chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A low pressure solvent cleaning system according to claim 12 wherein said dispensing subsystem dispenses cleaning fluid at a pressure of about 100 pounds per square inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A low pressure solvent cleaning system according to claim 12 wherein said cabinet means plastic wall members comprise translucent plastic wall members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A low pressure solvent cleaning system according to claim 12 further comprising a digital control subsystem operably connected to said cabinet means for providing programmable wash control cycles of cleaning fluid discharge from said dispensing subsystem.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-14 | 1995-04-15 | 1995-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-14 | 1999-04-15 | 1999-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-14 | 2003-04-15 | 2003-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |