Method for washing elements of fabric printing machines

Claim 1

A method of washing color from elements of a printing machine comprising the following steps: providing a print roll, a backing cylinder, a doctor blade extending into contact with the print roll between the print roll and the backing cylinder, a color box disposed below the print roll and the doctor blade, a color transfer medium extending partially into the color box for transferring color from the color box to the print roll, means for selectively supplying washing fluid or color to the color box from a source of supply, a spray header disposed along the length of the doctor blade and connected to a source of washing liquid, means for mounting the color box for movement from a horizontal position below the transfer medium to a tilted position, means for moving the color box from a horizontal position to a tilted position with one end raised and disposed under the doctor blade in position to receive fluid draining from the doctor blade and with its other end lowered and disposed to discharge fluid, and means for turning the color box upside down; providing an open top washer receptacle with a drain conduit and with means for spraying a washing liquid, means for raising the washer receptacle into contact with said color box when the latter is in an overturned position to thus form an enclosure, and means for introducing wash liquid under high pressure into said enclosure and for directing it against the transfer medium and the inner surface of the color box; tilting the color box, supplying wash fluid into the color box and simultaneously directing sprAys of wash liquid through said spray header against said doctor blade, collecting the wash liquid from said doctor blade within the color box and discharging the wash liquid from the color box into said washer receptacle, thereafter turning the said color box upside down, raising said open top receptacle until it forms with said upside down color box an enclosure, and directing jets of cleaning fluid against said color transfer medium and the inner surface of said color box while they are within said enclosure.

Claim 2

A method of washing color from elements of a printing machine comprising the following steps: providing a print roll, a backing cylinder, a doctor blade extending into contact with the print roll between the print roll and the backing cylinder, a color box disposed below the print roll and the doctor blade, a color transfer medium extending partially into the color box for transferring color from the color box to the print roll, means for selectively supplying washing fluid or color to the color box from a source of supply, a spray header disposed along the length of the doctor blade and connected to a source of washing liquid, means for mounting the color box for movement from a horizontal position below the transfer medium to a tilted position, means for moving the color box from a horizontal position to a tilted position with one end raised and disposed under the doctor blade in position to receive fluid draining from the doctor blade and with its other end lowered and disposed to discharge fluid, and means for turning the color box upside down; providing an open top washer receptacle with a drain conduit and with means for spraying a washing liquid, means for raising the washer receptacle into contact with said color box when the latter is in an overturned position to thus form an enclosure, and means for introducing wash liquid under high pressure into said enclosure and for directing it against the transfer medium and the inner surface of the color box; tilting the color box, supplying wash fluid into the color box and simultaneously directing sprAys of wash liquid through said spray header against said doctor blade, collecting the wash liquid from said doctor blade within the color box and discharging the wash liquid from the color box into said washer receptacle, thereafter turning the said color box upside down, raising said open top receptacle until it forms with said upside down color box an enclosure, and directing jets of cleaning fluid against said color transfer medium and the inner surface of said color box while they are within said enclosure.