Apparatus and method for cleaning rotating cylindrical surfaces

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drying means includes a wiper roll having an absorbent surface mounted for movement relative to the cylindrical surface being cleaned, and means connected to said wiper roll for moving the roll into and out of contact with the surface being cleaned.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the wiper roll and the means for moving the roll are spatially disposed from the scrub means to allow access to the cylindrical surface therebetween.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes stop means operatively associated with said scrub means for positioning the scrub means in operative contact with the surface being cleaned.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a drain trough positioned adjacent said transfer means to receive the foreign matter and solvent from the transfer means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the scrub means is disposed relative to the surface being cleaned so that the foreign matter and solvent run transversely across the transfer means and drain into the drain trough.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means positively drives the endless belt.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 which includes means for supplying water to the bristles adjacent each end of the preparation course.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the scrub means into and out of the operative Position includes spring means maintaining the scrub means out of the operative position and hydraulic means capable of moving the scrub means into its operative position.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means for the endless belt is positioned between the belt courses.

Claim 14

In an offset press having a first blanket cylinder and a second blanket cylinder with the first being spatially disposed above the second, an apparatus for cleaning the blankets of the cylinders comprising a first unit for the first blanket cylinder including a scrub means comprising an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and the belt presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the blanket surface across its transverse dimension and a preparation course for removing the foreign matter from the bristles and applying solvent thereto, said scrub means being mounted for movement relative to said first blanket cylinder, drive means connected to said endless belt for moving the belt through the two courses in either direction, means connected to said scrub means for moving the scrub means into and out of a position operative to clean the blanket, means operatively associated with said endless belt for supplying solvent for the foreign matter to the bristles adjacent each end of the preparation course, a plurality of flicker bars for cleaning the bristles located at the preparation course and interposed between the areas at which solvent can be supplied to the bristles, each flicker bar presenting two substantially flat inclined surfaces and positioned such that one surface of each intercepts the bristles during passage of the belt through the preparation course in sequential fashion at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove the foreign matter and solvent therefrom as the belt passes through the preparation course, transfer means located between the flicker bars for intercepting the foreign matter and solvent removed from the bristles and preventing such matter from falling back on to the bristles and means for drying the surface which has been scrubbed, the scrub means being adjacent the upper portion of the blanket cylinder and the means for drying the blanket being adjacent the bottom portion of the blanket cylinder and a second unit for the second blanket including a scrub means positioned adjacent the upper portion of the blanket and located below the scrub means for the first unit, said scrub means comprising an endless belt having upstanding bRistles across at least a portion of the belt width and the belt presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface across its transverse dimension and a preparation course for removing the foreign matter from the bristles and applying solvent to the bristles, said scrub means being mounted for movement relative to said second blanket cylinder, drive means connected to said endless belt for moving the belt through the two courses in either direction, means connected to said scrub means for moving the scrub means into and out of a position operative to clean the blanket, means operatively associated with said endless belt for supplying solvent for the foreign matter to the bristles adjacent each end of the preparation course, a plurality of flicker bars for cleaning the bristles located at the preparation course and interposed between the areas at which solvent can be supplied to the bristles, each flicker bar presenting two substantially flat inclined surfaces and positioned such that one surface of each intercepts the bristles during passage of the belt through the preparation course in sequential fashion at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove the foreign matter and solvent therefrom as the belt passes through the preparation course, transfer means located between the flicker bars for intercepting the foreign matter and solvent removed from the bristles and preventing such matter from falling back on to the bristles, and means for drying the blanket which has been scrubbed, the means being positioned adjacent the top of the second blanket and also adjacent the means for drying the first blanket.

Claim 15

In an offset press having a first blanket cylinder and a second blanket cylinder with the first being spatially disposed above the second, an apparatus for cleaning the blankets of the cylinders comprising a first unit for the first blanket cylinder including a scrub means comprising an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and the belt presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the blanket surface across its transverse dimension and a preparation course for removing the foreign matter from the bristles and applying solvent thereto, said scrub means being mounted for movement relative to said first blanket cylinder, drive means connected to said endless belt for moving the belt through the two courses in either direction, means connected to said scrub means for moving the scrub means into and out of a position operative to clean the blanket, means operatively associated with said endless belt for supplying solvent for the foreign matter to the bristles adjacent each end of the preparation course, a plurality of flicker bars for cleaning the bristles located at the preparation course and interposed between the areas at which solvent can be supplied to the bristles, each flicker bar presenting two substantially flat inclined surfaces and positioned such that one surface of each intercepts the bristles during passage of the belt through the preparation course in sequential fashion at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove the foreign matter and solvent therefrom as the belt passes through the preparation course, transfer means located between the flicker bars for intercepting the foreign matter and solvent removed from the bristles and preventing such matter from falling back on to the bristles and means for drying the surface which has been scrubbed, the scrub means being adjacent the upper portion of the blanket cylinder and the means for drying the blanket being adjacent the bottom portion of the blanket cylinder and a second unit for the second blanket including a scrub means positioned adjacent the upper portion of the blanket and located below the scrub means for the first unit, said scrub means comprising an endless belt having upstanding bRistles across at least a portion of the belt width and the belt presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface across its transverse dimension and a preparation course for removing the foreign matter from the bristles and applying solvent to the bristles, said scrub means being mounted for movement relative to said second blanket cylinder, drive means connected to said endless belt for moving the belt through the two courses in either direction, means connected to said scrub means for moving the scrub means into and out of a position operative to clean the blanket, means operatively associated with said endless belt for supplying solvent for the foreign matter to the bristles adjacent each end of the preparation course, a plurality of flicker bars for cleaning the bristles located at the preparation course and interposed between the areas at which solvent can be supplied to the bristles, each flicker bar presenting two substantially flat inclined surfaces and positioned such that one surface of each intercepts the bristles during passage of the belt through the preparation course in sequential fashion at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove the foreign matter and solvent therefrom as the belt passes through the preparation course, transfer means located between the flicker bars for intercepting the foreign matter and solvent removed from the bristles and preventing such matter from falling back on to the bristles, and means for drying the blanket which has been scrubbed, the means being positioned adjacent the top of the second blanket and also adjacent the means for drying the first blanket.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the scrub means, drive means, means for moving the scrub means into and out of a position operative to clean the surface, means for supplying solvent to the bristles, the flicker bars and transfer means for the second unit are mounted in a common housing and which includes means connected to said common housing for guiding the housing away from the blanket a distance sufficient to allow access to the blanket.

Claim 21

The method of claim 15 wherein the said belt is maintained in contact with the surface to be cleaned for about the same length of time both before and after the direction of movement of said belt is reversed.

Claim 22

The method of claim 15 wherein said belt is always wetted with said solvent after the flexing of said bristles to remove foreign matter therefrom, regardless of the direction of movement of said belt.

Claim 25

The method of claim 18 which includes the step of intercepting the foreign matter removed from the bristles so as to prevent the foreign matter from falling back onto the bristles.

Claim 26

Apparatus for cleaning a rotating cylindrical surface containing undesired foreign matter thereon, said apparatus comprising the combination of an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface and a preparation course for removing foreign matter from said bristles and applying solvent thereto; reversible drive means connected to said belt for driving said belt in opposite directions through its two courses, flexing means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for flexing said bristles to remove foreign matter therefrom while said belt is moving in either direction through its preparation course; wetting means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for wetting said bristles with a solvent for said foreign matter while said belt is moving in either direction through its preparation course; means connected to said belt for contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course in a first direction; means connected to said belt for withdrawing said belt from contact with the surface to be cleaned, reversing the direction of said drive means to move said belt in the reverse direction past said flexing means and said wetting means, and then again contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course in said reverse direction; and means mounted adjacent said cylindrical surface for drying the cleaned surface.

Claim 27

Apparatus for cleaning a rotating cylindrical surface containing undesired foreign matter thereon, said apparatus comprising the combination of an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface and a preparation course for removing foreign matter from said bristles and applying solvent thereto; reversible drive means connected to said belt for driving said belt in opposite directions through its two courses, flexing means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for flexing said bristles to remove foreign matter therefrom while said belt is moving in either direction through its preparation course; wetting means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for wetting said bristles with a solvent for said foreign matter while said belt is moving in either direction through its preparation course; means connected to said belt for contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course in a first direction; means connected to said belt for withdrawing said belt from contact with the surface to be cleaned, reversing the direction of said drive means to move said belt in the reverse direction past said flexing means and said wetting means, and then again contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course in said reverse direction; and means mounted adjacent said cylindrical surface for drying the cleaned surface.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said wetting means includes solvent dispensing means located at both ends of said flexing means adjacent the preparation course of said belt for wetting the bristles of said belt after said bristles are flexed to remove foreign matter therefrom, regardless of the direction of movement of said belt.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said drying means includes a wiper roll having an absorbent surface mounted for movement relative to the cylindrical surface being cleaned, and means connected to said wiper roll for moving the roll into and out of contact with the surface being cleaned.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned includes stop means operatively associated with said belt for positioning said belt with said bristles in operative contact with the surface being cleaned.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said reversible drive means is mounted between the two courses of said belt.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said flexing means comprises a plurality of flicker bars each of which presents two substantially flat surfaces positioned such that movement of said belt through the preparation course in either direction sequentially contacts said bristles with one surface of each flicker bar at an angle and for a distance sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove foreign matter and solvent therefrom.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 25 which includes transfer means located between said flicker bars for intercepting the foreign matter and solvent removed from said bristles and substantially preventing said foreign matter and solvent from falling back onto said bristles.

Claim 34

Apparatus for cleaning a rotating cylindrical surface containing undesired foreign matter thereon, said apparatus comprising the combination of an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface and a preparation course for removing foreign matter from said bristles and applying solvent thereto; drive means connected to said belt for driving said belt through its two courses; flexing means presenting a series of substantially flat inclined surfaces to contact the bristles as they enter the preparation course at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove foreign matter therefrom; wetting means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for wetting said bristles with a solvent for said foreign matter while said belt is moving through its preparation course; means connected to said belt for contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course; means connected to said belt for withdrawing said belt from contact with the surface to be cleaned; and means mounted adjacent said cylindrical surface for drying the cleaned surface.

Claim 35

Apparatus for cleaning a rotating cylindrical surface containing undesired foreign matter thereon, said apparatus comprising the combination of an endless belt having upstanding bristles across at least a portion of the belt width and presenting a scrubbing course for tangentially contacting the cylindrical surface and a preparation course for removing foreign matter from said bristles and applying solvent thereto; drive means connected to said belt for driving said belt through its two courses; flexing means presenting a series of substantially flat inclined surfaces to contact the bristles as they enter the preparation course at angles and for distances sufficient to allow the individual bristles to flex so as to remove foreign matter therefrom; wetting means mounted adjacent the preparation course of said belt for wetting said bristles with a solvent for said foreign matter while said belt is moving through its preparation course; means connected to said belt for contacting the wetted bristles with the surface to be cleaned as said belt moves through its scrubbing course; means connected to said belt for withdrawing said belt from contact with the surface to be cleaned; and means mounted adjacent said cylindrical surface for drying the cleaned surface.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 27 which includes transfer means for intercepting the foreign matter removed from said bristles and substantially preventing such matter from falling back onto said bristles.