US3896730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wash-up system for flexographic printers
Assignee: Beazer East Inc
•
Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A wash-up system for cleaning a flexographic printing system of the type including a pair of ink supply rollers, an ink reservoir, a gravity feed tank for the ink, and a pump in the reservoir for pumping ink to the gravity tank from where the ink flows to the ink rollers. The wash-up system includes suitable apparatus for draining the residual printing ink from the printing system into the ink reservoir, pumping the ink from the reservoir into an ink recovery vessel, directing wash water under pressure to portions of the printing system for cleaning the system, draining the wash water from the printing system into the ink reservoir and then draining the wash water from the reservoir. The apparatus basically comprises a water supply line that branches to various parts of the printing system with appropriate automatically operated solenoid valves for directing the water to portions of the printing system during various controlled phases of the wash-up cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde Barner Garrett
- 👤 William Stansbury Thayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F35/00; B41F35/04; B41P; B41P2235/00; B41P2235/30; B41P2235/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of cleaning a flexographic printing system comprising the steps of: a. stopping the printing function of said printing system; b. draining residual printing ink from said system including: draining ink from a gravity tank in said system to an ink reservoir beneath said gravity tank; and draining ink from a trough beneath an ink roller in said system to said reservoir; c. pumping ink drained into said reservoir therefrom into an ink storage container for removal from said system; d. spraying wash water into said gravity tank and thereafter, spraying wash water onto said ink roller and draining the same into said trough; e. draining said water from said gravity tank and said trough into said reservoir; and f. draining said wash water from said reservoir to outside of said system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of cleaning a flexographic printing system comprising the steps of: a. stopping the printing function of said printing system; b. draining residual printing ink from said system including: draining ink from a gravity tank in said system to an ink reservoir beneath said gravity tank; and draining ink from a trough beneath an ink roller in said system to said reservoir; c. pumping ink drained into said reservoir therefrom into an ink storage container for removal from said system; d. spraying wash water into said gravity tank and thereafter, spraying wash water onto said ink roller and draining the same into said trough; e. draining said water from said gravity tank and said trough into said reservoir; and f. draining said wash water from said reservoir to outside of said system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 and the additional step of: simultaneously spraying wash Water into and draining said reservoir prior to spraying wash water into said gravity tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 and in addition: rotating said ink supply roller in said printing system during the time that said wash water is directed to said ink roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for cleaning a flexographic printing system having at least one ink roller comprising: a trough beneath said ink roller for collecting excess ink and for collecting wash water from said ink roller; a gravity tank higher than said roller for supplying ink and for supplying wash water to said ink roller; a reservoir lower than said trough for collecting excess ink and collecting wash water from said trough; pump means in said reservoir for pumping ink into said gravity tank and pumping residual ink therein into a storage container for said ink; water supply means for supplying wash water to said printing system; first conduit means connected between said water supply means and said gravity tank for directing said wash water into said gravity tank; second conduit means connected between said water supply means and said ink roller for directing said wash water onto said ink roller after said wash water has been directed into said gravity tank; and drain means in said reservoir for draining wash water from said reservoir to outside of said system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for cleaning a flexographic printing system having at least one ink roller comprising: a trough beneath said ink roller for collecting excess ink and for collecting wash water from said ink roller; a gravity tank higher than said roller for supplying ink and for supplying wash water to said ink roller; a reservoir lower than said trough for collecting excess ink and collecting wash water from said trough; pump means in said reservoir for pumping ink into said gravity tank and pumping residual ink therein into a storage container for said ink; water supply means for supplying wash water to said printing system; first conduit means connected between said water supply means and said gravity tank for directing said wash water into said gravity tank; second conduit means connected between said water supply means and said ink roller for directing said wash water onto said ink roller after said wash water has been directed into said gravity tank; and drain means in said reservoir for draining wash water from said reservoir to outside of said system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 4 and, in addition: third conduit means connected to said water supply means for directing said wash water into said reservoir prior to wash water being directed into said gravity tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including: first conduit valve means in said second conduit means for controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply means to said ink roller; second conduit valve means in said first conduit means for controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply means to said gravity tank; and third conduit valve means in said third conduit means for controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply means to said reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including: timing means for controlling operation of said pump means, and said first, second, and third valve means'' for first pumping said ink from said system and thereafter for selectively draining residual ink from said reservoir, spraying said wash water at high intensity onto said ink roller and into said gravity tank and said reservoir, and draining said wash water from said reservoir to outside said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said timing means includes selectively operable selector means for controlling said pump means, and said first, second, and third conduit valve means to pump, spray, and drain said wash water in a preselected sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |