# US 10,870,304 B2 · Alternating wet cleaning and dry cleaning of a flexographic printing plate

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- Number: US 10,870,304 B2
- Document ID: US10870304B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/914,290
- Filed: 2018-03-07
- Published: 2018-09-13
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-07
- Applicants: Jeffrey M. DeVries; Robert Hershfeld
- Inventors: Jeffrey M. DeVries; Robert Hershfeld
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870304B2

## CPC

- B41N 3/006: {Cleaning, washing, rinsing or reclaiming of printing formes other than intaglio formes (B41N3/06 takes precedence)}
- B08B 1/30: by movement of cleaning members over a surface
- B08B 3/022: {Cleaning travelling work (B08B3/042 takes precedence)}
- B08B 3/024: {Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned}
- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- B41F 35/02: for forme cylinders
- B41P 2200/12: Flexographic printing
- B41P 2235/24: using rolls of cleaning cloth
- B41P 2235/26: Spraying devices
- B41N: PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS (photosensitive material G03); MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)
- B41P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS

## Abstract

An apparatus comprises a plate cleaner assembly. The plate cleaner assembly further comprises a frame, a roller coupled to the frame, a dry cleaning material coupled to the roller, and a spray assembly coupled to the plate cleaner assembly. The plate cleaner assembly further includes a controller coupled thereto. Moreover, the apparatus further comprises a printing plate cylinder and a printing plate coupled to the printing plate cylinder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a plate cleaner assembly, wherein the plate cleaner assembly further comprises:
a frame;
a roller coupled to the frame;
a dry cleaning material coupled to the roller such that the dry cleaning material passes over the roller, and
a spray assembly coupled to the plate cleaner assembly;
a controller coupled to the plate cleaner assembly;
a printing plate cylinder, and
a printing plate coupled to the printing plate cylinder
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a width of a spray pattern by the spray assembly;
determine an amount of time to move the dry cleaning material;
determine an amount of time to elapse between a wet cleaning and a dry cleaning;
determining a number of cleaning cycles;
determine a pressure for a nozzle of the spray assembly to spray solvent; and
determine a pressure for the roller to apply to the printing plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of motors coupled to the frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of motors comprises:
a linear actuator motor;
a material rewind motor; and
an impression motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a first spindle, the first spindle containing an amount of the dry cleaning material; and
a second spindle, the second spindle to pull the dry cleaning material from the first spindle such that the dry cleaning material passes over the roller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate cleaner assembly moves along an axis parallel to the printing plate cylinder and printing plate by a linear actuator motor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller moves perpendicular to the printing plate by an impression motor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly further comprises:
a solvent supply; and
a nozzle coupled to the solvent supply, wherein the nozzle draws solvent from the solvent supply.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly moves laterally with respect to the printing plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to regulate the movement of each motor of the plurality of motors.

### Claim 10

A plate cleaner apparatus for cleaning a print plate coupled to a printing plate cylinder, the plate cleaner apparatus comprising:
a plate cleaner assembly, wherein the plate cleaner assembly further comprises:
a frame,
a roller coupled to the frame,
a dry cleaning material coupled to the roller such that the dry cleaning material passes over the roller, and
a spray assembly coupled to the plate cleaner assembly; and
a controller coupled to the plate cleaner assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a width of a spray pattern by the spray assembly;
determine an amount of time to move the dry cleaning material;
determine an amount of a printing plate to be cleaned;
determine an amount of time to elapse between a wet cleaning and a dry cleaning;
determining a number of cleaning cycles;
determine a pressure for a nozzle of the spray assembly to spray solvent; and
determine a pressure for the roller to apply to the printing plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of motors coupled to the frame.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to regulate the movement of each motor of the plurality of motors.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of motors comprises:
a linear actuator motor;
a material rewind motor; and
an impression motor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
a first spindle, the first spindle containing an amount of the dry cleaning material; and
a second spindle, the second spindle to pull the dry cleaning material from the first spindle such that the dry cleaning material passes over the roller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plate cleaner assembly moves along an axis parallel to the printing plate cylinder and printing plate by a linear actuator motor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the roller moves perpendicular to the printing plate by an impression motor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spray assembly further comprises:
a solvent supply; and
a nozzle coupled to the solvent supply, wherein the nozzle draws solvent from the solvent supply.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spray assembly moves laterally with respect to the printing plate.