Apparatus and method for printing roll cleaning
AssigneePaper Converting Machine Company
InventorErico Cruz Lemus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a device and method for cleaning the surface of a printing roll, such as an anilox roll. The device includes a laser-equipped assembly adapted to project a laser beam on the surface of the printing roll. The laser-equipped assembly uses a reflector and a lens to guide the laser beam along a predetermined path on the surface of the printing roll. In some embodiments, an autofocus system may be included to move the lens so that the desired focal point for the laser beam on the printing roll surface is achieved.
Claims24
An apparatus for cleaning a printing roll, the apparatus comprising:
- a mount adapted to rotatably secure the printing roll;
- a laser-equipped assembly, the laser-equipped assembly comprising:
- a laser source configured to generate and direct a laser beam;
- a reflector positioned to receive the laser beam from the laser source and to redirect the laser beam across a path;
- and
- a lens adapted to receive the laser beam from the reflector and to focus the laser beam to a focal position;
- and
- an autofocus system comprising:
- a carrier operatively connected with the lens and adapted to adjust the position of the lens relative to a surface of the printing roll;
- and
- a distance determiner.
An apparatus for cleaning a printing roll, the apparatus comprising:
- a support adapted to position a laser-equipped assembly comprising an autofocus system in operative proximity to the printing roll;
- the laser-equipped assembly mounted with the support, the assembly comprising:
- a laser source configured to generate and direct a laser beam;
- and
- a movable reflector positioned to receive the laser beam from the laser source and to repeatably redirect the laser beam along a predetermined path;
- and
- a lens adapted to receive the laser beam from the reflector and to direct the laser beam to a focal position;
- and
- the autofocus system comprising:
- a carrier operatively connected to the lens;
- an emitter configured to transmit an emitted energy at the surface of the printing roll such that a reflected energy from the surface of the printing roll is subsequently reflected;
- an energy receiver adapted to receive the reflected energy and generate a signal representing a characteristic of the reflected energy;
- a processor programmed to determine the distance of the surface of the printing roll to the laser assembly based on the signal and to actuate the carrier to adjust the position of the lens relative to the surface of the printing roll.
An apparatus for cleaning a printing roll, the apparatus comprising:
- a mount comprising a plurality of parallel rollers adapted to support and the printing roll;
- a drive system operatively connected to the parallel rollers, the drive system rotating the plurality of parallel rollers;
- a laser-equipped assembly mounted on a conveyor, the conveyer adapted to move the assembly parallel to the printing roll on the mount, the laser-equipped assembly comprising:
- a laser source configured to generate and direct a laser beam,
- a reflector positioned to receive the laser beam from the laser source and to redirect the laser beam across a path,
- a lens adapted to receive the laser beam from the polygonal reflector and to focus the laser beam to a focal position;
- and
- an autofocus system comprising, a carrier operatively connected with the lens and adapted to adjust the position of the lens relative to a surface of the printing roll, and a distance determiner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.