Blanket cleaner for duplicating machines

A printing machine, comprising:

• a rotary blanket cylinder driven at a predetermined surface speed;
• a frame movably mounted on the printing machine adjacent the cylinder;
• a cleaning roller rotatably supported by the frame in a position for forming a first nip with the cylinder to perform a cleaning operation;
• a wiper roller having an open-cell sponge cover rotatably supported by the frame in contact with the cleaning roller and forming a second nip therewith;
• means for continuously rotating both of said cleaning and wiper rollers at speeds such that the difference in surface speed at the first nip is at least about 200 cm/sec and the difference in surface speed at the second nip is at least about 250 cm/sec;
• a wringer roller continuously rotating and in compressing engagement with the sponge cover of the wiper roller for preventing accumulation of deposits on the surface thereof;
• and
• means for applying cleaning fluid to the surface of said wringer roller.

A printing machine, comprising:

• a rotary blanket cylinder driven at a predetermined surface speed;
• a frame movably mounted on the printing machine adjacent the cylinder;
• a cleaning roller rotatably supported by the frame in a position for forming a first nip with the cylinder to perform a cleaning operation;
• a wiper roller having an open-cell sponge cover rotatably supported by the frame in contact with the cleaning roller and forming a second nip therewith;
• a metering roller in fluid metering contact with the cleaning roller and in mutual cleaning contact with the wiper roller;
• means for continuously rotating both of said cleaning and wiper rollers at speeds such that the difference in surface speed at the first nip is at least about 200 cm/sec and the difference in surface speed at the second nip is at least about 250 cm/sec;
• a wringer roller continuously rotating and in compressing engagement with the sponge cover of the wiper roller;
• and
• means for applying cleaning fluid to the surface of said wringer roller.

A printing machine, comprising:

• a rotary blanket cylinder driven at a predetermined surface speed;
• a frame movably mounted on the printing machine adjacent the cylinder;
• a cleaning roller rotatably supported by the frame in a position for forming a first nip with the cylinder to perform a cleaning operation;
• a wiper roller having an open-cell sponge cover rotatably supported by the frame in contact with the cleaning roller and forming a second nip therewith;
• means for continuously rotating both of said cleaning and wiper rollers at speeds such that the difference in surface speed at the first nip is at least about 200 cm/sec and the difference in surface speed at the second nip is at least about 250 cm/sec;
• cleaning means comprising a continuously rotating roller having a substantially non-compressible surface in rubbing surface contact with the wiper roller for preventing accumulation of deposits on the surface thereof;
• and
• means for supplying cleaning fluid to the surface of said cleaning roller.

A method of cleaning the blanket cylinder of a printing machine in which the cylinder is driven at a predetermined surface speed, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cleaning roller rotatably supported at a position for forming a first nip with the cylinder to perform a cleaning operation;
• providing a wiper roller having an open-cell sponge cover rotatably supported in contact with the cleaning roller and forming a second nip therewith;
• continuously rotating both of said cleaning and wiper rollers at speeds such that the difference in surface speeds of the rollers at each nip is at least about 200 cm/sec;
• providing cleaning means including a continuously rotating roller having a substantially non-compressible surface in rubbing surface contact with the wiper roller for preventing accumulation of deposits on the surface thereof;
• and
• supplying cleaning fluid to the surface of the cleaning roller.

A printing machine, comprising:

• a rotary blanket cylinder driven in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined surface speed;
• a frame movably mounted on the printing machine adjacent the cylinder for controlled movement;
• a cleaning roller rotatably supported by the frame in a position for forming a first nip with the cylinder to perform a cleaning operation;
• a wiper roller having an open-cell sponge cover rotatably supported by the frame in contact with the cleaning roller and forming a second nip therewith;
• a wringer roller supported by the frame for continuous rotation and having a substantially non-compressible surface in rubbing surface contact with the wiper roller for preventing accumulation of deposits on the surface thereof;
• a metering roller in contact with the cleaning and wiper rollers and frictionally driven by the cleaning roller;
• means mounted on the frame for rotatably supporting the metering roller;
• drive means for continuously rotating both of said cleaning and the wiper rollers in said predetermined direction of rotation such that the surfaces of the rollers or roller and cylinder at each of said nips are moving in opposite directions, said drive means rotating the cleaning roller and the wiper roller at speeds such that the difference in surface speeds of the rollers or roller and cylinder at each of said nips is at least about 200 cm/sec;
• means for pivoting the frame between an inactive position in which the cleaning roller is out of contact with the cylinder and an active position to move the cleaning roller into contact with the cylinder;
• means for supplying cleaning fluid to the surface of the wringer roller during cleaning operation;
• trough means for draining contaminated cleaning fluid resulting from a cleaning operation of the cylinder;
• and
• means for receiving the contaminated fluid, settling the contaminants therefrom, and recycling the same to supply substantially uncontaminated cleaning fluid to the wringer roller for each cleaning operation of the cylinder.