Device for removing soil particles from the plate cylinder of an offset printing machine

Apparatus for removing undesired particles from the outer surface of a rotatable plate cylinder of an offset printing machine comprising:

• a plurality of actuating means mounted in relative spaced relationship along at least part of the length of the plate cylinder in spaced relation to the outer surface thereof;
• a plunger mounted on each actuating means for movement toward and away from the plate cylinder;
• a wiping implement mounted on each plunger for movement thereby into and out of wiping engagement with the outer surface of the plate cylinder for removing undesired particles therefrom;
• operating means for operating said actuating means so that said wiping implements are movable into and out of wiping engagement with the plate cylinder outer surface individually for wiping a portion of said outer surface of the plate cylinder and in any combination thereof for wiping a plurality of portions of said outer surface of the plate cylinder;
• and
• lateral projections extending from said wiping implements in the axial longitudinal direction of the plate cylinder, said lateral projections being shaped so that adjacent lateral projections on adjacent wiping elements overlap each other in said longitudinal direction and overlap each other in a direction substantially transverse to said longitudinal direction, and adjacent wiping implements wipe said outer surface in an overlapping manner.