Method and apparatus for carbon dioxide cleaning of graphic arts equipment
AssigneeBaldwin Technology Corporation
InventorCharles R. Gasparrini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for cleaning printing press components with carbon dioxide snow or pellets. Upon impact, the snow or pellets dislodge debris adhering to the components and sublime to a non-hazardous gas. A typical component cleaned by the present invention would be a rotating blanket cylinder of an offset printing press. The snow or pellets are typically conveyed by an air stream under pressure to a moving nozzle, a series of fixed nozzles, or some other dispensing device.
Claims21
A method for cleaning debris comprising ink and paper lint from a portion of a printing device comprising:
- freezing carbon dioxide to form particles comprising carbon dioxide;
- conveying said particles with a transport gas through a nozzle;
- discharging said particles from said nozzle to contact said portion of said printing device and remove said debris, wherein at most 10% of said formed particles sublime prior to said discharge;
- and
- moving said nozzle along a bar which is parallel to said portion of said printing device as said particles discharge from said nozzle.
An apparatus for cleaning debris comprising ink and paper link from a cylindrical component of a printing device comprising:
- means for generating solid carbon dioxide particles;
- a nozzle having an upstream end and a downstream end, said downstream end located to discharge said particles to contact said cylindrical component;
- means for conveying said particles from said means for generating to said nozzle;
- a translation device attached to said printing device, said translation device comprising a bar, said bar being parallel to said cylindrical component, said nozzle being functionally attached to said bar such that said translation device comprises means for moving said nozzle along said bar during said discharge.
An apparatus for cleaning debris comprising ink and paper lint from a cylindrical component of a printing device comprising:
- means for generating solid carbon dioxide particles;
- a nozzle having an upstream end and a downstream end, said downstream end located to discharge said particles to contact said cylindrical component;
- means for conveying said particles from said means for generating to said nozzle;
- a bar functionally attached to said printing device, said bar being parallel to said cylindrical component, said nozzle being functionally attached to said bar such that it is movable along said bar during said discharge and directed toward said cylindrical component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.