Device for washing an inking unit provided at a printing press

A printing press comprising:

• a frame;
• a plate cylinder being rotatably mounted on said frame;
• an ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink;
• an inking mechanism for transferring the ink between said ink reservoir and said plate cylinder during operation of said printing press;
• said inking mechanism comprising a plurality of inking rollers, at least one ink fountain roller and at least one transfer means for transferring ink between said ink fountain roller and at least one of said plurality of inking rollers;
• a plurality of ink applicator rollers for being engaged with said plate cylinder and for applying ink to said plate cylinder;
• said plurality of ink applicator rollers comprising a first set of at least one ink applicator roller and a second set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• said plurality of inking rollers comprising a roller arrangement, said roller arrangement comprising a first set of at least one inking roller and a second set of at least one inking roller;
• said plurality of inking rollers further comprising a third set of at least one inking roller;
• said first set of at least one inking roller for providing ink to said first set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• said second set of at least one inking roller for providing ink to said second set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• said plurality of inking rollers further comprising bridge roller means, said bridge roller means being engaged with:
• at least one inking roller of said first set of at least one inking roller;
• and
• at least one inking roller of said second set of at least one inking roller;
• said third set of at least one inking roller for providing a primary stream of ink
• means for dividing said primary stream of ink to provide a first subsidiary stream of ink to said first set of at least one inking roller and a second subsidiary stream of ink to said second set of at least one inking roller;
• said means for dividing said primary stream of ink comprising said bridge roller means;
• said third set of at least one inking roller extending between said at least one transfer means and said bridge roller means;
• said bridge roller means being engaged with at least one inking roller of said third set of at least one inking roller so as to receive said primary stream of ink;
• means for washing said plurality of inking rollers, said washing means comprising:
• means for supplying washing fluid to said plurality of inking rollers, said washing fluid for being transferred among said plurality of inking rollers to wash said plurality of inking rollers;
• first removing means, for removing washing fluid, having been transferred among said plurality of inking rollers, directly from one inking roller of said third set of at least one inking roller;
• and
• second removing means, for removing washing fluid, having been transferred among said plurality of inking rollers, directly from one inking roller of said roller arrangement.

Method of washing a plurality of inking rollers in a printing press, such a printing press comprising:

• a frame;
• a plate cylinder being rotatably mounted on the frame;
• an ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink;
• an inking mechanism for transferring the ink between the ink reservoir and the plate cylinder during operation of the printing press;
• the inking mechanism comprising a plurality of inking rollers, at least one ink fountain roller and at least one transfer means for transferring ink between the ink fountain roller and at least one of the plurality of inking rollers;
• a plurality of ink applicator rollers for being engaged with the plate cylinder and for applying ink to the plate cylinder;
• the plurality of ink applicator rollers comprising a first set of at least one ink applicator roller and a second set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• the plurality of inking rollers comprising a roller arrangement, the roller arrangement comprising a first set of at least one inking roller and a second set of at least one inking roller;
• the plurality of inking rollers further comprising a third set of at least one inking roller;
• the first set of at least one inking roller for providing ink to the first set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• the second set of at least one inking roller for providing ink to the second set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• the plurality of inking rollers further comprising bridge roller means, the bridge roller means being engaged with:
• at least one inking roller of the first set of at least one inking roller, and at least one inking roller of the second set of at least one inking roller;
• the third set of at least one inking roller for providing a primary stream of ink;
• means for dividing the primary stream of ink to provide a first subsidiary stream of ink to the first set of at least one inking roller and a second subsidiary stream of ink to the second set of at least one inking roller;
• the means for dividing the primary stream of ink comprising the bridge roller means;
• the third set of at least one inking roller extending between the at least one transfer means and the bridge roller means;
• the bridge roller means being engaged with at least one inking roller of the third set of at least one inking roller;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• providing means for supplying washing fluid to the plurality of inking rollers, the washing fluid for being transferred among the plurality of inking rollers to wash the plurality of inking rollers;
• providing first removing means, for removing washing fluid, having been transferred among the plurality of inking rollers to wash the plurality of inking rollers, directly from one inking roller of the third set of at least one inking roller;
• providing second removing means, for removing washing fluid, having been transferred among the plurality of inking rollers to wash the plurality of inking rollers, directly from one inking roller of the roller arrangement;
• transferring ink from the ink reservoir to the plate cylinder by way of the following steps:
• transferring the primary stream of ink to the bridge roller means by way of a route of travel which extends:
• from the ink reservoir to the ink fountain roller;
• thereafter to the at least one transfer means;
• thereafter to the third set of at least one inking roller;
• and
• thereafter to the bridge roller means;
• dividing the primary stream of ink, with the bridge roller means, into the first subsidiary stream of ink and the second subsidiary stream of ink;
• transferring the first subsidiary stream of ink to the plate cylinder by way of a route of travel which extends:
• from the bridge roller means to the first set of at least one inking roller;
• thereafter to the first set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• and
• thereafter to the plate cylinder;
• transferring the second subsidiary stream of ink to the plate cylinder by way of a route of travel which extends:
• from the bridge roller means to the second set of at least one inking roller;
• thereafter to the second set of at least one ink applicator roller;
• and
• thereafter to the plate cylinder;
• conducting a washing operation by way of the following steps:
• supplying washing fluid to the plurality of inking rollers with the supplying means;
• transferring the washing fluid among the plurality of inking rollers to wash the plurality of inking rollers;
• and
• subsequent to said transferring step:
• removing, with the first removing means, washing fluid directly from one inking roller of the third set of at least one inking roller;
• and
• removing, with the second removing means, washing fluid directly from one inking roller of the roller arrangement.