# US 5,701,820 A · Device for washing and drying printing plates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,820 A - Document ID: US5701820A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/569,146 - Filed: 1996-06-21 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-06-18 - Inventors: Peter Hanosek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701820A ## CPC - B41F 35/001: {Devices for cleaning parts removed from the printing machines (B41F35/003 takes precedence)} - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) ## Abstract A device for washing and drying printing plates has a run-in table (1) followed by a series of washing, rinsing, conserving and/or gumming and drying stations (2, 3, 4, 5), and pairs of rolls (10, 11) arranged in the various stations with a horizontal axis of rotation and a roll slit that lies at the level of the run-in table (1). At least one roll of each pair of rolls (10, 11) may be driven so as to feed the printing plates engaged by the rolls (10, 11) through the roll slit. The device finally has a run-out table (6). In all stations (2, 3, 4, 5) are provided longitudinal guiding means (12) aligned in a common line together with the conveyor (26) of the pairs of rolls (10, 11) All longitudinal guiding means (12) lie either above or below the roll slit and delimit after the roll slit an obstacle-free passage through all stations (2, 3, 4, 5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Device for washing and drying printing plates comprising an input table, a successive series of work stations for washing, rinsing rubberizing and drying, Page 2 each of said work stations having a pair of rolls having horizontal axes of rotation, each pair of rolls having an opening between the rolls, said openings being level with the input table, at least one roll per pair of rolls being driven in order to convey printing plates through said openings by gripping the printing plates with the rolls, an output table, said work stations being positioned along a common line of sight coinciding with the conveying direction of the pair of rolls and longitudinal guides, said guides all being situated either above or below the opening between rolls and adjacent to the opening between rolls, said longitudinal guides marking the boundaries of an unobstructed passageway through all of said stations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal guides are situated below the opening between rolls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal guides are formed by a circumferential groove in the cylindrical surface of either the upper or lower roll of each pair of rolls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal guides are formed by one end of the cylindrical surface of the roll and by a guide rail, opposite to said one end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in which the longitudinal guides extend into the input table. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, in which the input table is provided with a longitudinal slot as a guide means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the rubberizing work station includes a roll for applying a rubberizing liquid onto the printing plates, said rubberizing work station being equipped with an air blow tube positioned parallel to it, said air blow tube having nozzles directed against the output side of the opening between the rolls. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, including a circumferential groove in the cylindrical surface of the upper or lower roll, said circumferential groove forming the longitudinal guides of each pair of rolls. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal guides are formed by one end of the cylindrical surface of the roll and by a guide rail, positioned opposite to it. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal guides extend into the input table. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) A device according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal guides extend into the input table. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal guides extend into the input table. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, wherein the work station for the rubberizing treatment, a roll by means of which a rubberizing liquid is applied onto the printing plates is equipped with an air blow tube having a plurality of nozzles positioned parallel to the blow tube and directed against the output side of the opening between rolls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A device according to claim 3, wherein the work station for the rubberizing treatment, a roll by means of which a rubberizing liquid is applied onto the printing plates is equipped with an air blow tube having a plurality of nozzles positioned parallel to the blow tube and directed against the output side of the opening between rolls. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein the work station for the rubberizing treatment, a roll by means of which a rubberizing liquid is applied onto the printing plates is equipped with an air blow tube having a plurality of nozzles positioned parallel to the blow tube and directed against the output side of the opening between rolls. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, wherein the work station for the rubberizing treatment, a roll by means of which a rubberizing liquid is applied onto the printing plates is equipped with an air blow tube having a plurality of nozzles positioned parallel to the blow tube and directed against the output side of the opening between rolls. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) A device according to claim 6, wherein the work station for the rubberizing treatment, a roll by means of which a rubberizing liquid is applied onto the printing plates is equipped with an air blow tube having a plurality of nozzles positioned parallel to the blow tube and directed against the output side of the opening between rolls.