Stencil cleaning apparatus
AssigneeDEK Printing Machines Limited
InventorsRicky Bennett, Richard Leiske
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adapter for converting an existing under screen cleaning apparatus from one which uses a solvent to a solventless under screen cleaning apparatus. The adapter fits within the vacuum channel and between the blades of a known under screen cleaning apparatus. The adapter extends above the top edges of the blades and provides a top surface with at least three lands and a plurality of slots. An interior hole within the adapter connects the slots with a vacuum outlet of the vacuum channel. Optionally, suction is applied to the slots by pumping air from the vacuum outlet.
Claims14
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a stencil of a screen printer without using a solvent, the cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a cleaning head with a top surface, the top surface including at least three lands and a plurality of slots interposed between the lands;
- a cleaning sheet disposed over the lands on the top surface of the cleaning head;
- and
- a carriage operable to hold the cleaning head and cleaning sheet against the stencil and to move the cleaning head and cleaning sheet relative to the stencil.
An adapter for use in an under screen cleaning apparatus of a screen printer, the adapter comprising:
- an elongated adapter body;
- at least three elongated lands disposed on a top surface of the adapter body with a plurality of slots interposed between the lands and penetrating into the adapter body, the lands extending along the length of the adapter body;
- and
- an interior hole extending from a bottom surface of the adapter body into the adapter body, wherein the interior hole intersects with the plurality of slots forming a pneumatic connection between the slots and the interior hole,
- wherein the adapter body is shaped to fit within a vacuum channel and between elongated blades of the under screen cleaning apparatus so that an air tight seal forms between the adapter and the blades.
A method for cleaning a stencil of a screen printer, the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a cleaning sheet against a top surface of a cleaning head, the top surface of the cleaning head including at least three lands;
- pressing the cleaning sheet against a surface of the stencil with the lands;
- and
- moving the cleaning sheet and cleaning head relative to the stencil.
An under screen cleaning apparatus for wiping a stencil of a screen printer, the wiping apparatus comprising:
- an elongated vacuum channel;
- a pair of elongated blades attached to respective sides of the vacuum channel;
- and
- adapter means for converting top edges of the elongated blades to a cleaning head surface, the cleaning head surface including at least three elongated lands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.