US 6,386,106 B1Granted

Cleaning apparatus for the graphics industry

AssigneeBaldwin Grafotec GmbH

InventorHerbert Stanka

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Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for a surface, particularly for a surface in the graphics industry and more particularly for the surface of a cylinder used in the graphics industry. A pressing element has a cleaning cloth thereover. The pressing element is movable toward and away from the surface. A pressurizable pressure chamber which when pressurized acts on the pressing element to move the cloth to the surface. A pneumatic circuit feeds compressed air to the pressure chamber and vents the pressure chamber. The circuit includes a compressed air storage chamber which can be alternatively connected to the pressure chamber to pressurize the pressure chamber or to a compressed air source to refill the chamber with compressed air. The volume of the storage chamber and the pressure therein are higher than that of the pressure needed in the pressure chamber for rapid refilling of the pressure chamber. A second air path communicates between the compressed air source and the pressure chamber and includes valving enabling venting of the pressure chamber to maintain a selected pressure level.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a running surface in a machine, the apparatus comprising:

a cleaning cloth;
a pressing element movable toward engagement with the running surface and movable away from the surface, the pressing element supporting the cleaning cloth extending over the pressing element to bring the cloth into and out of contact with the surface;
a pressure chamber communicating with the pressing element and being pressurizable for operating the pressing element to press the cloth in contact with the surface;
and
a pneumatic circuit for selectively feeding compressed air to the pressure chamber for pressing the pressing element toward the surface and for venting the pressure chamber for permitting the pressing element to move away from the surface, the pneumatic circuit comprising:
a compressed air source;
and
a compressed air storage chamber selectively connectable alternatively to the pressure chamber of the pressing element to press the pressing element toward the surface using compressed air flowing from the storage chamber, or to the compressed air source for filling the storage chamber with compressed air;
wherein at least one of the volume of the storage chamber is greater than the volume of the pressure chamber;
and the pressure level of the compressed air stored in the storage chamber is selected so that the compressed air in the storage chamber is at a significantly higher pressure than a predetermined pressure value that is to be produced in the pressure chamber for the pressing element when the pressing element is pressed toward the surface for cleaning, thereby producing a high velocity flow of compressed air from the storage chamber into the pressure chamber.

7 more elements

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a running surface in a machine, the apparatus comprising:

a cleaning cloth;
a pressing element movable toward engagement with the running surface and movable away from the surface, the pressing element supporting the cleaning cloth extending over the pressing element to bring the cloth into and out of contact with the surface;
a pressure chamber communicating with the pressing element and being pressurizable for operating the pressing element to press the cloth in contact with the surface;
a first compressed air feed line from the pressure source to the compressed air storage chamber;
a first pressure regulator in the first air feed line operable for setting a pressure in the compressed air storage chamber which is significantly higher than the pressure for holding the pressing element to the surface, the first pressure regulator being operable for setting the pressure value in the storage chamber in conformity with the volume of the storage chamber so that the stored quantity of compressed air in the storage chamber is at least as great as the quantity of compressed air needed in the pressure chamber for producing the pressure for pressing the pressing element to the surface;
and
a pneumatic circuit for selectively feeding compressed air to the pressure chamber for pressing the pressing element toward the surface and for venting the pressure chamber for permitting the pressing element to move away from the surface, the pneumatic circuit comprising:
a compressed air source;
and
a compressed air storage chamber selectively connectable alternatively to the pressure chamber of the pressing element to press the pressing element toward the surface by compressed air from the storage chamber, or to the compressed air source for filling the storage chamber with compressed air, such that a high velocity flow of compressed air is produced from the storage chamber into the pressure chamber for pressing the pressing element to the surface.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.