U.S. patent number 3,896,730 [Application Number 05/445,005] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for wash-up system for flexographic printers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Koppers Company Inc.. Invention is credited to Clyde Barner Garrett, William Stansbury Thayer.
United States Patent |
3,896,730 |
Garrett , et al. |
July 29, 1975 |
Wash-up system for flexographic printers
Abstract
A wash-up system for cleaning a flexographic printing system of
the type including a pair of ink supply rollers, an ink reservoir,
a gravity feed tank for the ink, and a pump in the reservoir for
pumping ink to the gravity tank from where the ink flows to the ink
rollers. The wash-up system includes suitable apparatus for
draining the residual printing ink from the printing system into
the ink reservoir, pumping the ink from the reservoir into an ink
recovery vessel, directing wash water under pressure to portions of
the printing system for cleaning the system, draining the wash
water from the printing system into the ink reservoir and then
draining the wash water from the reservoir. The apparatus basically
comprises a water supply line that branches to various parts of the
printing system with appropriate automatically operated solenoid
valves for directing the water to portions of the printing system
during various controlled phases of the wash-up cycle.
Inventors: |
Garrett; Clyde Barner (Mauldin,
SC), Thayer; William Stansbury (Lutherville, MD) |
Assignee: |
Koppers Company Inc.
(Pittsburgh, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
23767270 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/445,005 |
Filed: |
February 22, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/425; 101/364;
101/141; 101/483 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
35/04 (20130101); B41P 2235/31 (20130101); B41P
2235/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
35/00 (20060101); B41F 35/04 (20060101); B41F
031/20 (); B41F 035/04 (); B41L 027/22 (); B41L
041/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/425,169,363-367,141,142,157,426 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522,722 |
|
Mar 1956 |
|
CA |
|
548,280 |
|
Mar 1932 |
|
DD |
|
Primary Examiner: Fisher; J. Reed
Assistant Examiner: Pieprz; William
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brumback; Oscar B. Dent Boyce
C.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of cleaning a flexographic printing system comprising
the steps of:
a. stopping the printing function of said printing system;
b. draining residual printing ink from said system including:
draining ink from a gravity tank in said system to an ink reservoir
beneath said gravity tank; and draining ink from a trough beneath
an ink roller in said system to said reservoir;
c. pumping ink drained into said reservoir therefrom into an ink
storage container for removal from said system;
d. spraying wash water into said gravity tank and thereafter,
spraying wash water onto said ink roller and draining the same into
said trough;
e. draining said water from said gravity tank and said trough into
said reservoir; and
f. draining said wash water from said reservoir to outside of said
system.
2. The method of claim 1 and the additional step of:
simultaneously spraying wash water into and draining said reservoir
prior to spraying wash water into said gravity tank.
3. The method of claim 1 and in addition:
rotating said ink supply roller in said printing system during the
time that said wash water is directed to said ink roller.
4. Apparatus for cleaning a flexographic printing system having at
least one ink roller comprising:
a trough beneath said ink roller for collecting excess ink and for
collecting wash water from said ink roller;
a gravity tank higher than said roller for supplying ink and for
supplying wash water to said ink roller;
a reservoir lower than said trough for collecting excess ink and
collecting wash water from said trough;
pump means in said reservoir for pumping ink into said gravity tank
and pumping residual ink therein into a storage container for said
ink;
water supply means for supplying wash water to said printing
system;
first conduit means connected between said water supply means and
said gravity tank for directing said wash water into said gravity
tank;
second conduit means connected between said water supply means and
said ink roller for directing said wash water onto said ink roller
after said wash water has been directed into said gravity tank;
and
drain means in said reservoir for draining wash water from said
reservoir to outside of said system.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 and, in addition:
third conduit means connected to said water supply means for
directing said wash water into said reservoir prior to wash water
being directed into said gravity tank.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including:
first conduit valve means in said second conduit means for
controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply
means to said ink roller;
second conduit valve means in said first conduit means for
controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply
means to said gravity tank; and
third conduit valve means in said third conduit means for
controlling the flow of said wash water from said water supply
means to said reservoir.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including:
timing means for controlling operation of said pump means, and said
first, second, and third valve means' for first pumping said ink
from said system and thereafter for selectively draining residual
ink from said reservoir, spraying said wash water at high intensity
onto said ink roller and into said gravity tank and said reservoir,
and draining said wash water from said reservoir to outside said
system.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said timing means includes
selectively operable selector means for controlling said pump
means, and said first, second, and third conduit valve means to
pump, spray, and drain said wash water in a preselected sequence.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Intention
This invention relates generally to printing and more particularly
to processes and cleaning attachments for cleaning portions of a
flexographic printing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flexographic printing systems generally include an etched or
engraved ink transfer roll carrying ink in the pockets of the
engravings which is transferred to a rubber die mounted on a
rotating print cylinder. The ink is transferred from the die to the
matter to be printed. To assure a fine film of ink on the ink
transfer roll, either a scraper blade or a doctor roll is
maintained in contact with the supply roll during operation.
Customarily ink is supplied to the nip between the supply roll and
doctor roll from a supply line located near the center of the
length of the rolls. The ink flows along the nip to both ends of
the rolls where it falls into an ink trough. Ink from the trough is
usually drained into a reservoir for the ink. The reservoir
includes a pump which pumps the ink from the reservoir back to the
supply line to the nip between the rolls. To assure a constant flow
of ink to the nip of the rolls, a gravity feed tank may be located
above the rolls. Ink from the reservoir is pumped to this tank from
where it is supplied by gravity through the supply line to the nip
of the rolls.
Flexographic ink is a water-based ink. This ink must be removed
from the printing system when a change in color is made to print a
different color on another run of material such as box blanks. When
a color change is required, it is also necessary to clean all
portions of the printing system so that no residual ink of the
first color is mixed with the second color to be printed. Such
printing systems are usually manually cleaned by an operator who
merely pours water into the ink trough, into the nip of the rolls,
into the ink reservoir, and into the gravity feed tank. He then
scrubs the surfaces of these portions of the printing system with a
cloth to remove the ink therefrom.
This procedure is time consuming and may also waste water since the
amount of water used depends upon the preferences of the
operator.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
fully automatic system for cleaning the various portions of the
printing system in a minimum amount of time and with very little
operator attention. Another object is to conserve the amount of
water needed to clean the printing system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, the printing function of the
system is stopped, the residual printing ink is drained from the
system into the ink reservoir, the ink is drained from the
reservoir to an ink recovery vessel, wash water is directed under
pressure to portions of the printing system and under gravity to
other portions of the system for cleaning the system, the wash
water is drained from the system into the reservoir, and the wash
water is then drained from the reservoir to any convenient disposal
system such as a plant sewage system. At the time the wash water is
being supplied to the printing system, the ink supply rollers are
rotated to expose their surfaces to the wash water.
Suitable apparatus for performing the foregoing steps includes a
supply of water under pressure which is directed to a nip between
the ink rollers, to the ink reservoir, and to a gravity feed tank
for the ink. The apparatus also includes automatically operated
valves which direct the wash water to various portions of the
printing system at different times during the wash cycle. A timer
is used to control the time that wash water is applied to and
drained from various portions of the system. Advantageously, high
intensity spray nozzles are used at various locations in order to
provide a high intensity water spray to the hardest to clean areas
of the system.
The above and further objects and novel features of the invention
will appear more fully from the following detailed description when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; however,
the drawings are not intended as a definition of the invention but
are for illustration only.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings wherein like parts are marked alike:
FIG. 1 is a diagramatic illustration of a typical flexographic
printing system showing the wash-up system of the invention applied
thereto;
FIG. 2 illustrates a control panel used to control the wash-up
system; and
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating the sequence of operation
of the wash-up system.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the printing system generally denoted by
numeral 10 includes an ink supply roll 12 of the conventional type
which is suitably journaled in bearings (not shown) and driven by
gears (not shown) or by an electric motor 13. Ink in the engravings
in roll 12 is transferred to a rubber die 14 which is suitably
attached to a print cylinder 16 located adjacent the supply roll
12. A rubber covered doctor roller 18 is located adjacent to supply
roll 12 in a manner which permits it to be rotated against the roll
12. Conventional gears (not shown) mounted in meshing engagement on
the ends of rollers 12 and 18 drive the doctor roll 18 from roll
12. This arrangement forms a nip 20 between the rollers 12 and 18.
Printing ink 24 is supplied to nip 20 from the center of the rolls
towards each end where it falls into an ink trough 26. The ink in
trough 26 is drained into a reservoir 28 by means of a drain line
30.
The reservoir 28 includes a conventional ink pump 32 which is
capable of pumping the ink 24 to the nip 20 through supply line 22.
However, it is preferable to pump the ink 24 to a gravity tank 34
by means of a supply line 36A and 36B. The supply line 22 is
connected to the bottom of gravity tank 34 so that the ink flows by
gravity through line 22 to nip 20.
The purpose of using the gravity feed tank 34 is to assure a
constant supply of ink to the nip 20 of rolls 12 and 18. Should the
ink supply fail, the rubber roll may be damaged since it is
customarily held against the surface of the supply roll 12 at a
slight pressure. There is usually a slight difference between the
surface speed of the supply roll 12 and rubber roll 18 to provide a
wiping action to assure an even, thin film of ink on the surface of
the supply roll 12. If no ink is present, the engraved surface of
the roll 12 may damage the rubber covering on roll 18 by
abrasion.
It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the supply line 22 is connected to
the bottom of the tank 34. However, the upper level of ink in tank
34 is controlled by an excess ink drain line 38 connected to a
higher overflow level 39 of the tank 34 and to the reservoir
28.
The gravity feed tank 34 usually includes a sensor 35 such as shown
and described in application serial number 144,469 filed on May 18,
1971 by Gordon L. Morgret, now abandoned, and assigned to the
assignee of the present invention.
The sensor 35 extends into gravity tank 34 so that its lower tip is
between the bottom of the tank and the overlfow level 39. If the
level of ink falls below the tip, an electrical circuit is
interrupted to extinguish a lamp (not shown) to warn the operator.
This signals the operator to add more ink to reservoir 28 if the
supply is low or to open a conventional needle valve 31 in line 36A
from pump 32 to increase the flow of ink through the system or to
otherwise look for some malfunction of the ink supply system.
In the event that no ink is being supplied to nip 20, the rolls 12
and 18 will become dry. This creates an overload condition caused
by dry friction between the rolls. A conventional electrical
overload sensing circuit 13A connected to drive motor 13 senses the
additional current needed by motor 13 to drive rolls 12 and 18. The
sensing circuit can be used to supply an electrical signal to stop
operation of motor 13 or, if desired, may be connected to a
fluid-actuated pivot arrangement to move the surface of roll 18
away from roll 12 by a slight amount. The pivot arrangement may
include mounting the journals 15 of roll 18 in a pivot lever 17
(only one shown) which is pivotally mounted in the machine side
frames (omitted for clarity). A pneumatic cylinder 19 may be
actuated by the signal from the sensing circuit to move roll 18
away from roll 12. If desired, journals 15 may be mounted in
conventional eccentric housings which may be rotated by pneumatic
cylinder 19 or an equivalent rotary air cylinder.
The gravity feed tank 34 may also include a cylindrical filter 40
through which the ink must pass from feed line 36B to get into the
tank 34. This filter traps any paper dust or other foreign matter
in the ink so that clean ink is supplied to the nip 20 of rolls 12
and 18.
The wash-up system for the printing system 10 generally includes a
main water supply 50 from which a branch line 52 runs to the ink
supply rolls 12 and 18; a branch line 54 running to the ink
reservoir 28; and a branch line 56 running to the gravity tank 34.
Line 52 is divided at juncture 156 from which another line 58 runs
to an edge of the trough 26 and extends substantially parallel
thereto. Line 58 includes a plurality of conventional high
intensity spray nozzles 60 which direct water under line pressure
against the surfaces of rolls 12 and 18 and into the trough 26
thereby washing ink from the rolls and the trough 26. The nozzles
may be of the type designated 8686 by Spraying Systems Co.,
Bellwood, Ill. Different spray patterns are available to provide
the coverage needed.
Another line 62 runs from juncture 156 to juncture 64 which divides
the line 62 into a pair of substantially identical lines 66 and 68
which extend to the ends of the nip 20. A high intensity spray
nozzle 60 on the end of each of lines 66 and 68 directs water
towards the ends of the rolls 12 and 18 where the ink from nip 20
flows downward into trough 26.
The water in tank 34 drains through line 22 to the center of the
nip 20 thereby supplying a flow of water (similar to the flow of
ink) which runs along the nip and overflows from the ends of rolls
12 and 18 into the trough 26. As the water in tank 34 reaches level
39 in tank 34, it drains through line 38 into the reservoir 28
thereby cleaning ink from the line.
Line 54 is divided at juncture 172 into two lines 174 and 76. Lines
174 and 76 are arranged to extend along the inside of reservoir 28
and include a plurality of high intensity spray nozzles 60 which
sprays water inside the reservoir to remove any ink from the sides
and bottom thereof.
Lines 36A and 36B are joined by a conventional electro-pneumatic
solenoid valve 78. This valve includes a drain line 80 so that when
it is in one operating position, water or ink will flow from line
36A through valve 78 to line 36B and to tank 40 or in the other
operating position, ink or water will be prevented from flowing
into line 36B and will flow into drain line 80.
Valve 28 may be, for example, a size 200B full port ball valve made
by Contromatics Corp., Rockville, Conn. Such valves are operated by
energizing an electric solenoid in a separate conventional air flow
control valve (not shown) which supplies air under pressure to
switch valve 78 in the desired direction to either supply ink or
wash water to gravity tank 34 or permit ink or wash water to drain
through line 80.
Reservoir 28 also includes a drain line 82 connected to another
similar electro-pneumatic solenoid valve 84 (conveniently mounted
on the side of reservoir 28) which, when operated, permits ink or
water to be drained fron tank 28 through drain line 86 from valve
84.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that water is directed to all
parts of the printing system through the ink lines such as to the
supply rolls 12 and 18, the ink trough 26, the gravity tank 34, and
the ink reservoir 28. Water flows from the tank 34 by gravity to
the nip 20 under gravity pressure similar to the manner in which
ink is supplied to the nip 20. Water also flows by gravity through
excess drain line 38. However, water flowing to other parts of the
system is sprayed under line pressure to clean the ink from the
various parts of the system. It should be noted that water is
caused to flow through all of the lines that normally supply the
ink to the system and drain ink from the system. Thus, all of the
lines are cleaned as well as the other parts of the system.
In operation, it will first be assumed that the system is clean and
that ink is to be supplied to the supply rolls 12 and 18. Ink
reservoir 28 is filled with ink of the desired color in the usual
manner. The ink pump 32 is turned on which pumps ink from reservoir
28 through line 36A, through valve 78 and into line 36B and into
the bottom of gravity tank 34. The ink flows through filter 40 and
into the tank. As the ink starts to fill tank 34, it will flow
through supply line 22 into the nip 20 between the rolls 12 and 18.
The ink 24 flows along nip 20 and overflows from the ends of the
rolls 12 and 18 and into ink trough 26. The ink trough 26 is
conveniently sloped to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 so that the ink
flows into drain 30 and into the reservoir 28. Thus the ink that is
not used in printing is returned to the reservoir where it is again
pumped through the system by pump 32 thereby assuring a continuous
supply of ink to the nip 20 between rolls 12 and 18. It should be
noted that as the ink in gravity tank 34 reaches level 39, the
excess ink drains through line 38 and back into the reservoir 28.
It should also be noted that the roll 18 is urged against roll 12
by pneumatic cylinder 19 and the rolls 18 and 12 are rotated only
after the ink begins circulating through the system so that the
rolls do not run dry against each other. Preferably, rolls 12 and
18 are not engaged and rotated until the print cylinder 16 is
rotated to begin the printing operation. An interlock (not shown)
may be used if desired to prevent rotation of the rolls 12 and 18
if the ink is not circulating through the system or the rolls may
be rotated out of engagement by suitably energizing air cylinder 19
as previously explained.
Assuming now that the printing run has been completed and a new
color is to be used on the next printing run, the first step is to
remove the ink from reservoir 28. The valve 78 is switched so that,
as the ink pump 32 is operated, ink will be drawn from the
reservoir 28 and directed out of the system through drain line 80.
The ink from line 80 may flow into an ink bucket (not shown), or,
if preferred, be directed through an extension of the line to a
remote ink storage area. As the ink pump 32 pumps the ink out of
the system through line 80, the residual ink will continue to drain
from the system, that is, from the nip 20 into trough 26 and from
there back to reservoir 28. The ink in the bottom of gravity tank
34 will also drain through line 36B, through valve 78, and into
line 80 from where it flows to the ink bucket.
The next step is to supply water to the printing system 10 to clean
all of the various parts thereof. Line 50 includes a conventional
pressure regulator valve 88 which is manually turned to provide
water under line pressure of about 40 pounds per square inch (40
P.S.I.) to the main lines 52, 54 and 56. Water under line pressure
in line 52 flows to line 58 and through high intensity spray
nozzles 60 to clean the rolls 12 and 18 and ink trough 26. The
water also flows under pressure through line 62 and lines 68 and
from spray nozzles 60 to clean the ends of the rolls 12 and 18.
Simultaneously, water is supplied to the gravity tank 34 through
line 56. The high intensity spray of water through nozzle 60 cleans
the inside of tank 34; the water in tank 34 flows through line 22
into the nip of the rolls and along the length of the rolls where
it overflows the ends of the rolls and falls into trough 26 and
thereafter drains through line 30 to the reservoir 28. It should be
noted that the filter 40 is preferably removed from gravity tank 34
and manually cleaned outside the system.
Water is also supplied under line pressure through line 54 to lines
74 and 76 inside the reservoir 78. The water is sprayed through
nozzles 60 to clean the inside of reservoir 28. As the water builds
up in reservoir 28, the solenoid valve 84 is switched so that the
water drains from the reservoir 28 through exhaust or drain line 86
to a sump or other disposal system (not shown).
From the foregoing, it can be seen that water is supplied to all
parts of the printing system 10. The water flows through all the
lines that normally carry ink in the printing system thereby
cleaning these lines and the water is also sprayed under pressure
through the spray nozzles 60 to various parts of the system such as
the gravity feed tank 34, the rollers 12 and 18, the ink trough 26,
and inside the reservoir 28 to flush all of the ink that may cling
to the various surfaces of these parts. During at least part of the
wash cycle, water is pumped from reservoir 28 to gravity tank 34
thereby cleaning the ink pump also.
As previously mentioned, it is an object of this invention to
conserve the amount of water needed to clean the printing system.
It has been found that it is not necessary to supply wash water to
all parts of the system simultaneously in order to achieve the
desired cleanliness of the system. Thus, the system is arranged so
that wash water is supplied to the highest point of the system
first, i.e., gravity tank 34, so that water from that point drains
through the system and into the ink reservoir 28 before wash water
is supplied to other parts of the system. The exact arrangement can
be seen by reference to FIG. 3 which is a timing diagram
illustrating the sequence that wash water is supplied to the
various portions of the printing system and the length of time that
it is supplied as will be subsequently explained.
Because of various operating conditions it is not always necessary
to follow all of the steps needed for a complete cleaning
procedure. The system is arranged to provide three wash cycles: a
"complete wash" cycle; a "long rinse" cycle; and a "short rinse"
cycle. The complete wash cycle is most often used when a color
change in the ink is to be made or at the end of an order. The long
rinse cycle is usually used after a manual wash-up of the printing
system and the short rinse cycle is used as needed to remove paper
dust or other foreign matter from the ink supply system.
The desired cycle is initiated at the control panel 60 shown in
FIG. 2. The control panel includes a selector lever 62 with a dial
indicator 64, a start push-button 66, an excess ink push-button 68,
an open/close drain push-button 70 and an open drain indicator
light 72.
The cycle selector lever 62 is connected directly to a conventional
cam operated limit switch assembly which is connected directly
behind the control panel 60 (switch assembly not shown). The switch
assembly or sequence timer may be one such as a type C10 made by
the Raymond Controls Corp., Middleton, Conn. The switch assembly
includes a cam shaft 74 to which the selector lever is connected. A
small electric drive motor is connected to the other end of the cam
shaft. The cam shaft carries a ganged series of circular cams
between the selector lever and the drive motor one of which is
illustrated in dotted lines and denoted by numeral 63. The annular
surface of each cam is formed to provide at least one high area 65
and one low area 67. A conventional limit switch 69 is located
adjacent each cam. Thus, as the cam shaft 74 is rotated by the
drive motor, the cams are all caused to rotate; as they do so, the
high areas on the cams will close the adjacent limit switch and
conversely the low areas permit the limit switches to open.
Wires from the limit switch 69 carry electric signals to various
parts of the wash-up system such as ink pump 32 and solenoid valves
78 and 84. Thus, it can be seen that these devices may be turned on
and left on for whatever period of time is desired as determined by
the shape of the cam controlling its associated limit switch.
A conventional electrically operated flow valve 70 is placed in
line or conduit 52 between water supply 50 and the spray nozzles 60
in conduit 58 and spray nozzles 60 in conduits 66 and 68. Valve 70
is controlled by a signal from the limit switch associated with the
cam illustrated by the horizontal bar in FIG. 3 denoted "supply
rolls spray"; when the limit switch is energized by the high
surface of the cam, it supplies a signal to an electric solenoid in
valve 70 which opens the valve and permits water to flow
therethrough. When the signal stops, the valve closes to prevent
water from flowing through conduit 52. Thus the water pressure
control valve 88 may be left open to provide water at the desired
pressure to conduit 52. A similar valve 72 is placed in conduit 54
between water supply 50 and the spray nozzles 60 in conduits 74 and
76. Valve 72 is controlled by a signal from the limit switch
associated with the cam illustrated by the bar denoted "reservoir
spray" in FIG. 3 in the same manner as explained for valve 70.
Thus, the flow of water from water supply 50 is selectively
controlled to the conduits 74 and 76 in reservoir 28.
Similarly, a valve 74 is placed in conduit 56 to control the flow
of water from supply 50 to spray nozzle 60 in gravity tank 34;
valve 74 is controlled by the limit switch associated with the cam
illustrated by the bar denoted "gravity tank spray" in FIG. 3 in
the same manner as previously explained for valves 70 and 72. If
desired, nozzle 60 may be omitted from the end of conduit 56 and
the water permitted to flow unrestricted into tank 34.
Flow control valves 70, 72 and 74 may be a two-way normally closed
general purpose valve, Part No. LC2DB4150 made by Skinner Electric
Valve Div. of Skinner Precision Industries, Inc., New Britain,
Conn.
The desired sequence of operation of the wash-up system is provided
by the sequence timer whose operation is fully illustrated by the
timing diagram of FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, each horizontal bar represents
one of the cams that controls the device indicated for the bar. The
length of the bar represents one revolution of the cam.
It has been found that a period of 71/2 minutes is sufficient to
completely clean the ink supply system for a color change.
Therefore, the cam shaft is rotated by its motor once in 71/2
minutes thereby rotating each cam once in the same period of time.
The shaded portion of the horizontal bars represents the condition
of the device being controlled as indicated by the indicia at the
left end of each bar. A cam is also included to stop the cam shaft
drive motor at the completion of the cycle thereby resetting the
assembly for the next cycle. A time scale at the bottom of the
diagram illustrates the actual time desired for operation of each
device controlled by a cam.
To accomplish a complete wash cycle the following procedure is
followed: the ink pump 32 is turned on, the rubber roll 18 is
engaged with the supply roll 12 by extending air cylinder 19 by an
appropriate control (not shown) and, the printing system is
stopped. A bucket is placed under the discharge pipe 80 and the
excess ink button 68 is pushed on the control panel 60; button 68
is held on to discharge ink from line 80 until a 5 gallon indicator
11 is visible inside the reservoir 28. Button 68 is then released
and the ink bucket is removed and another empty 5 gallon bucket is
placed under pipe 80.
The purpose of the 5 gallon indicator is that ink is normally
supplied in 5 gallon buckets which are emptied into reservoir 28
which preferably has a capacity of 10 gallons. Assuming only 2
gallons are used for printing before a color change is made, the
operator may drain 3 gallons from the system into an empty bucket,
that is, until the ink level reaches the 5 gallon indicator 11 in
reservoir 28; at that time he may remove the partially filled
bucket and replace it with an empty bucket which can then be filled
with the 5 gallons of ink remaining in the reservoir by leaving
button 68 depressed. Thus, the operator is freed for other
tasks.
Then with the selector lever 62 turned to the "start" position on
dial 64; the start button 66 is pushed to initiate the complete
washing cycle. The cams are rotated by the camshaft drive motor
thereby opening and closing the limit switches to control
operations of the ink pump 32, solenoid valves 78 and 84, etc. in
accordance with the sequence shown in FIG. 3. A green indicator
light 66A in the center of push-button 66 indicates that an
automatic wash is in progress; the green light is connected to the
reset cam limit switch so that it is turned off when the cycle is
completed. The filter 40 is also removed from the gravity tank 34
and either completely cleaned or replaced with a clean filter
before the wash cycle is begun.
To accomplish a long rinse cycle, the first 21/2 minutes of the
complete wash cycle are by-passed by turning the selector lever 62
to the beginning of the "long rinse" indicated on dial 64 of panel
60. Turning lever 62 actually rotates the cams past the limit
switches so that when the cycle is initiated by the start button
66, the cams begin to rotate at their advanced positions. Thus, to
accomplish a long rinse cycle the following procedure is followed:
with no ink in the ink supply system, the printing system is
stopped with the supply roll 12 and rubber roll 18 rotating in
engagement and the ink pump 32 is turned on. The selector lever 62
is rotated clockwise to the beginning of the long rinse cycle
indicated on dial 64 and the start button 66 is pushed to initiate
the rinse cycle. As previously indicated, the rinse is complete
when the green light goes off. Again the filter 40 is either
cleaned or replaced.
A short rinse cycle is similarly accomplished by turning the
selector 62 clockwise to the beginning of the "short rinse"
indicated on dial 64. The cams are rotated as before to an advanced
position thereby by-passing approximately the first 41/2 minutes of
the complete wash cycle. To accomplish a short rinse, the following
procedure is followed: with no ink in the ink supply system, the
printing system is stopped with the rubber roll 18 engaged with the
supply roll 12 with both running and the ink pump 32 is turned on.
The selector 62 is rotated to the beginning of the short rinse
cycle indicated in the dial. The start button 66 is pushed. The
filter 40 is removed and emptied of collected materials and then
replaced in the gravity tank 34. After the rinse is completed, ink
is added to reservoir 28 for beginning the next order.
It should be recognized that printing systems such as illustrated
in FIG. 1 may be operated in tandem relationship with the blanks
being printed advancing as indicated by the arrow on the blank B
illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Each system may apply a
different color ink to the blank or only one color may be applied
while the other printing system is being cleaned by the wash-up
system of this invention. Accordingly, the invention affords a
further advantage in that production need not be stopped while
cleaning is in progress on the printing system not being used.
It has been found that more efficient cleaning occurs if the
temperature of the wash water is approximately 140.degree.F or
more. Thus, the supply line 50 may be connected to a hot water
supply usually available in the printing environment.
It has also been found that cleaning may be enhanced by the
addition of detergents to the cleaning system. Thus, following
drainage of the residual ink from the system as previously
explained, any suitable powder or liquid detergent may be manually
or automatically added to the wash water, preferably by manually
adding it to the reservoir 28. The detergent will be flushed from
the system during final spraying of the wash cycle and will drain
with the wash water from drain line 86.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the cleaning system permits
maximum recovery of the residual ink from the printing system,
conserves the amount of water needed to clean the system, and frees
the operator for other tasks while cleaning is in progress. More
thorough cleaning is possible since the cleaning steps are reliably
repeated each time the system is used.
Accordingly, the invention having been described in its best
embodiment and mode of operation, that which is desired to be
claimed by Letters Patent is:
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