EP1727681B1 - Device for cleaning the surface of a cylinder - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a cylinder surface in a printing press, with a cleaning surface for contacting the cylinder surface, which cleaning surface is rotatable about a motor parallel to the axis of the cylinder to be cleaned rotation axis. An adjusting device ensures that the cleaning surface can be adjusted to the cylinder surface and turned off by this requirement.

Such or similar cleaning devices are necessary in printing presses to wash off paint residue and paper dust and other contaminants from the cylinders involved in the printing, but also from other cylinders of the printing press, which come into contact with the substrate, unless this is done in the traditional manner of Hand should be done. As a rule, printing presses today are equipped with such cleaning devices.

As a cleaning surface for contacting the cylinder surface brush rollers are used, for example, which are arranged parallel to the cylinder to be cleaned and turned on or off. For optimum cleaning of the cylinder surface, the brush roller is set in motor rotation, so usually hydraulic, pneumatic or by means of an electric motor. The brush roller is rotating, usually employed during operation of the printing press, sometimes even during production, rotating to the cylinder surface in order to clean it. The removed with the brush roller from the cylinder surface dirt that is usually dissolved by water and / or detergent and mixed with these washing liquids is doctored with a doctor blade and collected in a tub. In order to prevent the resulting spraying and misting of water, detergent and dirt having adverse effects in the printing press, such a known device for cleaning a cylinder surface in a printing machine must be covered by complex housing designs. An example of such a known device is in EP-A-1 106 355 described.

In addition to the above-mentioned cleaning devices, there are those that operate on another principle, namely with a washing cloth, which is employed on the cylinder surface to be cleaned and wipes the dirt due to the rotational movement of the cylinder surface of this. A feed device, in cooperation with a winding and unwinding device for the washing cloth, ensures that the section of the washing cloth passing into contact with the cylinder surface is continuously renewed. However, this principle is maintenance-intensive, since the washcloth must be renewed regularly. Furthermore, cloth roll systems are heavy so that cleaning devices according to this principle can not be adopted by one person alone.

Another well-known principle for mechanically cleaning a cylinder surface in a printing press would be to call a simple squeegee, which is placed against the cylinder surface in order to rub off the dirt directly therefrom. Although this high pitching forces can be achieved to eliminate hard dirt, but the cleaning result is not optimal in most cases.

In a known device (see, eg US 5,784,963 ), which constitutes the closest prior art, is provided for motor rotation of the cleaning surface, a drive for changing the angular position of the cleaning surface with respect to the rotation axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder to be cleaned.

Here, therefore, the known from the devices with rotating brush rollers principle of an engageable on the cylinder surface cleaning surface, which is rotated about an axis parallel to the cylinder axis of rotation, modified to the effect that in addition to the advantages of a simple squeegee, namely the possibility of hard Anstellens and the simple Adjustment or the elimination of the need for readjustment during wear, are given. The cylinder surface to be cleaned usually rotates during the cleaning process, and therefore, a rotation of the cleaning surface of the cleaning device for generating a relative movement against the cylinder surface is not necessary. Instead, only the angular position of the cleaning surface is changed to repeatedly bring a fresh piece of cleaning surface to the cylinder surface.

Since there is no rotating brush roll, the washing liquids rotatably entrains, but the washing liquids are applied directly to the location of contact between the cleaning surface and the cylinder surface, these liquids can be dosed more accurately, whereby the consumption is minimized and there is no risk that when cleaning Cylinder surfaces with paper touch the paper web or the paper sheets absorb too much solvent and it may cause problems in the subsequent continuous dryer of the printing press. Also, a risk of splashing liquids, fog or rotating parts that need to be covered, is reduced here.

Newspaper web presses are capable of being cleaned both in the print on position and in the print out position at full production speed, cylinder surfaces with and without paper contact.

On this basis, the present invention has the object to improve a cleaning device of the type mentioned in terms of the best possible user use by combining advantages of different operating principles of known cleaning devices.

This object is achieved by a device with the feature combination of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the claims 2 to 13.

The invention is characterized in that the cleaning surfaces are formed as lateral surfaces of a cylinder segment. Here are several different cleaning surfaces available, of which then each one Cylinder segment lateral surface forms. For example, a brush surface can be combined with a sponge surface and a cloth. The brush surface may be provided with hard bristles for rapidly dissolving the boundary layer of dirt on the cylinder surface, followed by a cloth or sponge surface for wiping the loosened soil layer. Further cleaning surfaces may consist of sponge cloths, microfiber fabrics and / or different hard or soft brushes. Of course, all cylinder segments can be covered with a single type of cleaning surface, it is then possible, for example, to replace only one cylinder segment for maintenance purposes, while the remaining device installed and even continue to work.

A segmentation in particular of the lateral surface of a cylinder having a plurality of cleaning surfaces thus offers the greatest possible flexibility in use and the combination of identical or different cleaning surfaces for individual application-specific cleaning of a cylinder surface whose contamination varies according to the current process parameters of the printing press.

The gradual advance of the cleaning surface by gradually changing its angular position with respect to the axis of rotation is preferably clocked. Due to the clocked feed of the cleaning surface, a relatively hard employment of the cylinder surface is possible, so that complex adjustments for the contact pressure of the cleaning surface to the cylinder surface and Nachjustierarbeiten be superfluous.

The cylinder segments or their lateral surfaces according to this preferred embodiment of the invention can be shaped and arranged so that they are not arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation, but in cross section form the shape of a rotary piston. This sets the different cylinder segment cleaning surfaces from each other and can offer advantages for the separate installation and removal of a cylinder segment cleaning surface.

Other very significant advantages arise when the cleaning surface (s) are mounted on a profile or frame by means of a quick-change system. Such a quick-change system particularly comprises quick-release fasteners with axial and radial locking elements, as they are known for example for attaching printing plates to a printing cylinder per se. In order to replace a cleaning surface due to wear or excessive contamination or to clean outside the cleaning device, this does not require the entire device to be removed, but it is only the relevant cleaning surface by means of the quick change system this even working.

The profile or frame used in this case may consist of extruded aluminum; however, for weight reasons, it may be advantageous to make the carbon fiber profile. As a result, then the entire device can be removed and mounted in one-man operation.

The cleaning surfaces of the device according to the invention may be associated with a squeegee and / or wringer, which preferably acts on a non-attached to the cylinder surface to be cleaned cleaning surface and frees them from the cleaned dirt and the washing liquids. After a further stepwise rotation of the cleaning surface then this piece can be freshly used again for hitting the cylinder surface to be cleaned.

For applying washing liquids to the cylinder surface to be cleaned, a spraying device for spraying the cylinder surface and / or the cleaning surface with washing liquids may be present, as known per se in the form of a separate spray tube. Alternatively, however, the washing liquids can also be brought to the cleaning surface in the interior of the above-mentioned profile or the frame and be brought through it into the contact region between the cleaning surface and the cylinder surface to be cleaned, so that a washing liquid distributor device is integrated into the cleaning surface.

The step drive of the device according to the invention comprises in a particularly preferred embodiment, a ratchet or pawl mechanism, which is preferably associated with a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder unit. However, the cutting drive may also be an electric stepping motor, but this is at a disadvantage compared to the simpler ratchet or pawl mechanism in terms of its weight.

A uniform piston stroke of the piston-cylinder unit is transmitted via the ratchet or pawl mechanism to the cleaning surface such that a cyclic feed of the cleaning surface, with respect to the rotational axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder to be cleaned, is effected.

Fig. 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2:

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

eine Detail aus Fig. 1, in einer leicht veränderten Perspektive;

Fig. 4:

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbei- spiels.

Two embodiments of a device according to the invention are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

an exploded view of the device Fig. 1 ;

3:

a detail from Fig. 1 in a slightly different perspective;

4:

a schematic side view of a second exemplary embodiment.

In Fig. 1 is an embodiment of an inventive device shown in perspective, which is like conventional washing machines in web offset printing presses by means of a known per se and therefore not shown Anstellmechanik to the cylinder surface to be cleaned (also not visible here) hired. This Anstellmechanik usually includes two Kurzhubzylinder which are mounted on a respective side plate in the printing press.

In the Fig. 1 illustrated device comprises four cleaning surfaces 1, which are each formed as a lateral surface of a cylinder segment and together form a complete cylinder jacket. By a pneumatic Stepper drive, which consists of a pneumatic short-stroke cylinder 2, a linkage 3 and a commercially available ratchet mechanism 4, the cleaning surface 1 is clocked past the rotating cylinder surface to be cleaned. The up and down movement of the pneumatic short-stroke cylinder 2 is converted via the linkage 3 in a rotary motion of the ratchet mechanism 4, so that depending on the position of its adjusting device 5 at each stroke of the short-stroke cylinder 2, a feed of the cleaning surface 1, ie a change of the Angular position with respect to the axis of rotation 17 extending through the center of the ratchet mechanism 4, generated in or against the direction of rotation of the cylinder surface. The ratchet mechanism 4 engages after each stroke of the Kurzhubzylinders 2 in the appropriate position and holds the cleaning surface 1 in a defined angular position. By this advance of the cleaning surface 1 is always a Be-rich with fresh unconsumed cleaning surface in contact with the cylinder surface, which on the one hand the dirt is already partially removed and on the other hand clean cleaning surface is available to ensure a clean mass transfer.

A spray tube 6 ensures that washing liquids are sprayed onto the cylinder surface to be cleaned, in the exact area in which the cleaning, so the contact between the cleaning surface 1 and the cylinder surface takes place. Alternatively, washing liquid could also be introduced from the inside through the cleaning surfaces 1 into the contact region between the cleaning surface 1 and the cylinder surface to be cleaned.

The cleaned and entrained on the cleaning surface 1 dirt and the residual washing liquids are guided due to the constant clocked feed to a doctor device 7 and stripped there and / or wrung out. This ensures a constant self-cleaning and reconditioning of the respective cleaning surfaces 1. The squeegee 7 is supported by a number of squeegee holders 8, which vary in number depending on the width of the device. The depth of engagement of the doctor and the associated intensity of self-cleaning is done by means of adjusting screws 9.

As in Fig. 2 can be seen more clearly, the above-described items of the device according to the invention are held by a frame which consists essentially of two side cheeks 10, a holding profile 11 and a tube section 12. On the tube section 12, the cleaning surfaces 1 are fixed by means of axial and radial locking elements 13, which form quick-release buckles of a quick-change system. Because of this quick-change system, those cleaning surfaces 1 that require external cleaning or renewal in the course of prolonged use can be removed or replaced even when the device is installed.

Fig. 3 shows an enlargement of one side of the in Fig. 1 illustrated device for further clarification of their operating principle. The ratchet mechanism 4 acts through the side cheek 10 on the mounted on the side cheek 10 tube profile 12, which moves as soon as the short-stroke cylinder 2 performs a lifting movement on the linkage 3.

Fig. 4 shows in a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. For holding three different cleaning surfaces, a brush surface 1, a cloth covering 1 'and a sponge covering 1 ", a frame-shaped cross-section frame is provided, with a stepper motor 14 arranged coaxially as a stepper drive complete the device for cleaning a cylinder surface 16.

In the Fig. 4 The device shown makes it possible to brush off hard dirt build-up on the cylinder surface 16 with the hard brush surface 1, to cleanly remove the residual dirt by means of a sponge covering 1 and to dry it with a cloth covering 1. Here too, a quick-change system is used for easy attachment and detachment of the cleaning surfaces 1 , 1 ', 1 "are used.

Thus, the present invention is a novel cleaning device which is used universally for cleaning in particular blanket cylinders in newspaper, commercial and sheet-fed presses can be. Compared to the conventionally known systems which make cleaning by means of a brush or cloth system, this is a combination of these principles, with both additional cleaning media such as sponges, microfibers or other can be used as cleaning surfaces both brushes and towels.

Claims (13)

1. A device for cleaning the surface of a cylinder in a printing press, comprising a cleaning face (1, 1', 1") for making contact with the cylinder surface (16), said cleaning face (1, 1', 1") being rotatable by a motor about an axis of rotation (17) oriented parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the cylinder to be cleaned, and comprising an actuator for advancing and retracting the cleaning face (1) to and from the cylinder surface (16), whereby for powered rotation of the cleaning face (1) an incremental servo-drive (2, 3, 4, 5, 14) is provided which modifies the angular position of the cleaning face (1) by increments in relation to the axis of rotation characterized in that several differing cleaning faces (1, 1', 1") are provided, each of which forms a cylinder segment shell face.
2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein for powered rotation of the cleaning face (1) an incremental servo-drive (2, 3, 4, 5, 14) is provided which modifies the angular position of the cleaning face (1) clocked in relation to the axis of rotation.
3. The device as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cylinder segment shell faces are arranged not coaxial to the axis of rotation but particularly cross-sectionally in a rotary piston configuration.
4. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the cleaning faces (1, 1', 1") comprise a brush face, a sponge face and/or a cloth.
5. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one cleaning face (1) is fastened by means of a quick-change system to a profile (12) or frame.
6. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the quick-change system comprises quick-release fasteners with axial and radial locking elements (13).
7. The device as set forth in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the profile (12) or frame is made of extruded aluminum or carbon fibers.
8. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 7 wherein the cleaning faces (1) are assigned a wash-up blade and/or wringer means (7).
9. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 8 wherein a sprayer (6) is provided for spraying the cylinder surface (16) and/or the cleaning face (1) with wash fluids (15).
10. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 9 wherein a wash fluid distributer is integrated in the cleaning face (1).
11. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 10 wherein the incremental servo-drive comprises a ratchet or pawl mechanism (4).
12. The device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the ratchet or pawl mechanism (4) is assigned a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder unit (2).
13. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 10 wherein the incremental servo-drive is an electric stepper motor (14).

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