Drag roller device for printing apparatus

A drag roller device for a printing apparatus comprises a cleaning means for cleaning a drag roller. The cleaning means is in contact with a part of the circumferential surface of the drag roller except for the circumferential area around which a printed continuous sheet fed from a printing section is wound. The cleaning means may be movable within the circumferential area of the drag roller or separable from it. The cleaning means may be supplied with a cleaning liquid. In the drag roller device thus constructed, the cleaning means can remove various stains and/or spots of ink transferred from the circumferential surface of the drag roller and/or additional rollers at each revolution of the drag roller. This cleaning operation of the cleaning means ensures to prevent the printed surface of the continuous sheet succeedingly fed from damaging with the stains and spots of ink from the drag roller and so on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to a drag roller device adapted for 
printing apparatuses, and, more particularly relates to a drag roller 
device equipped with various cleaning mechanisms for cleaning the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Conventionally, printing apparatuses have employed various drag roller 
devices to the conveyance of a printed material, for example as shown in 
"Newspaper Printing; Printing Edition Revised Version" published by Nippon 
Shinbun Kyokai (Japan Newspaper Association) on Oct. 31, 1980, line 21 to 
34 in the left column on page 61, and Japanese Patent for Utility Model 
Publication No. 1-30449 entitled "Rotary Press Printing Apparatus". In 
these conventional documents, a typical drag roller device includes a 
plurality of drag rollers arranged at the downstream side of a printing 
section. A continuous sheet such as a paper web commonly used as a 
material to be printed is conveyed among the plurality of drag rollers. 
The continuous sheet is partially wound around the circumferential surface 
of the drag roller, or an additional roller forcibly brings the continuous 
sheet into contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller to 
apply the traveling motion to the continuous sheet. Further, the plural 
drag rollers are driven in such a manner that the circumferential speed of 
the drag roller is slightly faster than the upstream drag roller so as to 
feed the continuous sheet to the downstream side with always applying 
tension thereto. 
In a printing process for newspapers, both surfaces of the continuous sheet 
are printed at the same printing section and fed by the above described 
drag roller device. The circumferential surface of the drag roller is 
easily stained by the printed ink on one surface of the continuous sheet 
which is in contact with the drag roller. Particularly, in the drag roller 
device including the additional roller which forcibly brings the 
continuous sheet into the circumferential surface of the drag roller, the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller is remarkably stained because 
the printed surface is strongly pressed on the circumferential surface of 
the drag roller. Further the stained surface of the drag roller will also 
stain succeeding printed surfaces of the continuous sheet. 
The additional roller for bringing the continuous sheet into contact with 
the drag roller is also stained by the printed surface of the continuous 
sheet. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a drag roller device 
which is free from staining with printed ink. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a drag roller device which 
can keep the circumferential surface of the drag roller clean by a simple 
means. 
To accomplish the above objects, a drag roller device for a printing 
apparatus comprises a cleaning means for cleaning a drag roller. The 
cleaning means is in contact with a part of the circumferential surface of 
the drag roller except for the circumferential area around which a printed 
continuous sheet fed from a printing section is wound. The cleaning means 
may be movable within the circumferential area of the drag roller or 
separable from it. The cleaning means may be supplied with a cleaning 
liquid. 
In the drag roller device thus constructed according to the present 
invention, the cleaning means can remove various stains or spots of ink 
from the circumferential surface of the drag roller and/or additional 
rollers at each revolution of the drag roller. This cleaning operation of 
the cleaning means prevents the printed surface of the continuous sheet 
succeedingly fed from the printing section from staining by the drag 
roller. 
Since the drag roller device is so simply constructed, an operator can 
easily perform maintenance of the device. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The drag roller devices according to the preferred embodiments of the 
present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings. Through the drawings, the same or corresponding components and 
elements are denoted by the same numerals to facilitate understanding of 
the present invention. 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a drag roller device according to a 
first embodiment of the present invention wherein a paper web W, as a 
continuous sheet to be printed, is wound around a drag roller 1 which is 
in contact with a contact roller 2 as a cleaning means and a plurality of 
web rollers WR for retaining the paper web W towards the drag roller 1. In 
the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the contact roller 2 is longer than 
the width of the paper web W or slightly longer than the whole width 
defined by the both ends of the web rollers WR. The axis of the contact 
roller 2 is arranged in parallel to that of the drag roller 1. The contact 
roller 2 is rotatably supported by well known means. If the contact roller 
2 is longer than the width of the paper web W, the contact roller 2 is 
arranged along the longitudinal direction of the drag roller 1 so as to 
correspond to a circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 for guiding 
the paper web W. If the contact roller 2 is slightly longer than the whole 
width of the web rollers WR, the contact roller 2 is so arranged to cover 
the whole length of the web rollers WR which retain the paper web W to the 
drag roller 1. The contact roller 2 is brought into contact with the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 except for the 
circumferential area around which the paper web W is wound. Thus the 
contact roller 2 is revolved in the counter direction of the drag roller 1 
by the revolving force of the drag roller 1. 
The contact roller 2 is covered with an elastic layer whose circumferential 
surface is possessed of lipophilic property similar to or more than the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. Such the elastic material is 
preferably selected from natural rubber, synthetic rubbers such a nitrile 
rubber, urethane rubber and the like, and synthetic resins. 
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show respectively drag roller devices according to second 
and third embodiments in which an endless belt 3 as a cleaning means is 
brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1. This endless belt 3 is also wider than the width of the paper web W or 
slightly wider than the whole width defined by the both ends of the web 
roller WR. The endless belt 3 is wound around a pair of support rollers 4 
which are rotatably arranged in parallel to the drag roller 1 by well 
known means. If the endless belt 3 is wider than the width of the paper 
web W, the endless belt 3 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of 
the drag roller 1 so as to correspond to the circumferential surface of 
the drag roller 1 for guiding the paper web W. If the endless belt 3 is 
slightly wider than the whole width of the web rollers WR, the endless 
belt 3 is so arranged to cover the whole length of the web rollers WR 
which retain the paper web W to the drag roller 1. At least one of the 
support rollers 4 brings the endless belt 3 into contact with the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 except for the 
circumferential area around which the paper web W is wound. Thus the 
endless belt 3 is moved in the counter direction of the drag roller 1 by 
the revolving force of the drag roller 1. 
Each of the endless belt 3 and/or the support rollers 4 is provided with an 
elastic layer, and the surface of the endless belt 3 is made of the same 
material as the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
FIG. 4 shows a drag roller device according to a fourth embodiment in which 
a stick type brush 5 is used as a cleaning means. The stick type brush 5 
is longer than the width of the paper web W or slightly longer than the 
whole width defined by the both ends of the web rollers WR. The axis of 
the stick type brush 5 is arranged in parallel to that of the drag roller 
1 by any suitable means. If the stick type brush 5 is longer than the 
width of the paper web W, the stick type brush 5 is arranged along the 
longitudinal direction of the drag roller 1 so as to correspond to 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 for guiding the paper web W. 
If the stick type brush 5 is slightly longer than the whole width of the 
web rollers WR, the stick type brush 5 is so arranged to cover the whole 
length of the web rollers WR which retain the paper web W to the drag 
roller 1. The brush end of the stick type brush 5 is brought into contact 
with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 except for the 
circumferential area around which the paper web W is wound. 
The bristles of the brush 5 can be selected from any elastic members 
capable of brushing the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
FIG. 5 shows a drag roller device according to a fifth embodiment in which 
a rotating brush 6 is used as a cleaning means. The bristle end of the 
brush 6 is in contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1. The rotating brush 6 is provided with a shaft end pulley 7a. A drive 
belt 9 is wound around the shaft end pulley 7a, an intermediate pulley 7b 
and an output pulley 7c of a power motor 8. The drive belt 9 is applied 
with tension by a tension pulley 10. According to this construction, the 
rotating brush 6 can be rotated independent of the drag roller 1 in the 
counter direction or the same direction as it by the revolving force of 
the power motor 8. 
The bristles of the rotating brush 6 can be selected from any elastic 
members capable of brushing the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1. 
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show drag roller devices according to sixth and seventh 
embodiments which are modifications of the drag roller devices shown in 
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively. That is, the drag roller devices shown in 
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 employ an endless brush belt 11 as a cleaning means 
instead of the endless belt 3 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. One of the 
support rollers 4 is provided with a shaft end pulley 7a. A drive belt 9 
is wound around the shaft end pulley 7a, an intermediate pulley 7b and an 
output pulley 7c of a power motor 8. The drive belt 9 is applied with 
tension by a tension pulley 10. According to this construction, the 
support roller 4 can be rotated independent of the drag roller 1 in the 
counter direction or the same direction as it by the revolving force of 
the power motor 8. The endless brush belt 11 is also moved in the counter 
direction or the same direction of the drag roller 1. The brush end of the 
endless brush belt 11 is moved along the circumference of the drag roller 
1 with keeping in contact with the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1 by the retaining force of at least one of the support rollers 4. 
The bristles of the endless brush belt 11 can be selected from any elastic 
members capable of brushing the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1. 
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a drag roller device according to an eighth 
embodiment which is a modification of the drag roller device shown in FIG. 
4. That is, the drag roller device shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 employs a 
driving means for driving the stick type brush 5 in its longitudinal 
direction. 
At both sides of the stick of the stick type brush 5, flanges 5a, 5a 
extending in the longitudinal direction of the brush 5 are integrally 
formed. Each of the flanges 5a, 5a is supported by a pair of guide bars 
12, 12 which are extendingly arranged in parallel to the flange 5a so that 
the stick type brush 5 can be reciprocally moved in the longitudinal 
direction of the drag roller 1 by the driving means. This driving means 
comprises a crank mechanism 13 and a power motor 8. The crank mechanism 13 
includes a linkage bar 13a whose base end is pivotally and eccentrically 
secured to a drive plate 13b fixed to an output shaft of the power motor 
8, and whose top end is pivotally secured to the end of the frange 5a at 
the one side of the stick type brush 5. 
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a drag roller device according to an ninth 
embodiment which is a modification of the drag roller device shown in FIG. 
7. That is, the drag roller device shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 employs an 
endless brush belt 11 extendingly arranged in the longitudinal direction 
of the drag roller 1. 
In the ninth embodiment, the width of the endless brush belt 11 is not so 
wide as that shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. On the other hand, the length 
between the support rollers 4, 4 must be longer than the width of the 
paper web W or slightly longer than the whole width defined by the both 
ends of the web rollers WR. The bristles of the endless brush belt 11 are 
always in contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 at 
the support rollers 4, 4 and along therebetween, and the endless brush 
belt 11 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the drag roller 1. 
In the embodiments shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, 
the driving combination between the drive belt 9 and the pulleys 7a, 7b, 
7c may be replaced with a timing belt and tooth formed pulleys; or a chain 
and sprocket wheels. Further, the tension pulley 10 may be also replaced 
with any suitable member adapted for each mechanism. 
Drag roller devices according to tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, 
fourteenth and fifteenth embodiments shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 18 are 
modifications of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, 
FIG. 6, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, respectively. In these modified embodiments, 
the contact roller 2, the endless belt 3, the stick type brush 5, the 
rotating brush 6 and the endless brush belt 11 are movably arranged by 
drive mechanisms between their contact position and their separate 
position with respect to the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
The drive mechanism may be selected from a pneumatic or hydraulic 
cylinder, an electromagnetic actuating device, a screw driving device and 
the like. 
These modified embodiments provide an advantage that cleaning means such as 
the contact roller, the endless belt, the rotating brush and the endless 
brush belt can be easily separated from the drag roller 1 when the 
printing work is not carried out to set the paper web, set or replace a 
printing plate at the printing section, clean the printing apparatus after 
printing work, and so on. Therefore, the cleaning means can be free from 
damaging, or deforming in comparison with the non-separable type cleaning 
means shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 11. This will also extend the period capable 
of using the cleaning means, thereby reducing running cost of the printing 
apparatus. 
In the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, both ends of the axis of the 
contact roller 2 shown in FIG. 1 are rotatably supported by center 
position of swing arms 14, 14. Base ends of the swing arms 14, 14 are 
pivotably connected to a stationary member 15 and the other ends are 
connected each other through a link arm, not shown in the drawing. One of 
the swing arms 14, 14 is connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 
16. The hydraulic cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the 
stationary member 15. 
In the eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 13, both ends of the axis of one 
of the support rollers 4 shown in FIG. 2 are rotatably supported by center 
position of swing arms 14, 14, and both ends of the axis of the other 
support roller 4 are rotatably supported by free end of another swing arm 
17, 17. Base ends Of the swing arms 14, 14, and 17, 17 are pivotably 
connected to a stationary member 15. The same side axis ends of the 
support rollers 14 and 17 are connected each other through a connection 
rod 18 to form a parallel link mechanism. The other ends of the swing arms 
14, 14 are connected each other through a link arm, not shown in the 
drawing. At least one of the swing arms 14, 14 is connected to a piston 
rod of a hydraulic cylinder 16 through the link arm. The hydraulic 
cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the stationary member 15. 
In the twelfth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, both ends of the axis of the 
stick type brush 5 shown in FIG. 4 are supported by center position of 
swing arms 14, 14. Base ends of the swing arms 14, 14 are pivotably 
connected to a stationary member 15 and the other ends are connected each 
other through a link arm, not shown in the drawing. One of the swing arms 
14, 14 is connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 16. The 
hydromatic cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the stationary 
member 15. 
In the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 15, both ends of the axis of the 
rotating brush 6 shown in FIG. 5 are rotatably supported by center 
positioning swing arms 14, 14. Base ends of the swing arms 14, 14 are 
pivotably connected to a stationary member 15 and the other ends are 
connected each other through a link arm, not shown in the drawing. One of 
the swing arms 14, 14 is connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 
16. The hydromatic cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the 
stationary member 15. 
In the fourteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 16, both ends of the axis of one 
of the support rollers 4 shown in FIG. 6 are rotatably supported by center 
positioning of swing arms 14, 14, and both ends of the axis of the other 
support roller 4 are rotatably supported by free ends of another swing 
arms 17, 17. Base ends of the swing arms 14, 14, ad 17, 17 are pivotably 
connected to a stationary member 15. The same side of the axial ends of 
the swing arm 14 and 17 are connected to each other through a connection 
rod 18 to form a parallel link mechanism. The other ends of the swing arms 
14, 14 are connected to each other through a link arm, not shown in the 
drawing. At least one of the swing arms 14, 14 is connected to a piston 
rod of a hydraulic cylinder 16 through the link arm. The hydraulic 
cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the stationary member 15. 
In the fifteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the same side 
axis ends of the support rollers 4 shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are 
rotatably supported by free ends of swing arms 17, 17, and the other side 
axis ends are rotatably supported by free ends of swing arms 19, 19, 
respectively. Base ends of the swing arms 17, 17, and center positions of 
the swing arms 19, 19 are pivotably connected to stationary members 15. 
Base ends of the swing arms 19, 19 are the same side axis ends of the 
support rollers 4 are connected to both ends of connection rods 18, 18, 18 
to form a parallel link mechanism At least one of the ,swing arms 19, 19 
is connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 16 through the link 
arm. The hydraulic cylinder 16 is also pivotably connected to the 
stationary member 15. 
In the same manner as the above modifications, the endless belt 3, the 
endless brush belt 11 and the stick type brush 5 in the embodiments shown 
in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 may be also movably arranged by well known 
drive mechanisms. These modified configurations are not shown in the 
drawings. 
The contact members such as the contact roller 2, in the above described 
embodiments, may be also varied, for example its circumferential surface 
member brought into contact with the drag roller 1 may be made of a cloth 
material such as canvas, non-woven fabric, and the like, or a porous 
material such as foamed resin, felt, and the like, or composite material 
thereof. When these various contact members are used in the configurations 
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the contact roller 2 or the endless 
belt 3 is preferably provided with any control means (not shown in the 
drawings) for controlling the revolution of them. 
Further, if such the cloth or porous contact member can contain cleaning 
liquid for cleaning the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1, the 
contact member is previously loaded with the cleaning liquid or supplied 
with the cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supplying means. 
Alternatively, the cleaning liquid may be directly supplied to the drag 
roller 1. 
A sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 19 employs a contact roller 2 whose 
circumferential surface is covered with a cloth layer 2a, and a cleaning 
liquid supplying means 20 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cloth 
layer 2a. This cleaning liquid supplying means 20 comprises a cleaning 
liquid reservoir 20a, a nozzle member 20b extending along the whole length 
of the contact roller 2, and a pipe system 20c connected between the 
cleaning liquid reservoir 20a and the nozzle member 20b. The pipe system 
20c is further provided with a control valve 20d. The contact roller 2 is 
also provided with a control means ((not shown in the drawing) to control 
the revolving speed of the contact roller 2. 
A seventeenth embodiment shown in FIG. 20 employs a felt member 22 held by 
a holder 21 instead of the stick type brush 5 shown in the FIG. 4. The 
felt member 22 contains the cleaning liquid. 
Of course the drag roller devices shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 do not 
always need the cleaning liquid. 
Operations on thus constructed drag roller devices will be described in 
detail. 
In a commonly used rotary press printing system, the drag roller devices 
are arranged at the downstream side of a printing section. At each of the 
drag roller devices, the paper web W fed from the printing section is 
wound around the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 at a 
predetermined angle. Alternatively, in addition to winding the paper web W 
around the drag roller 1, the paper web W 1 is forcibly depressed on the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the web roller WR. The 
drag rollers 1 are so controlled as to drive the downstream drag roller 
slightly faster than adjacent upstream drag roller, thereby feeding the 
paper web to the downstream side while always applying tension to it. Upon 
running the paper web, the printed ink on the paper web W is partially 
transferred to the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. This 
transferred ink can be completely removed from the circumferential surface 
of the drag roller 1 at every revolution of the drag roller 1 by the 
cleaning means having various configurations already described. 
In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when the drag roller 1 is revolved 
in the arrow direction, the contact roller 2 is also revolved in the 
counter direction of the drag roller 1 by the revolving force of the drag 
roller 1. Since the circumferential surface of the contact roller 2 is 
firmly in contact with that of the drag roller 1, the ink and stains are 
peeled off and removed from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1. The removed ink and stains adhere to the surface of the contact roller 
2 and are thereon to prevent the ink and stains from re-transferring to 
the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
In the second and third embodiments shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the 
drag roller 1 is revolved in the arrow direction, the endless belt 3 
brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 
by at least one of the support rollers 4, 4 is revolved in the counter 
direction of the drag roller 1 by the revolving force of the drag roller 
1. Accordingly, the ink and stains are peeled off and removed from 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the endless belt 3. The 
removed ink and stains adhere to the surface of the endless belt 3. 
In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4, as the drag roller 1 is revolved, 
the ink and stains are brushingly removed from the circumferential surface 
of the drag roller 1 by the bristles of the stick type brush 5 which is 
arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drag roller 1 so as 
to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the rotating brush 6 is revolved 
in the same or counter direction of the drag roller 1 by the revolving 
force of the power motor 8 through the belt-drive mechanism (7a, 7b, 7c, 
and 9). Accordingly, the ink and stains are brushingly removed from the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the bristles of the 
rotating brush 6. When the rotating brush 6 is revolved in the counter 
direction of the drag roller 1, their circumferential revolving speeds 
must be different each other. 
In the sixth and seventh embodiments shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the 
endless brush belt 11 is revolved in the same or counter direction of the 
drag roller 1 by the revolving force of the power motor 8 through the 
belt-drive mechanism (7a, 7b, 7c, and 9) and the support rollers 4, 4. In 
the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the endless brush belt 
11 is reciprocatingly moved between the support rollers 4, 4 in parallel 
to the longitudinal axis of the drag roller 1 by the revolving force of 
the power motor 8 through the belt-drive mechanism (7a, 7b, 7c and 9) and 
the support rollers 4, 4. Accordingly, the ink and stains are brushingly 
removed from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the 
bristles of the endless brush belt 11. When the endless brush belt 11 is 
revolved in the counter direction of the drag roller 1, their 
circumferential revolving speeds must be different from each other. 
In the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the stick type brush 5 
is reciprocatingly moved along the guide bars 12, 12 in parallel to the 
longitudinal axis of the drag roller 1 by the revolving force of the power 
motor 8 through the crank mechanism 13. Accordingly, the ink and stains 
are brushingly removed from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 
1 by the bristles of the stick type brush 5. 
In the tenth, twelfth, and thirteenth embodiments shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 14 
and FIG. 15, the swing arms 14, 14 are moved in the clockwise direction 
shown in the drawings when the piston rod is extended upon the actuation 
of the hydraulic cylinder 16. The circumferential surface of the contact 
roller 2, the bristles of the stick type brush 5 and the rotating brush 6 
are brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1. Accordingly, the ink and stains are peeled off or brushingly 
removed from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the 
contact roller 2 or the bristles of the stick type brush 5 or the rotating 
brush 6 in the same manner as the first, fourth and fifth embodiments 
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Alternatively, the swing arms 14, 14 
are moved in the counter-clockwise direction shown in the drawings when 
the piston rod is withdrawn upon the counter actuation of the hydromatic 
cylinder 16. The circumferential surface of the contact roller 2, the 
bristles of the stick type brush 5 and the rotating brush 6 are parted 
from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. The contact roller 
2, the stick type brush 5 and the rotating brush 6 are returned to their 
waiting position. 
In the eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 13 and the fourteenth embodiment 
shown in FIG. 16, the swing arms 14, 14 are moved in the clockwise 
direction shown in the drawings when the piston rod is extended upon the 
actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 16. The circumferential surface of the 
endless belt 3 and the bristles of the endless brush belt 11 are brought 
into contact with the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 through 
the parallel link mechanism constituted by the swing arms 14, 14 and 17, 
17, and the connection rods 18, 18. Accordingly, the ink and stains are 
peeled off or brushingly removed from the circumferential surface of the 
drag roller 1 in the same manner as the second and sixth embodiments shown 
in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. Alternatively, the swing arms 14, 14 are moved in 
the counter-clockwise direction shown in the drawings when the piston rod 
is withdrawn upon the counter actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 16. The 
circumferential surface of the endless belt 3 and the bristles of the 
endless brush belt 11 are parted from the circumferential surface of the 
drag roller 1 through the parallel link mechanism constituted by the swing 
arms 14, 14 and 17, 17, and the connection rods 18, 18. The endless belt 3 
and the endless brush belt 11 are returned to their waiting position. 
In the fifteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the swing arms 
19, 19 are moved in the clockwise direction shown in the drawings when the 
piston rod is withdrawn upon the actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 16. 
The bristles of the endless, brush belt 11 are brought into contact with 
the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 through the parallel link 
mechanism constituted by the swing arms 19, 19 and 17, 17, and the 
connection rods 18, 18, 18. Accordingly, the ink and stains are brushingly 
removed from the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 in the same 
manner as the ninth embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. 
Alternatively, the swing arms 19, 19 drawings when the piston rod is 
extended upon the counter actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 16. The 
bristles of the endless brush belt 11 are parted from the circumferential 
surface of the drag roller 1 through the parallel link mechanism 
constituted by the swing arms 19, 19 and 17, 17, and the connection rods 
18, 18, 18. The endless brush belt 11 are returned to their waiting 
position. 
In the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 19, when the drag roller 1 is 
revolved in the arrow direction, the contact roller 2 is also revolved in 
the counter direction of the drag roller 1 at a slightly slower speed than 
that of the drag roller, 1 by a speed control means. At the same time, the 
cleaning liquid reserved in the reservoir 20a is supplied to the cloth 
layer 2a and/or the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 through 
the nozzle member 20b of the cleaning liquid supplying means 20. The cloth 
layer 2a of the contact roller 2 contains the cleaning liquid which 
extricates the ink and stains from the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1. Then the cloth layer 2a of the contact roller 2 can easily and 
completely remove the ink and stains from the drag roller 1. 
The control valve of the cleaning liquid supplying means 20 controls the 
flow rate of the cleaning liquid supplied from the nozzle member 20b 
through the pipe system 20c, or stops the supply. 
Even when the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the contact roller 2, the 
cloth layer 2a of the contact roller 2 can remove the ink and stains from 
the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. 
In the seventeenth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the felt member 22 is 
arranged in essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drag 
roller 1 so as to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the 
drag roller 1. The felt member 22 contains the cleaning liquid which can 
extricate the ink and stains from the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1 and remove them easily. 
Even when the felt member 22 does not contain the cleaning liquid, the felt 
member 22 can remove the ink and stains from the circumferential surface 
of the drag roller 1. 
In the above described embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to, FIG. 20, the contact 
length of the cleaning means drag roller 1 in the longitudinal direction 
of the drag roller 1 is longer than the width of the paper web W, or 
slightly longer than the whole length between the web rollers WR for 
retaining the paper web W onto the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1. These lengths may be varied in response to the length between 
frames for supporting the drag roller 1. 
The contact member of the cleaning means may be divided and the divided 
contact members may be arranged in parallel to the axis of the drag roller 
1. Each of the divided contact members may be moved within each cleaning 
area corresponding to divided section of the circumferential surface of 
the drag roller 1. 
FIG. 21 shows a drag roller device according to an eighteenth embodiment in 
which each of the web rollers WR is provided with a contact roller 102. 
The contact roller 102 is slightly longer than that of the web roller WR 
and arranged in parallel to the web roller WR so as to coordinate the 
contact rollers 102 with the corresponding web rollers WR to retain 
completely the paper web W onto the circumferential surface of the drag 
roller 1. The contact rollers 102 are rotatably supported by commonly used 
support means. Further the contact rollers 102 are also brought into 
contact with the circumferential surface of the web rollers WR so that the 
contact rollers 102 are revolved in the counter direction of the web 
rollers WR. 
Each of the contact rollers 102 is covered with an elastic layer whose 
circumferential surface, .is possessed of lipophilic property similar to 
or more than the circumferential surface, of the web roller WR. Such 
elastic material is preferably selected from natural rubber, synthetic 
rubbers such as nitrile rubber, urethane rubber and the like, and 
synthetic resins. 
The contact rollers 102 may be also replaced by the various configured 
cleaning means shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 20. 
A typical operation of the eighteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 21 will be 
described. 
In a commonly used rotary press printing system, the drag roller devices 
are arranged at the downstream side of a printing section. At each of the 
drag roller devices, the paper web W fed from the printing section is 
wound around the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 at a 
predetermined angle. Then, in addition to winding the paper web W around 
the drag roller 1, the paper web W 1 is forcibly depressed on the 
circumferential surface of the drag roller 1 by the web rollers WR. Upon 
running the paper web W, the printed ink on the paper web W is partially 
transferred to the circumferential surface of the drag roller 1. This 
transferred ink can be completely removed from the circumferential surface 
of the drag roller 1 at every revolution of the drag roller 1 by the 
contact members such as the contact rollers 102 which are in contact with 
the circumferential surface of the web rollers WR or the combination of 
the contact members and the cleaning liquid. 
In the eighteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the web roller WR is 
revolved in the counter direction of the web roller WR by the revolving 
force of the web roller WR. The ink and stains are peeled off and removed 
from the circumferential surface of the web roller WR. The removed ink and 
stains adhere to the surface of the contact roller 102 and are piled 
thereon. 
When the contact roller 102 is replaced by the cleaning means shown in FIG. 
2 to FIG. 20, the ink and stains are removed from the circumferential 
surface of the web rollers WR as in the drag roller 1. 
FIG. 22 shows a drag roller device according to a nineteenth embodiment in 
which each of the web rollers WR and the drag roller 1 are respectively 
provided with a short contact roller 102 and a long contact roller 2. The 
short and long contact rollers 102 and 2 may be also replaced by the 
various configured cleaning means shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 20. The ink and 
stains are simultaneously removed from each circumferential surface of the 
web rollers WR and the drag roller 1 by their cleaning functions of the 
respective cleaning means. 
As explained above, the drag roller device according to the present 
invention includes a simple constructed cleaning means which can remove 
various stains or spots of ink from the circumferential surface of the 
drag roller and/or the additional rollers at each revolution of the drag 
roller and/or additional rollers. This cleaning operation of this cleaning 
means prevents the succeedingly fed printed surface of the paper web from 
being damaged with such stains or ink spots re-transferred from the drag 
roller and/or the additional rollers. The drag roller device according to 
the invention is so simple that its maintenance is extremely easy and thus 
the operator is free from complicated work. 
As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be 
made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments 
thereof except as defined in the appended claims.