Patent Publication Number: US-6341556-B1

Title: Wiping device of intaglio printing press

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a wiping device for removing surplus ink on a surface portion of an intaglio of an intaglio printing press. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A known wiping device for removing surplus ink on a surface portion of an intaglio of an intaglio printing press is described, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-15339. This wiping device is illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid tank  111  which stores a cleaning liquid  1  inside is disposed below an intaglio cylinder  100 . Inside the liquid tank  111 , a wiping roll  112 , which is in contact with an intaglio  101  of the intaglio cylinder  100  and capable of reciprocating along an axial direction while rotating in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the intaglio cylinder  100 , is disposed in such a manner as to be immersed in the cleaning liquid  1 . Inside the liquid tank  111 , a plate pad  113  of a carbon tool steel product (SK steel) having many small holes formed therein is fixedly supported in a bending state so as to contact a circumferential surface of the wiping roll  112  at a predetermined urging pressure. Downstream from the plate pad  113  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  112 , a finishing brush  114  is disposed so as to contact the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  112 . Downstream from the finishing brush  114  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  112 , a doctor  115  is disposed in contact with the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  112 . 
     With the foregoing wiping device, when the wiping roll  112  is reciprocated along the axial direction while being rotated in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the intaglio cylinder  100 , the wiping roll  112  evenly wipes off surplus ink adhering to a surface portion of the intaglio  101 . Thus, only ink supplied to depressions of the intaglio  101  can be transferred to paper held on an impression cylinder to print the paper. As the wiping roll  112  is rotated and reciprocated, its circumferential surface that has wiped off the ink enters the cleaning liquid  1 . The ink adhering to the circumferential surface is scraped off by peripheral edges of the small holes of the plate pad  113 , whereafter the finishing brush  114  cleans the circumferential surface in a finishing manner to rinse out the ink into the cleaning liquid  1 . The cleaned circumferential surface ascends from inside the cleaning liquid  1 , has the cleaning liquid  1  thereon scraped off by the doctor  115 , and then is used again for wiping off ink. 
     According to the above-described wiping device of an intaglio printing press described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-15339, ink cannot be removed fully when the urging pressure of the plate pad  113  on the wiping roll  112  is weak. If this urging pressure is too high, the plate pad  113  may plastically deform or abnormally wear down. Thus, the plate pad  113  has to be fixedly supported so that its urging pressure will take a prescribed value. To fulfill this requirement, mounting of the plate pad  113  has been laborious, decreasing the efficiency of maintenance and check. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished in light of the above-described problems with the earlier technology. It is an object of this invention to provide a wiping device of an intaglio printing press which requires less labor for maintenance and check. 
     The present invention, as a means of attaining the above object, is a wiping device of an intaglio printing press, comprising: 
     a wiping roll in contact with a plate of an intaglio cylinder for removing ink on a surface portion of the plate; 
     a base member supported to be opposed to the wiping roll; and 
     a wiping roll cleaning sheet supported by the base member, and contacting a circumferential surface of the wiping roll for removing ink adhering to the circumferential surface of the wiping roll, wherein 
     the wiping roll cleaning sheet comprises 
     a supporting sheet supported by the base member and having a plurality of through-holes, 
     a cleaning sheet supported by the supporting sheet so as to contact the circumferential surface of the wiping roll, and having a plurality of through-holes, and 
     a pressing sheet supported by the supporting sheet so as to be interposed between the cleaning sheet and the supporting sheet, and having a plurality of through-holes, for pressing the cleaning sheet against the circumferential surface of the wiping roll. 
     In the wiping device of an intaglio printing press, tautly supporting means for tautly supporting the supporting sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet and capable of adjusting tension of the supporting sheet may be provided on the base member. 
     In the wiping device of an intaglio printing press, the cleaning sheet and the pressing sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet may each have an upstream end, in a rotating direction of the wiping roll, fixedly supported on the base member, and may each have a downstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll, left open without being fixedly supported. 
     In the wiping device of an intaglio printing press, the supporting sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet may be a wire net, 
     the cleaning sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet may be a metallic plate pad having many small holes formed therein, or a wire net, and 
     the pressing sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet may be an elastic cloth comprising a resinous unwoven fabric. 
     In the wiping device of an intaglio printing press, the wire net as the supporting sheet may be an assembly of wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in an axial direction of the wiping roll, and wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a rotating direction of the wiping roll, while the wire net as the cleaning sheet may be an assembly of wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle, with the axial direction of the wiping roll, and wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle, with the rotating direction of the wiping roll. 
     In the wiping device of an intaglio printing press, the wire net as the cleaning sheet may be the assembly of the wires having the longitudinal direction pointed in the direction intersecting, at an angle of 45°, with the axial direction of the wiping roll, and the wires having the longitudinal direction pointed in the direction intersecting, at an angle of 45°, with the rotating direction of the wiping roll. 
     The wiping device of an intaglio printing press may further include a cleaning unwoven fabric sheet comprising an unwoven fabric which is disposed, downstream from the wiping roll cleaning sheet in a rotating direction of the wiping roll, so as to contact the circumferential surface of the wiping roll, for cleaning the circumferential surface of the wiping roll. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an overall schematic constitution drawing showing an embodiment of a wiping device of an intaglio printing press according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an extracted enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow II in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS.  3 ( a ) to  3 ( c ) are explanation drawings of a portion indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic constitution drawing of an example of a wiping device of a conventional intaglio printing press. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of a wiping device of an intaglio printing press according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIGS.  3 ( a ) to  3 ( c ). FIG. 1 is an overall schematic constitution drawing of the wiping device. FIG. 2 is an extracted enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow II in FIG.  1 . FIGS.  3 ( a ) to  3 ( c ) are explanation drawings of a portion indicated by an arrow III in FIG.  2 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid tank  11  which stores a cleaning liquid  1  inside is disposed below an intaglio cylinder  100 . Inside the liquid tank  11 , a wiping roll  12 , which is in contact with an intaglio  101  of the intaglio cylinder  100  and capable of reciprocating along an axial direction while rotating in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the intaglio cylinder  100 , is disposed in such a manner as to be immersed in the cleaning liquid  1 . Inside the liquid tank  11 , a base plate  22 , which is a base member movable toward and away from a circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12  in accordance with the pivoting of a link plate  21 , is disposed with its longitudinal direction being pointed along an axial direction of the wiping roll  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, at both ends, in a circumferential direction of the wiping roll  12 , of a surface of the base plate  22  opposed to the wiping roll  12 , support bars  23   a,    23   b  as a pair are provided, with their longitudinal direction being pointed along an axial direction of the wiping roll  12 . Clamps  24 ,  25  are provided on an upstream end face of the base plate  22  in a rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . On a downstream end face of the base plate  22  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , a slide plate  26  is provided which is slidable along a diametrical direction of the wiping roll  12 . Adjustment by an adjusting screw  27  enables the slide plate  26  to set the position of the base plate  22  in the diametrical direction of the wiping roll  12 . The slide plate  26  is provided with a clamp  28 . Beside the surface of the base plate  22  opposed to the wiping roll  12 , a wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  in contact with the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12  for removing ink adhering to the circumferential surface is supported like a bridge between the support bars  23   a  and  23   b.    
     As shown in FIG. 3, the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  comprises a supporting wire net  29   a  of stainless steel which is a supporting sheet having a plurality of throughholes, a cleaning wire net  29   c  of stainless steel which is a cleaning sheet supported by the supporting wire net  29   a  so as to contact the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12 , and having a plurality of through-holes, and an elastic cloth  29   b  comprising an unwoven fabric of synthetic resin, such as nylon, (e.g., a scrubbing nylon brush) which is a pressing sheet supported by the supporting wire net  29   a  so as to be interposed between the supporting wire net  29   a  and the cleaning wire net  29   c,  and having a plurality of through-holes, for pressing the cleaning wire net  29   c  against the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting wire net  29   a  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  has an upstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , fixedly held by the clamp  25 , and has a downstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , fixedly held by the clamp  28 . Whereas the elastic cloth  29   b  and the cleaning wire net  29   c  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  each have an upstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , fixedly held by the clamp  24 , and each have a downstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , kept free without being fixedly held. That is, in the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29 , the supporting wire net  29   a  is tautly supported on the base plate  22 , the elastic cloth  29   b  and the cleaning wire net  29   c  are supported on the supporting wire net  29   a,  and the position of the slide plate  26  is adjusted by the adjustment of the adjusting screw  27 , whereby the tension of the supporting wire net  29   a  is adjusted. 
     In the present embodiment, the clamps  24 ,  28 , the slide plate  26 , and the adjusting screw  27  constitute tautly supporting means. 
     As shown in FIG.  3 ( b ), the supporting wire net  29   a  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  is an assembly of wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in the axial direction of the wiping roll  12 , and wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . Whereas the cleaning wire net  29   c  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29 , as shown in FIG.  3 ( c ), is an assembly of wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle (e.g., 45°), with the axial direction of the wiping roll  12 , and wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle (e.g., 45°), with the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, downstream from the base plate  22  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , a base plate  32 , which is moved toward and away from the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12  in accordance with the pivoting of a link plate  31 , is disposed with its longitudinal direction being pointed along the axial direction of the wiping roll  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a surface of the base plate  32  opposed to the wiping roll  12  is planted with an elastic brush  33  of synthetic resin or the like. A clamp  34  is provided on an upstream end face of the base plate  32  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . On the brush  33  of the base plate  32 , a cleaning unwoven fabric sheet  39  comprising an unwoven fabric of synthetic resin is provided like a bridge between both ends of the base plate  32  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . The cleaning unwoven fabric sheet  39  has an upstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , fixedly held by the clamp  34 , and has a downstream end, in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 , kept free without being fixedly held. In FIG. 1, the reference numerals  13  and  14  denote doctors. 
     The actions of the foregoing wiping device of an intaglio printing press will be described below. 
     When the wiping roll  12  is reciprocated along the axial direction while being rotated in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the intaglio cylinder  100 , the wiping roll  12  evenly wipes off surplus ink adhering to a surface portion of the intaglio  101 . Thus, only ink supplied to depressions of the intaglio  101  can be transferred to paper held on an impression cylinder to print the paper. As the wiping roll  12  is rotated and reciprocated, its circumferential surface that has wiped off the ink enters the cleaning liquid  1 . The ink adhering to the circumferential surface is scraped off by the meshes of the cleaning wire net  29   c  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29 , passed through the elastic cloth  29   b  and the supporting wire net  29   a,  and rinsed out into the cleaning liquid  1 . Further, the cleaned circumferential surface is finish-cleaned by the cleaning unwoven fabric sheet  39 . The finish-cleaned circumferential surface ascends from inside the cleaning liquid  1 , has the cleaning liquid  1  thereon scraped off by the doctor  13 , and then is used again for wiping off ink. 
     The urging pressure of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  on the wiping roll  12  can be easily set at a prescribed value by adjusting the position of the slide plate  26  by means of the adjusting screw  27  to adjust the tension of the supporting wire net  29   a.  Even if the urging pressure of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  on the wiping roll  12  is too high, the elastic cloth  29   b  pushes the cleaning wire net  29   c  toward the wiping roll  12 . Thus, the cleaning wire net  29   c  will not bend excessively, but will contact the wiping roll  12  uniformly. Hence, it becomes possible to set, with extreme ease, an appropriate urging pressure which will not cause plastic deformation or abnormal wear to the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29 . Consequently, the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  can be easily supported fixedly on the base plate  22 , and the efficiency of maintenance and check can be markedly increased. 
     Furthermore, the cleaning wire net  29   c  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29 , as shown in FIG.  3 ( c ), is an assembly of wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle (e.g., 45°), with the axial direction of the wiping roll  12 , and wires having a longitudinal direction pointed in a direction intersecting, at an angle other than a right angle (e.g., 45°), with the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . Thus, the strength of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  against the axially reciprocating movement of the wiping roll  12  can be enhanced, its life can be prolonged, and the frequency of its maintenance and check can be decreased. 
     Besides, the wire nets  29   a,    29   c  and the elastic cloth  29   b  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  may be general-purpose products in common use. Thus, the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  as a replacement can be easily procured, and the cost for its maintenance and check can be reduced. 
     Also, the cleaning unwoven fabric sheet  39  has been disposed downstream from the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  in the rotating direction of the wiping roll  12 . Thus, the ink adhering to the circumferential surface of the wiping roll  12  can be eliminated evenly and reliably. This makes it possible to remove surplus ink on the surface Portion of the intaglio  101  of the intaglio cylinder  100  more reliably. 
     In the present embodiment, the supporting wire net  29   a  of the wiping roll cleaning sheet  29  has been tautly supported in such a manner that the tension of the supporting wire net  29   a  can be adjusted. Where necessary, however, both ends of the supporting wire net  29   a  may be tautly supported such that the initial tension can be kept. 
     In the present embodiment, moreover, the cleaning liquid  1  has been stored in the liquid tank  11 , and the wiping roll  12  has been immersed in the cleaning liquid  1 . However, a jetting nozzle for jetting the cleaning liquid  1  may be provided in the tank to direct a jet of the cleaning liquid  1  at the wiping roll  12 . 
     As the cleaning sheet of the wiping roll cleaning sheet, a general-purpose wire net in common use may be used as stated earlier. Furthermore, the plate pad of a carbon tool steel product (SK steel) having many small holes formed therein, which has been described in connection with the earlier technology, may also be used. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.