Patent Publication Number: US-7219605-B2

Title: Cylinder cleaning apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a cylinder in an offset printing press, other printing press, paper making machine, paper converting machine, textile machinery or the like. The cylinder includes an outer surface to which impurities are adhered. The impurities are removed from the outer surface when cleaning. 
   PRIOR ART 
   For example, impurities such as dried ink, lint and the like are adhered to the outer surface of cylinder in an offset printing press or other printing press. It is therefore required to clean the cylinder at intervals to keep each of printed products having a good quality. 
   Under the circumstances, an apparatus has heretofore been commercially available to clean the cylinder with cleaning liquid being supplied, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,770. In the apparatus of U.S. Patent, the cleaning liquid is directed with pressure into a spray bar. The spray bar comprises a tube which includes nozzle holes formed therein and orientated toward a brush roller for spouting the cleaning liquid. The brush roller is brought into contact with the cylinder and rotated in a direction so that the impurities can be removed from the outer surface of cylinder by the brush roller. 
   In addition, the apparatus includes a tray disposed beneath the brush roller so that effluent can be received in the tray. The effluent contains the impurities removed from the outer surface of cylinder, besides the cleaning liquid. The apparatus further includes a flipper but extending parallel to and spaced from the brush roller. The flipper bar can be moved for positional adjustment to be brought into contact with the brush roller so that the effluent can be tipped from the brush roller by the flipper bar to clean the brush roller after cleaning the cylinder. 
   However, the apparatus has the following problems. 
   First, the nozzle holes must be formed in the spray bar comprising the tube by using a drilling or laser apparatus which is expensive, to be high in cost. Furthermore, it is difficult to prevent dust from flowing into the nozzle holes when not spouting the cleaning liquid. The nozzle holes may therefore be clogged with the dust. 
   Second, the flipper bar must be made of rigid material otherwise it will wear by being brought into contact with the brush roller. The flipper bar must therefore be heavy, making it troublesome to handle. In addition, it is unsatisfactory to merely clean the brush roller after cleaning the cylinder. It is desired to additionally make the effluent flipped from the brush roller by the flipper bar when cleaning the cylinder. Furthermore, in this case, the flipper bar must be exposed to the effluent. The apparatus is therefore problematic in sludge grown from the effluent and adhered to and deposited on the flipper bar. 
   Third, the cleaning liquid must generate mist when cleaning the cylinder. The mist may leak out of the apparatus, causing environmental pollution. It is difficult to prevent the mist from leaking even if making the brush roller disposed in a space denied by a frame and sealing it and the cylinder with conventional means. 
   Last, the tray must be filled with the effluent within a short period of few days. Accordingly, an operator has to detach and convey the tray from the apparatus frequently to pour the effluent into a receptacle from the tray without spilling the effluent. In addition, it is required to clean the tray of sludge grown from the effluent. The operator is therefore forced to do dirty work, taking labors and times. The work is very hard especially in the apparatus including many brush rollers and trays. 
   In this connection, the tray can be connected to the receptacle by means of a drainpipe to drain the effluent into the receptacle from the tray through the drainpipe. However, the drainpipe may be clogged with sludge grown from the effluent and adhered to and deposited on the inner surface of drainpipe. The effluent can therefore overflow the tray due to lack of drainage. Accordingly, the operator has to clean the drainpipe clogged with the sludge, taking labors and times. It may be required to exchange the drainpipe for new one. 
   It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for cleaning a cylinder with cleaning liquid being supplied, so as to thereby overcome the above problems. The cylinder includes an outer surface in which impurities are adhered. The impurities are removed from the outer surface when cleaning. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus including a spray bar comprising tube means which includes nozzle holes formed therein for spouting the cleaning liquid, the spray bar being low in cost. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus which is arranged to prevent dust from flowing into the nozzle holes when not spouting the cleaning liquid. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus including a brush roller by which the impurities are removed from the outer surface of cylinder and a flipper bar extending parallel to the brush roller, the apparatus being arranged to lighten the flipper bar, making it easy to handle. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus which is arranged to make effluent flipped from the brush roller by the flipper bar when cleaning the cylinder, and make the effluent flipped from the brush roller by the flipper bar to clean the brush roller after cleaning the cylinder. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus which is arranged to prevent sludge from being grown from the effluent end adhered to and deposited on the flipper bar. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus in which the cleaning liquid generates mist, the apparatus being arranged to prevent the mist from leaking out of the apparatus, without causing environmental pollution. 
   Other object or the invention is to provide the apparatus including a tray disposed beneath the brush roller so that effluent can be received in the tray, the apparatus being arranged to prevent the tray from being filled with the effluent within a short period. 
   Other object of the invention is to provide the apparatus which is arranged to prevent a drainpipe from being clogged with sludge grown from the effluent and adhered to and deposited on the inner surface of drainpipe when the tray is connected with a receptacle by means of the drainpipe. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, the apparatus includes a spray bar into which the cleaning liquid is directed with pressure. The spray bar comprises tube means which includes nozzle holes formed therein for spouting the cleaning liquid. The tube means is formed of elastic material and elastically deformed by the pressure of cleaning liquid to open the nozzle holes and spout the cleaning liquid. The tube means is elastically restored, when the cleaning liquid is not directed with pressure into the spray bar, to close the nozzle holes. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the tube means comprises a plurality of tubes formed of elastic material throughout thereof and including the nozzle holes formed therein respectively. The tubes are arranged side by side and joined integrally with each other. 
   The tube means may be formed of elastic material partially to include at least a portion formed of elastic material. The nozzle holes are formed in the portion. 
   The nozzle holes comprise pinholes each of which is formed in the tube means by a needle piercing the tube means. 
   The apparatus further includes a brush roller by which the impurities are removed from the outer surface of cylinder. The tubes include the nozzle holes orientated toward the brush roller for spouting the cleaning liquid. 
   The cleaning liquid comprises solvent and/or water. 
   The apparatus further includes a flipper bar extending parallel to the brush roller. The flipper bar includes a rigid portion brought into contact with the brush roller. At least one of the tubes includes the nozzle holes orientated toward the rigid portion for spouting the cleaning liquid. 
   The apparatus further includes positional adjustment means by which the flipper bar is moved for positional adjustment between a first position in which the rigid portion intrudes into the brush roller shallowly so that effluent can be flipped from the brush roller by the rigid portion when cleaning the cylinder, and a second position in which the rigid portion intrudes into the brush roller deeply so that the effluent can be flipped from the brush roller by the rigid portion to clean the brush roller after cleaning the cylinder. 
   The flipper bar has a circular cross section and includes a flat surface cutting off the cross section and extending longitudinally of the flipper bar. The rigid portion comprises a plate fixed to the flat surface. 
   The brush roller is rotated in a direction. The rigid portion extends substantially tangentially to the brush roller and includes an end portion which is positioned downstream of the rigid portion in the direction and brought into contact with the brush roller. 
   The brush roller is disposed in a space defined in a frame, the cleaning liquid generating mist. The apparatus further includes suction means for sucking the mist of cleaning liquid floating in the space. The apparatus further includes condensation means for collecting the mist to condense it into liquid. 
   The apparatus further includes a tray disposed beneath the brush roller so that the effluent can be received in the tray. The effluent contains the impurities removed from the outer surface of cylinder. The tray includes openings formed therein so that the effluent can pass through the openings to be discharged from the tray after being separated from solid or particulate material. 
   The brush roller has opposite end portions disposed at positions predetermined axially of the brush roller. The openings are formed outwardly of the positions of opposite end portions of brush roller. 
   The tray is mounted on the frame for removal. The tray includes a first portion in which the effluent is received. The tray further includes a second portion disposed adjacent the first portion. The condensation means condenses the mist into liquid which is then discharged from the condensation means and received in the second portion. The tray further includes a partition disposed between the first and second portions. The partition includes the openings formed at opposite end portions thereof so that the effluent can pass through the openings to be discharged from the first portion and received in the second portion after being separated from solid or particulate material by the partition. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along a line A—A. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the tray of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the tray of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of the tray of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 8  is a right side view of the tray of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory view of the brush roller and the tray of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the spray bar of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory view of a needle by which the nozzle holes are formed in the spray bar of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of the spray bar of  FIG. 8  when being elastically deformed by the pressure of cleaning liquid to open the nozzle holes. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of other embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of other embodiment. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of the flipper bar of  FIG. 2  with the rigid portion intruding into the brush roller shallowly. 
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of the flipper bar of  FIG. 2  with the rigid portion intruding into the brush roller deeply. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view at the apparatus at  FIG. 1  taken along a line B—B. 
       FIG. 16  is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction means and the condensation means of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning now to the drawings.  FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus for cleaning a cylinder  2  in an offset printing press or other printing press, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with cleaning liquid being supplied, according to the invention. The cylinder  2  includes an outer surface to which impurities such as dried ink, lint and the like are adhered. The impurities are removed from the outer surface when cleaning. 
   The apparatus includes a spray bar into which the cleaning liquid is directed with pressure. The spray bar comprises tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  which includes nozzle holes  10  formed therein for spouting the cleaning liquid, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  is formed of elastic and flexible material such as polyurethane, nylon, fluorine resin (Teflon), silicon rubber, polyethylene or other high polymer. The nozzle holes  10  comprises pinholes each of which is formed in the tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  by a needle  12  piercing the tube means  4 ,  6  and  8 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Accordingly, the tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  can be elastically deformed by the pressure of cleaning liquid directed into the spray bar, to increase in diameter, open the nozzle holes  10  and spout the cleaning liquid, as shown in  FIG. 10 . The tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  can also be elastically restored, when the cleaning liquid is not directed with pressure into the spray bar, to decrease in diameter and close the nozzle holes  10 . 
   It should therefore be recognized in the apparatus that the nozzle holes  10  can be formed in the spray bar comprising the tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  without using a drilling or laser apparatus which is expensive, to be low in cost. Furthermore, the tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  can close the nozzle holes  10  to prevent dust from flowing into the nozzle holes  10  when not spouting the cleaning liquid. The nozzle holes  10  are therefore not clogged with the dust. 
   The tube means  4 ,  6  and  8  comprises a plurality of tubes formed of elastic and flexible material throughout thereof and including the nozzle holes  10  formed therein respectively. The tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  are arranged side by side and joined integrally with each other. In the embodiment, three tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  are arranged side by side. The tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  are then heated and pressed by appropriate means to be joined integrally with each other so that joined portions  14  can be formed between the tubes  4 ,  6  and  8 . 
   The apparatus further includes a brush roller  16  by which the impurities are removed from the outer surface of cylinder  2 . The tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  are disposed above and below and supported by means of a pair of fixtures  18  and  20  to extend parallel to the brush roller  16 . The tubes  4  and  6  include the nozzle holes  10  orientated toward the brush roller  16  for spouting the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid comprises solvent and/or water. 
   The tube  4  is the upper one disposed on the upper side of the tube  6  which is the middle one. The tube  8  is the lower one disposed on the lower side of the tube  6 . The fixture  18  is fixed to a partition  22  comprising a vertical wall which is fixed to a frame  24 . The fixture  20  is mounted on the fixture  18  for vertical movement. In addition, the fixture  18  includes an end portion  26  which is arc-shaped to be engaged with the tube  4  while the fixture  20  includes an end portion  28  which is arc-shaped to be engaged with the tube  8 . The tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  can therefore be clamped between and supported by the end portions  26  and  28  when the fixture  20  is moved along the fixture  18  upwardly after the tubes  4 ,  6  and  8  are interposed between the end portions  26  and  28 . The fixture  20  is then fixed to the texture  18  by screws. 
   The cylinder  2  is rotated in a direction when cleaning. The brush roller  16  is brought into contact with the cylinder  2  and rotated in a direction. In the embodiment, the cylinder  2  is rotated counterclockwise in  FIG. 2  when cleaning. The brush roller  16  is brought into contact with the cylinder  2  and rotated counterclockwise in  FIG. 2 . In this connection, the brush roller  16  is connected to and rotated by a motor  30  through a belt  32 . In addition, the tubes  4  and  6  spout the cleaning liquid toward the brush roller  16  so that the impurities can be removed from the outer surface of the cylinder  2  by the brush roller  16 . 
   The apparatus further includes a flipper bar  34  extending parallel to the brush roller  10 . As to the flipper bar  34 , it is desired to make effluent flipped from the brush roller  15  by the flipper bar  34  when cleaning the cylinder  2 . It is also desired to make the effluent flipped from the brush roller  16  by the flipper bar  34  to clean the brush roller  16  after cleaning the cylinder  2 . 
   Under the circumstances, the flipper bar  34  includes a rigid portion  36  brought into contact with the brush roller  16 . At least one of the tubes a includes the nozzle holes  10  orientated toward the rigid portion  36  for spouting the cleaning liquid. 
   Accordingly, the flipper bar  34  is not required to be made of rigid material except the rigid portion  36 . This can lighten the flipper bar  34 , making it easy to handle. 
   The apparatus further includes positional adjustment means by which the flipper bar  34  is moved for positional adjustment between first and second positions. In the first position, the rigid portion  36  intrudes into the brush roller  16  shallowly, as shown in  FIG. 13 , so that effluent can be flipped from the brush roller  16  by the rigid portion  30  when cleaning the cylinder  2 . In the second position, the rigid portion  36  intrudes into the brush roller  15  deeply, as shown in  FIG. 14 . The tube  8  then spouts the cleaning liquid toward the rigid portion  36 . The brush roller  16  is spaced from the cylinder  2  and rotated counterclockwise in  FIG. 2  when the rigid portion  36  intrudes into the brush roller  16  deeply so that the effluent can be flipped from the brush roller  16  by the rigid portion  36  to clean the brush roller  15  after cleaning the cylinder  2 . In addition, the impurities can be removed from the brush roller  16  by the rigid portion  36  after being removed from the outer surface of cylinder  2  and adhered to the brush roller  16 , when cleaning the brush roller  16 . 
   The flipper bar  34  is therefore useful to make the effluent flipped from the brush roller  16  when cleaning the cylinder  2 . The flipper bar  34  is also useful to make the effluent flipped from the brush roller  15  to clean the brush roller  16  after cleaning the cylinder  2 . 
   The positional adjustment means comprises an air cylinder  38  including a piston rod  40 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . The flipper bar  34  includes an end portion to which a lever  42  is fixed. The piston rod  40  is connected to the lever  42  by a knuckle joint  44  and a pin  46 . The lever  42  extends beyond the knuckle joint  44  to be disposed between a pair of stops  48  and  50 . The piston rod  40  is advanced from the cylinder  38  so that the lever  42  can be swung about the flipper bar  34  and engaged with and stopped by the stop  48 . The flipper bar  34  is rotated integrally with the lever  42  to be moved into the first position in which the rigid portion  36  is intrudes into the brush roller  16  shallowly. The piston  40  is retracted into the cylinder  38  so that the lever  42  can be swung about the flipper bar  34  and engaged with and stopped by the stop  50 . The flipper bar  34  is rotated integrally with the lever  42  to be moved into the second position in which the rigid portion  36  is intrudes into the brush roller  16  deeply. 
   The flipper bar  34  has a circular cross section and includes a flat surface cutting off the cross section and extending longitudinally of the flipper bar  34 . The rigid portion  36  comprises a plate fixed to the flat surface. 
   The brush roller  16  is rotated in a direction, as described above. The rigid portion  36  extends substantially tangentially to the brush roller  16  and includes an end portion which is positioned downstream of the rigid portion  36  in the direction and brought into contact with the brush roller  16 . 
   In this connection, it should be recognized that the effluent is flipped from the brush roller  16  and downstream of the rigid portion  36 . The rigid portion  36  is therefore hardly exposed to the effluent flipped from the brush roller  16  by reason that the end portion is positioned downstream of the rigid portion  36  and brought into contact with the brush roller  16 . Accordingly, the apparatus can prevent sludge from being grown from the effluent and adhered to and deposited on the rigid portion  36 . In addition, the rigid portion  36  comprises the plate which is thin to prevent the sludge from being adhered to the end portion thereof. 
   The tube means may comprise a single tube formed of elastic and flexible material throughout thereof and including the nozzle holes formed therein. 
   The tube means may be formed of elastic material partially to include at least a portion formed of elastic material, the nozzle holes being formed in the portion. For example, the tube means may comprise a tube  52  formed of rigid material such as metal and a sheet  54  formed of elastic material and pasted on the tube  52 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The tube  52  includes an opening  56  formed therein and covered with the sheet  54  in which the nozzle holes  10  are formed. The sheet  54  can therefore be elastically deformed by means of the pressure of cleaning liquid to open the nozzle holes  10  and spout the cleaning liquid. The tube  52  may include a plurality of outlets  58  each of which is covered with the sheet  54 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . A fitting  60  may be fixed to the outlet  58  by screws  62  so that the sheet  54  can be clamped between the fitting  60  and the outlet  58 . The nozzle holes  10  are formed in the sheets  54 . 
   The flipper bar  34  may be fixed to and supported by arm means which is swung about a pin so that the flipper bar can be moved integrally with the arm means between the first position in which the rigid portion  36  intrudes the brush roller  16  shallowly and the second position in which the rigid portion  36  includes into the brush roller  16  deeply. The flipper bar  34  may be moved linearly between the first and second positions. 
   Furthermore, the brush roller  16  is disposed in a space  64  defined in the frame  24 , the cleaning liquid generating mist. The apparatus further includes suction means for sucking the mist of cleaning liquid floating in the space  64 . The apparatus further includes condensation means for collecting the mist to condense it into liquid. 
   In the embodiment, the suction means includes a plurality of suction pipes  66  extending through the partition  22  and opening into the space  64 . The suction means further includes a plurality of bocks  68  each of which includes a first flow path  70  formed therein and communicated with the suction pipe  66 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The block  68  further includes a second flow path  72  formed therein and intersecting the first flow path  70 . In addition, a nozzle  74  is disposed in the second flow path  72  on one of the opposite sides of the first flow path  70 . The second flow path  72  opens into a chamber  76  on the other side of the first flow path  70 . The second flow path  72  opens into the chamber  76  directly in one of the blocks  68  while the second flow path  72  opens into the chamber  76  through a connecting pipe  78  in other blocks  68 . Furthermore, the nozzle  74  is connected to a source of air to jet pressurized air across the first flow path  70  and toward the chamber  76  so that a venturi affect can be obtained in the second flow path  72  by the pressurized air to suck the mist of cleaning liquid into the second flow path  72  from the space  64  through the suction pipe  66  and the first flow path  70 . The second flow path  72  is throttled toward the chamber  76  so that the mist of cleaning liquid can be discharged into the chamber  76  by the pressurized air. 
   The condensation means comprises baffle plates or wire clothe  80  received in the chamber  76  below a position in which the second flow paths  72  open into the chamber  76 . The chamber  76  is closed at the top thereof while it opens at the bottom thereof so that mist of cleaning liquid can flow downward and through the baffle plate or wire cloths  80 . The baffle plate or wire cloths  80  can therefore collect the mist to condense it into liquid. 
   The apparatus can therefore prevent the mist from leaking out of the apparatus, without causing environmental pollution. 
   It should be understood in the apparatus that the spray bar  4 ,  6  and  8 , brush roller  16 , flipper bar  34 , suction means and condensation means are built in the frame  24  to be united into a unit. 
   The apparatus further includes a tray  82  disposed beneath the brush roller  16  so that effluent can be received in the tray  82 . The effluent contains the impurities removed from the outer surface of cylinder  2 , besides the cleaning liquid. The tray  82  includes openings  84  formed therein so that the effluent can pass through the openings  84  to be discharged from the tray  82  after being separated from solid or particulate material  86 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   On the other hand, the brush roller  16  has opposite end portions disposed at positions P 1  and P 2  predetermined axially of the brush roller  16 . The openings  84  are formed outwardly of the positions P 1  and P 2  of opposite end portions of brush roller  16 . 
   In this connection, it should be recognized that the effluent is flipped from the brush roller  16  between the positions P 1  and P 2  when cleaning to be received in the tray  82 . The effluent then flows toward the openings  84  formed outwardly of the positions P 1  and P 2  to be separated from the solid or particulate material  86 . The solid or particulate material  86  is therefore gradually accumulated on the tray  82  between the positions P 1  and P 2 . The effluent then showers down on the accumulation of solid or particulate material  86  to flow down into and along the accumulation. The effluent is separated from the solid or particulate material  86  when flowing down into and along the accumulation. The solid or particulate materials  86  are adhered to and incorporated into the accumulation. 
   Accordingly, the effluent contains no solid or particulate material  86  when being discharged from the tray  82 . The effluent can therefore be discharged from the tray  82  without difficulty, to prevent the tray  82  from being filled with the effluent. 
   The tray  82  is mounted on the frame  24  for removal. Accordingly, an operator can detach and convey the tray  82  from the apparatus for cleaning the tray  82  after the solid or particulate material  86  has been accumulated to a certain extent. The solid or particulate material  86  would be accumulated to the extent within a long period of one or two months. It is therefore not required to detach and convey the tray  82  from the apparatus for cleaning the tray  82  for the long period. 
   Furthermore, in the embodiment, the tray  82  includes a first portion  88  in which the effluent is received. The tray  82  further includes a second portion  90  disposed adjacent the first portion  88 . The condensation means  80  condenses the mist into liquid which is then discharged from the condensation means  80  and received in the second portion  90 . The tray  82  further includes a partition  92  disposed between the first and second portions  88  and  90 . The partition  92  includes the openings  84  formed at opposite portions thereof, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , so that the effluent can pass through the openings  84  to be discharged from the first portion  88  and received in the second portion  90  after being separated from solid or particulate material  86  by the partition  92 . The solid or particulate material  86  is therefore gradually accumulated in the first portion  88 . 
   In addition, the second portion  90  includes a bottom extending between the opposite sidewalls one of which includes an outlet  94  facing downward. The bottom is inclined downward toward the outlet  94  so that the water and the effluent can flows along the bottom toward the outlet  94  to be discharged from the outlet  94 . The tray  82  includes elongated portions  96 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , which are inserted into grooves formed in the frame  24  so that the tray  82  can be mounted on the frame  24  for removal. 
   The tray  82  may be connected to a receptacle by means of a drainpipe to drain the effluent into the receptacle from the tray  82  through the drainpipe. In this case, no sludge is grown from the effluent and adhered to and deposited on the drainpipe by reason that the effluent contains no solid or particulate material  86  after being separated therefrom. The drainpipe is therefore hardly clogged with the sludge.