Patent ID: 6901859

Claim:
A method of washing an impression cylinder in a sheet-fed offset two-sided printing press, comprising the steps of: providing an impression cylinder having a low surface-energy coating, such that said impression cylinder is resistant to the transfer of ink; providing a blanket cylinder, capable of engaging said impression cylinder; providing a washing unit capable of providing washing fluid, and capable of engaging said blanket cylinder; providing a plate cylinder, capable of engaging said blanket cylinder; transferring washing fluid from said washing unit to said impression cylinder via said blanket cylinder, said step of transferring comprising engaging, while rotating, said blanket cylinder with said impression cylinder, with said plate cylinder and with said washing unit, thereby washing said impression cylinder; removing washing fluid from said plate cylinder, said step of removing comprising: disengaging said blanket cylinder from said impression cylinder, said plate cylinder and said washing unit; providing a water roller capable of contacting said plate cylinder; providing an ink roller capable of contacting said plate cylinder; and contacting, while rotating, said plate cylinder with said water roller and with said ink roller, such that said washing fluid is removed from said plate cylinder.