Patent ID: 7011025

Claim:
A flexographic printing plate cleaner, comprising: a) a linear actuator operably mounted relative to a plate cylinder carrying a flexographic printing plate; b) a frame carried by said linear actuator for movement along a path parallel to an axis of rotation of the plate cylinder; c) a double-acting three-position cylinder carried by said frame, said cylinder including a first piston rod having a retracted position, a first extended position and a second extended position; d) a backing plate secured to an exterior end of said first piston rod and movable with said first piston rod; e) a cleaning pad disposed in front of said backing plate and adjacent the flexographic printing plate such that said cleaning pad engages the printing plate at a first pressure when said first piston rod is at said first position, and at a second higher pressure when said first piston rod is at said second position, wherein: said three-position cylinder comprises first and second chamber having respective first and second bottom walls and first and second top walls; first and second pistons disposed with respective first and second chambers; said first piston rod and a second piston rod are secured to respective first and second pistons; said first and second pistons are disposed against said respective first and second bottom walls when said three-stroke cylinder is in said retracted position; said second piston rod is configured to push said first piston when said second piston is actuated to engage against said second top wall to bring said first piston rod to said first extended position; said first chamber is configured such that said first piston is disposed intermediate said first bottom and top walls when in said first extended position; said first piston rod moves to said second extended position when said first piston is actuated to engage against said first top wall; and said first piston is configured to push said second piston against said second bottom wall when said first piston is actuated toward said first bottom wall to assume said retracted position.