Abstract: A vacuum blanket cleaning system is provided for removing dust, lint or ink from a blanket cylinder in an offset printing press during the uninterrupted course of a press run. Operation is effected by an air cylinder which periodically urges a cleaner against the blanket cylinder and retracts the cleaner from the blanket cylinder for replacement or maintenance. The action of the cleaner in combination with rotation of the blanket cylinder is such as to loosen dust and lint from the blanket cylinder, which dust and lint is then drawn into a vacuum system that surrounds the cleaner.

Abstract: An internal worm drive has a worm gear and a substantially hollow tubular worm with an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface has at least one internal worm thread mating the worm gear. The axis of the worm gear is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular worm. Utilizing the tubular worm with the threaded internal surface in conjunction with the mating worm gear is an oscillating roller assembly suitable for use as an ink roller in lithographic presses. The oscillating roller assembly has a shaft, and a bearing unit mounted along the shaft. A worm gear having a plurality of teeth is contained in a slotted space in the bearing unit and the shaft such that the rotational axis of the worm gear is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing unit and the shaft. The slotted space has first and second opposite longitudinal ends within the shaft.

Abstract: A vacuum blanket cleaning system is provided for removing dust, lint or ink from a blanket cylinder in an offset printing press during the uninterrupted course of a press run. Operation is effected by an air cylinder which periodically urges a brush against the blanket cylinder and retracts the brush from the blanket cylinder for replacement or maintenance. The action of the brush in combination with rotation of the blanket cylinder is such as to loosen dust and lint from the blanket cylinder, which dust and lint is then drawn into a vacuum system that surrounds the brushes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for metering the flow of ink fed under pressure to a printing press. A positive displacement gear meter is interposed in the feed line supplying the ink to the press. The flow of ink through the meter causes rotation of the gears. The rate of rotation is monitored by a sensing device incorporated in the meter housing which generates pulses indicative of gear teeth rotating past the device. The pulses are transmitted to a counter assembly which processes the same and provides a read out of the amount of ink passing through the meter.