Abstract: An enclosed Flush/Rinse and inking system for inking and flushing printing presses is arranged to ink an anilox roller of a printing press, wherein the ink is dispersed from a centralized ink tank. Once inking is complete, the ink is returned to the ink tank, and used flushing solution is circulated within the printing circuit to clean the press. A final rinse of clean solution is provided to ensure the press is properly cleaned.

Abstract: An enclosed Flush/Rinse and inking system for inking and flushing printing presses is arranged to ink an anilox roller of a printing press, wherein the ink is dispersed from a centralized ink tank. Once inking is complete, the ink is returned to the ink tank, and used flushing solution is circulated within the printing circuit to clean the press. A final rinse of clean solution is provided to ensure the press is properly cleaned.

Abstract: An ink cooling system for printing presses is disclosed. The ink cooling system is arranged to cool ink at locations within a printing press at the locations in which the ink properties are most likely to be adversely impacted, and which locations are or may be physically remote from the centralized ink supply or ink tanks. The disclosed system thus counteracts localized heating that commonly occurs in printing presses, thus minimizing or eliminating printing problems caused by heated ink.

Abstract: A quick release bolt for securing two or more parts together is disclosed. The quick-release bolt includes a threaded end and a slotted end opposite the threaded end. The slotted end includes a slot extending across a diameter of the bolt and extending axially into the bolt. A release/lock plate is pivotally attached to the bolt within the slot in the bolt by a pin that is attached to the bolt. The pin extends transversely through the slot in the bolt and passes through a slot in the release/lock plate. The release/lock plate may be pivoted between locking and releasing positions when the bolt is loosened only about one-half to one-quarter of a turn from a tightened position.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump for transferring fluid through a flexible tube having a loop-shaped tube path is provided. The pump includes a motor that drives a pair of rollers in a circular path within a housing. The housing includes identical housing halves that together define an inlet port, an outlet port and the loop-shaped tube path through which the flexible tube is fed.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the removal of ink and other material commonly used in flexography and rotogravure processes, an automated apparatus and method for cleaning a printing cylinder in a tank is disclosed. The tank is adapted to receive a printing cylinder that is to be cleaned of a dried ink on a surface thereof and a cleaning solution in an amount sufficient to substantially immerse the printing cylinder. It also includes a sprayer within the tank for spraying the surface of the printing cylinder with the cleaning solution and wheels within the tank for rotating the printing cylinder as the sprayer is spraying the surface thereof. The method includes the steps of providing a tank for receiving a printing cylinder that is to be cleaned and substantially immersing the printing cylinder in a cleaning solution within the tank.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the transfer and utilization of a tank of ink in a printing facility, an ink tank/pump system includes a plurality of ink tanks each adapted to accommodate a pump for supplying a press with ink from the tank. The system also includes a transfer cart having a generally flat, horizontal surface to support at least one of the ink tanks thereon. The transfer cart is adapted to move from one point to another, e.g., from an ink tank storage location to a press location. The system still further includes a receiver cart having a generally flat, horizontal surface to support at least one of the ink tanks thereon. With this arrangement, the tank supporting surfaces of the transfer and receiver carts are alignable, which accommodates slidably moving the ink tanks therebetween, and the ink tanks may include a splash resistant lip.

Abstract: High pressure parts cleaner having: grit blaster, as well as hand directed and machine oscillated spray nozzles; an enclosing part's chamber defining a spray zone of the nozzles and a collecting basin therebelow which holds the parts; and a base of neutralizing drums supporting the collecting basin. The basin communicates with the base, allowing the drums to act as receptcles for filtering and chemically neutralizing therein the run-off of expended cleaners. The drums continually directly discharge the thus acceptable effluent by regular sewage disposal.

Abstract: A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through an elongated shaft. The disposable pump assembly includes a pump body having a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from the volute portion. The riser portion is integrally joined to the volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from the riser portion to the volute portion. The elongated shaft is adapted to be inserted into the riser portion, through the restricted and into the volute portion of the pump body. The disposable pump assembly also includes a shaft-receiving impeller disposed in the volute portion of the pump body for driven movement by the motor. The impeller and the elongated shaft each have correspondingly shaped portions for interconnecting and driving the impeller upon insertion of the shaft through the riser portion and into the volute portion of the pump body.

Abstract: A parts washer device including a liquid container, a tank and a pump where the liquid container is adapted to carry a liquid solvent therein and has an open end defined by a rim and a closed end remote therefrom. The tank is adapted to be removably positioned on the liquid container such that parts can be washed therein and includes a parts washing portion adapted to be supported above the open end of the liquid container and a skirt portion extending below the parts washing portion and adapted to fit within the open end of said liquid container. The pump includes a pump discharge tube for carrying the liquid solvent from the liquid container to the parts washing portion of the tank and is mounted on the tank so as to extend through and substantially below the skirt portion into the liquid solvent when the tank is supported on the liquid container.