Abstract: A method of cleaning a mechanism having ink-conducting rollable cylindrical members in a printing unit of a rotary printing press includes spraying solvent into a nip between the ink-conducting rollable cylindrical members, rotating the ink-conducting rollable cylindrical members so as to squeeze the solvent through the nip between the rollable cylindrical members and thereby apply pressure in the nip to an ink/dampening solution mixture on the rollable cylindrical members for loosening the mixture, and removing loosened ink and impurities from the printing unit; and apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic cleaning device for cleaning blanket cylinders in a web fed offset lithographic printing press. The device includes at least one brush roller for removing foreign matter from a blanket cylinder. The device also includes pneumatic cylinders which bring the brush roller into engagable contact with the blanket cylinder and the web. A flicker roller is also provided for flicking particles and other waste debris off the brush roller. In an engaged position, the brush roller, blanket cylinder and the web form an enclosed triangular region with the flicker roller being disposed within this region. This enables the device to be self-cleaning while at the same time prevents blanket wash waste from invading inker and dampening units.