Abstract: An apparatus and method cleans rollers on printing presses that print indicia on three dimensional objects such as candies, confectionaries and other comestible items. The cleaning apparatus moves in three axes to position itself alternately opposite an engraved roller and a blanket roller. The cleaning apparatus dry cleans one roller and dry and/or wet cleans the other roller. The apparatus has a cleaning pad that extends toward a web of cleaning material to press the cleaning material against a roller. The apparatus moves across the roller to wipe ink and/or debris from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method cleans rollers on printing presses that print indicia on three dimensional objects such as candies, confectionaries and other comestible items. The cleaning apparatus moves in three axes to position itself alternately opposite an engraved roller and a blanket roller. The cleaning apparatus dry cleans one roller and dry and/or wet cleans the other roller. The apparatus has a cleaning pad that extends toward a web of cleaning material to press the cleaning material against a roller. The apparatus moves across the roller to wipe ink and/or debris from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method cleans rollers on printing presses that print indicia on three dimensional objects such as candies, confectionaries and other comestible items. The cleaning apparatus moves in three axes to position itself alternately opposite an engraved roller and a blanket roller. The cleaning apparatus dry cleans one roller and dry and/or wet cleans the other roller. The apparatus has a cleaning pad that extends toward a web of cleaning material to press the cleaning material against a roller. The apparatus moves across the roller to wipe ink and/or debris from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method cleans rollers on printing presses that print indicia on three dimensional objects such as candies, confectionaries and other comestible items. The cleaning apparatus moves in three axes to position itself alternately opposite an engraved roller and a blanket roller. The cleaning apparatus dry cleans one roller and dry and/or wet cleans the other roller. The apparatus has a cleaning pad that extends toward a web of cleaning material to press the cleaning material against a roller. The apparatus moves across the roller to wipe ink and/or debris from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: A dry cleaner apparatus for cleaning at least one flexographic printing plate carried on a plate cylinder includes a frame for traveling along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder, an unwind spindle rotatably attached to the frame, the unwind spindle holding a rolled web of dry cleaning material for turning to dispense new dry cleaning material, a rewind spindle for turning to roll up used dry cleaning material, a motor attached to the frame and coupled to one or both spindles to turn the spindles and thereby dispense new dry cleaning material and rewind used dry cleaning material, a pad assembly including a pad retainer, a pad base, and a dry pad, and a linear actuator attached to the frame and operating on the pad assembly to urge the dry pad toward the flexographic printing to remove ink and debris from the surface thereof.

Abstract: A dry cleaner apparatus for cleaning at least one flexographic printing plate carried on a plate cylinder includes a frame for traveling along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder, an unwind spindle rotatably attached to the frame, the unwind spindle holding a rolled web of dry cleaning material for turning to dispense new dry cleaning material, a rewind spindle for turning to roll up used dry cleaning material, a motor attached to the frame and coupled to one or both spindles to turn the spindles and thereby dispense new dry cleaning material and rewind used dry cleaning material, a pad assembly including a pad retainer, a pad base, and a dry pad, and a linear actuator attached to the frame and operating on the pad assembly to urge the dry pad toward the flexographic printing to remove ink and debris from the surface thereof.

Abstract: A dry cleaner apparatus for cleaning at least one flexographic printing plate carried on a plate cylinder includes a frame for traveling along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder, an unwind spindle rotatably attached to the frame, the unwind spindle holding a rolled web of dry cleaning material for turning to dispense new dry cleaning material, a rewind spindle for turning to roll up used dry cleaning material, a motor attached to the frame and coupled to one or both spindles to turn the spindles and thereby dispense new dry cleaning material and rewind used dry cleaning material, a pad assembly including a pad retainer, a pad base, and a dry pad, and a linear actuator attached to the frame and operating on the pad assembly to urge the dry pad toward the flexographic printing to remove ink and debris from the surface thereof.

Abstract: A dry cleaner apparatus for cleaning at least one flexographic printing plate carried on a plate cylinder includes a frame for traveling along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder, an unwind spindle rotatably attached to the frame, the unwind spindle holding a rolled web of dry cleaning material for turning to dispense new dry cleaning material, a rewind spindle for turning to roll up used dry cleaning material, a motor attached to the frame and coupled to one or both spindles to turn the spindles and thereby dispense new dry cleaning material and rewind used dry cleaning material, a pad assembly including a pad retainer, a pad base, and a dry pad, and a linear actuator attached to the frame and operating on the pad assembly to urge the dry pad toward the flexographic printing to remove ink and debris from the surface thereof.

Abstract: A flexographic printing plate cleaner comprises a linear actuator operably mounted relative to a plate cylinder carrying a flexographic printing plate; a frame carried by the linear actuator for movement along a path parallel to an axis of rotation of the plate cylinder; and a double-acting three-position cylinder carried by the frame. The cylinder includes a first piston rod a retracted position, a first extended position and a second extended position. A backing plate secured to an exterior end of the first piston rod and movable therewith. A cleaning pad is disposed in front of the backing plate and adjacent the flexographic printing plate such that the cleaning pad engages the printing plate at a first pressure when the first piston rod is at the first position, and at a second higher pressure when the first piston rod is at the second position.

Abstract: A flexographic printing plate cleaner comprises a linear actuator operably mounted relative to a plate cylinder carrying a flexographic printing plate; a frame carried by the linear actuator for movement along a path parallel to an axis of rotation of the plate cylinder; and a double-acting three-position cylinder carried by the frame. The cylinder includes a first piston rod a retracted position, a first extended position and a second extended position. A backing plate secured to an exterior end of the first piston rod and movable therewith. A cleaning pad is disposed in front of the backing plate and adjacent the flexographic printing plate such that the cleaning pad engages the printing plate at a first pressure when the first piston rod is at the first position, and at a second higher pressure when the first piston rod is at the second position.

Abstract: A web cleaner and cleaner roll system includes a frame having rotatably mounted thereon a web roll for rotation by a web that travels thereover during a web cleaning operation, a turret shaft rotatable in spaced, parallel relation to the web roll, and a pair of web cleaner rolls carried by the turret for rotation in spaced parallel relation to each other and the web roll. The turret shaft is intermittently rotated to move each of the two cleaner rolls between an operative position in which one of the two rolls is in rolling, cleaning engagement with the travelling web and the other is in an inoperative position in which it is spaced from said web. The turret shaft and cleaner rolls are mounted on the frame for limited movement toward and away from the web, and function to force a cleaner roll in its operative position resiliently against the web that is being cleaned.

Abstract: A web cleaner and cleaner roll system includes a frame having rotatably mounted thereon a web roll for rotation by a web that travels thereover during a web cleaning operation, a turret shaft rotatable in spaced, parallel relation to the web roll, and a pair of web cleaner rolls carried by the turret for rotation in spaced parallel relation to each other and the web roll. The turret shaft is intermittently rotated to move each of the two cleaner rolls between an operative position in which one of the two rolls is in rolling, cleaning engagement with the travelling web and the other is in an inoperative position in which it is spaced from said web. The turret shaft and cleaner rolls are mounted on the frame for limited movement toward and away from the web, and function to force a cleaner roll in its operative position resiliently against the web that is being cleaned.

Abstract: Cleaning cloth supply and take-up spools are mounted by rodless supports for rotation about spaced, parallel axes in a frame that is connected to a pneumatic cylinder for reciprocation between opposite ends of a rotating process roll the surface of which is to be cleaned. The cleaning cloth passes over an opening in the frame, and a sponge pressure pad, which is saturated with cleaning fluid, is mounted in the frame to reciprocate toward and away from the opening between an advanced position in which it engages, saturates and urges the registering portion of the clean cloth into contact with the surface of the rotating processing roll, and a retracted position in which the sponge is drawn into the frame completely to disengage the cloth, which therefore disengages the processing roll. The sponge pad retracts and a clean section of cloth is advanced over the frame opening each time the frame reaches one of its limit positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a rotating process roll includes cleaning material supply and take-up rolls and a compliant touch roll, all mounted on a carriage adjacent to a process roll. Touch roll and cleaning material are moveable by air cylinders into and out of contact with the process roll. The touch roll is rotatable in one direction only with the take-up roll. A drive motor winds the take-up roll to incrementally and uniformly advance the cleaning material over the touch roll. Period and frequency of the cleaning cycle and sub-cycles are variable by microprocessor control. Supply roll and take-up roll are supported on retractable gudgeons for easy mounting and removal.

Abstract: A contact cleaner roll cleaning system includes a frame supporting the system relative to a moving web, a contact cleaner roll turret on the frame, and a roll cleaner on the frame. The turret supports two or more rotatable contact cleaner rolls, an active roll in rolling contact with the web, and an idle roll out of contact with the web for cleaning. The idle roll is kept rotating while it is idle and being cleaned. The turret is rotatable to sequentially put the cleaner rolls into and out of contact with the web. The roll cleaner includes an absorbent cleaning material mounted adjacent to the idle roll for placement against it and movement lengthwise along it to wipe it clean. Spindles advance the cleaning material between wipings of the idle roll, and a liquid delivery system keeps the cleaning material wet.