Modular Cleaning Modules for Rubber Blanket Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing rubber blanket cleaning systems face challenges with longer axis cylinders, leading to increased machine downtime, streaking issues, and uneven contact pressure, which negatively impact print quality and require complex and costly production and maintenance of large cleaning cloths.
Innovation Solution
A device with modular cleaning modules and a movement and transport system that allows for parallel movement along the axis of the rubber blanket cylinder, ensuring uniform contact pressure and complete coverage, using interconnected cylindrical modules with adjustable pressure and flexible connecting bridges to prevent streaks and optimize cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large cleaning device is used to clean wide rubber blankets on long-axis cylinders, then the entire blanket surface can be cleaned, but the device becomes heavy and bulky requiring multiple people for removal and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is divided into multiple independent cleaning modules (first cleaning module, second cleaning module, etc.) that can be separately mounted and removed. Each module has its own cleaning cloth and pressure application mechanism, allowing the system to cover large areas without requiring a single heavy monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning modules are designed with universal mounting capabilities on the printing press cylinders and can be used across different press configurations. The modules serve multiple functions including cleaning, drying, and polishing of the rubber blanket through different cloth types (cleaning cloth, drying cloth, polishing cloth).
2Area of stationary object
If a single large cleaning cloth is used to cover the entire blanket width, then complete coverage is achieved, but the cloth produces streaks and lines that affect print quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of one large cleaning cloth, multiple smaller cleaning cloths are used on separate modules. Each cloth covers only a portion of the blanket width, preventing the formation of continuous streaks and lines that would appear with a single long cloth. The segmented approach ensures that any imperfections in one cloth do not affect the entire blanket surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different types of cleaning cloths (cleaning cloth, drying cloth, polishing cloth) are applied to different areas of the blanket according to specific cleaning needs. This localized approach optimizes cleaning effectiveness in different zones while maintaining overall print quality.
3Productivity
If cleaning modules are pressed against the rubber blanket with high force, then cleaning effectiveness increases, but contact pressure becomes uneven along the long axis of the cylinder
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple modules distributed along the cylinder axis, each applying pressure independently. This segmentation allows each module to maintain consistent contact pressure with the curved blanket surface, avoiding the pressure distribution problems that occur with a single long pressing element on a long-axis cylinder.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cleaning module is designed to apply pressure locally at its specific position on the cylinder, ensuring optimal contact force at each point. The modular design allows adjustment of pressure parameters for each individual module to match the local requirements of that section of the blanket.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables cost-effective, time-saving cleaning with improved print quality by ensuring thorough coverage and uniform pressure, reducing machine downtime and extending the life of the rubber blanket, while allowing for easy adaptation to different sizes and formats.
Implementation Method 1
cleaning the rubber blanket with a brush
Implementation Method 2
cleaning the rubber blanket with the help of a cleaning cloth or cleaning non-woven fabric
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning the rubber blanket stretched over a rubber blanket cylinder (1) of a printing press, using a cleaning apparatus, characterized in that the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one moving and transporting apparatus (6), at least two cleaning modules (2) which are connected to each other, at least one cleaning cloth winding reel (4), and at least one cleaning cloth supply reel (3), wherein the moving and transporting apparatus (6) is designed such that it can move the cleaning modules (2) connected to each other parallel to the axis of the rubber blanket cylinder (1), and the moving and transporting apparatus (6) is furthermore designed such that it transports a cleaning cloth provided on the cleaning cloth supply reel (3) onto the cleaning cloth winding reel (4) by way of the cleaning modules (2).