Automated clean and rinse system removes solvent, water based and UV inks
Leading finishing equipment manufacturer Guyson International is now offering an automated ‘off the press’ ultrasonic clean and rinse machine, capable of handling multiple, larger width, anilox and gravure printing rollers. The machine is designed for the effective removal of solvent, water based and UV inks from chrome and ceramic print roller systems with minimal manual handling.
When not in use, Anilox rollers need to be immediately cleaned and stored in order to achieve consistent high quality results and to reduce downtime. Plugged cells will not deliver the expected ink volume and can produce pinholes, both leading to poor quality print, increased waste and potential job rejection.
Ultrasonic cleaning of anilox and gravure printing rollers is a highly proven process offering precision cleaning without risk of damage or dimensional change to critical etched surfaces. This new system from Guyson offers the ability to clean rollers in a variety of sizes from a minimum width of 750mm to a maximum of 1245mm wide and weighing up to 100kg each. The system is capable of handling a total of seven rollers going through the wash and rinse cycle at the same time: six in the heated ultrasonic wash stage and one in the rinse stage.
Dual frequency option
Guyson’s ultrasonic print roller clean and rinse system is robustly constructed using AISI 316L polished stainless steel tanks for durability and is fitted with Kerry KST ultrasonic submersible block type transducers, to deliver high watts per litre cleaning, driven by the powerful Kerry Guysonic generator with Primewave® dual frequency controls, switchable between 36 kHz and 66 kHz, if required. The higher frequency allows sensitive rollers - such as laser engraved ceramic anilox rollers - to be cleaned both safely and effectively. The systems can also provide variable power control.
Single frequency generators produce a uniform band of energy equidistant from the transducers, producing what is called ‘standing’ wave bands. This uniform wave of energy is caused by the unvarying frequency or ‘note’ created and can prove inefficient at cleaning. Primewaving has the ability to produce more ‘harmony’. It does this partly by increasing the effective width and quantity of the pressure wave bands, thus reducing dead zones and hot spots in the tank solutions and producing a more homogenous cleaning action across the entire tank.
Programmed cleaning sequences
At the loading stage, each roller is picked up by the loading servo gantry crane utilising twin hooks to engage each end of the roller stock. A supplied teach pendant system can store programmes for varying cleaning sequences and roller sizes. The roller is then gently lowered onto cradles at each side of the tank, which hold the roller suspended in the heated cleaning solution, allowing maximum cleaning effect to be directed at only a small proportion of the actual roller at any one time. The tank has an automatic top-up system to ensure the correct solution level is maintained. A motor-driven toothed belt drives the rollers through a slow rotation of 1 rpm for optimum cleaning results.
Automatic roller indexing option
At the end of the cleaning cycle, the system stops and the gantry crane lifts off the roller from the rinse section, which is fitted with rinse jets that can use either mains or deionised water for final rinsing. It then goes back and picks up the next roller in sequence and places that in the rinse section. It continues to pick up and move each roller in turn one place nearer the rinse; thus each roller is given six cycles in the cleaning solution for maximum cleaning potential. This procedure can be operated manually or with an optional automatic roller indexing feature.
Free cleaning trials
Whether your interest is in blast, wash or ultrasonic cleaning equipment, we offer FREE component trials, with no obligation to buy. To contact Guyson International, call on +44 (0)1756 799911, fax +44 (0)1756 790213, or email info@guyson.co.uk.
Leading finishing equipment manufacturer Guyson International is now offering an automated ‘off the press’ ultrasonic clean and rinse machine, capable of handling multiple, larger width, anilox and gravure printing rollers. The machine is designed for the effective removal of solvent, water based and UV inks from chrome and ceramic print roller systems with minimal manual handling.
