Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Stationary implement with material supply
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-11
2001-07-24
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Stationary implement with material supply
C015S021100, C015S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263536
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a combination spray and brush cleaner apparatus and method and particularly to a brush holder including tubing having an array of spray orifices and featuring convenient positioning and replacement of the brushes.
PRIOR ART AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
The screen printing process involves the steps of:
providing a screen, stretched on a frame;
depositing an ink on the screen using appropriate means such as a roller;
“scraping” the excess coating off the screen using a sqeegee which leaves coating in apertures of the screen corresponding to the pattern to be transferred to the base (paper, cloth, printed circuit board, etc).
performing a second scraping step with a squeegee to transfer the coating in the apertures to the base.
The squeegee is typically a rectangular flexible elastomeric plate, ⅛ to ¼ inch thick, secured to a wooden handle along one straight edge of the plate opposite a straight edge that is the scraping edge of the squeegee.
In a production environment, the squeegee must be cleaned periodically such as at an end of a shift or work break, or especially if there is a period of time between any successive screening or such as when more than one color is applied to the base. Consequently there is a constant need to clean the squeegee during the process and requiring much effort. Oftentimes, the situation is results in having a pile of “dirty” squeegees which grows until the technician must interrupt his production to clean his squeegee. The problem is particularly exacerbated by the collection of ink residue in the crevice created along the boundary between the handle and the elastomeric flexible plate. Particularly when fast drying inks are used, the squeegee becomes coated with ink that has dried or at least hardened and is therefore particularly difficult to remove.
Removal of the dried or semi-dried ink requires hard brushing with generous application of an appropriate solvent.
Numerous approaches to cleaning processes involving a combination of brushing and flushing have appeared for a variety of situations.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,302 to Herzfeld et al discloses a brush for cleaning teeth including a bristle section connected to a tubular handle section which is connectable to a water supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,334 to Henriquez et al discloses a water and soap dispensing scrubber featuring connection to a water source and a soap reservoir with a pump for discharging a water soap mixture through a rotating brush.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,664 to Mondigo discloses a spray means for spraying a mixture of soap and water in combination with a rotating brush head.
None of these practices of the prior art are satisfactory in their application to the problem of cleaning the squeegees of present concern and so, it is common practice to resort to the manual process of dipping the common scrub brush in an appropriate solvent and scrubbing the squeegee by hand. The amount of pressure by the brush against the squeegee that must be exerted by the technician is tiring for the technician and also requires frequent replacement of the brushes. Drastic measures should be taken to protect the worker such as use of rubber gloves, adequate ventilation, eye shield etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for cleaning squeegees of the type having the edge of a flat elastomeric plate attached to a handle such as are used in the screen printing industry. It is a further object that the method and use of the apparatus be quick and convenient to implement with minimum exposure to fumes from the cleaning solvent and in term of contact of the skin to the solvent. It is a another object to use without modification, a brush that is readily available, inexpensive, has excellent characteristics in terms of bristle length, stiffness and durability and yet is conveniently replaceable when required.
This invention is directed toward an apparatus comprising a rack supporting two clamps holding a pair of flat brushes wherein the bristles of each brush face and are in contact with the bristles of the other brush. A pair of tubes is provided, each tube attached to a brush clamp adjacent to rows of bristle. Each tube has a row of apertures that direct a stream/spray of solvent against the sides of the squeegee as the squeegee is slideably inserted between the brushes. The brushes are spaced such that each brush scrubs a surface of the plate of the squeegee as the plate is swiped between the brushes, The clamp is designed for convenient replacement of each brush as the brush wears or the bristles lose their stiffness and for fine adjustment of space between brushes.
The rack is suspended in a tank that holds solvent. A pump recirculates solvent into the rack, out through the apertures in the tubing and bristles and against the surface of the squeegee.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3416178 (1968-12-01), James
patent: 3457574 (1969-07-01), Hirt
patent: 4502175 (1985-03-01), Hillis
patent: 4863302 (1989-09-01), Herzfeld et al.
patent: 5044036 (1991-09-01), Fujimoto
patent: 5398363 (1995-03-01), Medearis
patent: 5649334 (1997-07-01), Henriquez et al.
patent: 5652993 (1997-08-01), Kreyer
patent: 5794301 (1998-08-01), Hietala
patent: 5802664 (1998-08-01), Mondigo et al.
patent: 838701 (1960-06-01), None
patent: 2176392 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 95800 (1960-10-01), None
Chin Randall E.
Smith Robert Samuel
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