Recovery for reuse of printing-press wash liquor, by surface skimming to remove ink and ink-constituents using a lipophilic endless belt

摘要

Wash liquor e.g. from a off-set litho or flexo-gravure, printing unit is fed to a partition baffled (38,42) settling tank (44) into which dips an endless belt, running around a submerged tensioning roll (84) and re-emerging vertically through the liquid surface. Wash liquor for recycling to the printing press is abstracted via a submerged outlet (56) in the tank. Independent claims are included for a wash recovery unit, and its use as part of an off-set litho or flexo-gravure printing installation.