Apparatus and method for cleaning a tubular printing blanket

摘要

An apparatus for cleaning a tubular printing blanket, comprises a first end cap mounted to a first end portion of the tubular printing blanket; a second end cap mounted to a second end portion of the tubular printing blanket, a compressed air inlet passing through the first end cap; a compressed air supply coupled to the compress air inlet for supplying compressed air to the inside of the tubular printing blanket for stiffening the tubular printing blanket during a cleaning operation; and a cleaning element which interacts with the outside surface of the tubular printing blanket, for cleaning the tubular printing blanket. A method for cleaning a tubular printing blanket comprises the steps of mounting end caps to the end portions of the tubular printing blanket for sealing the inside of the tubular printing blanket against ambient air; supplying compressed air to the inside of the tubular printing blanket for stiffening the tubular printing blanket; and cleaning the outside surface of the tubular printing blanket