EP0741036B1

EP0741036B1 - Mounting mechanisms for cloth rolls on press cylinder cleaning devices

Info

Publication number: EP0741036B1
Application number: EP96301078A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert C. Gasparrini
Original assignee: Baldwin Graphic Systems Inc
Current assignee: Baldwin Graphic Systems Inc
Priority date: 1995-05-01
Filing date: 1996-02-16
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-16
Also published as: JPH08300633A; EP0741036A3; DE69611631D1; CN1084678C; EP0741036A2; CN1140659A; DE69611631T2

Description

The present invention relates generally to cleaning systems for use in cleaning a cylinder of a printing press and, more particularly, to mounting mechanisms for cloth rolls on press cylinder cleaning devices.
In the past, cleaning systems have been used for cleaning a press cylinder of a printing press. In particular, systems have been used wherein a supply of cleaning cloth, which is disposed around a supply core and supply shaft, is fed through a cleaning apparatus to contact and clean a press cylinder. After use, the used cleaning cloth is taken-up on a take-up shaft. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,176,080 to Gasparrini et al.
In use, a cylinder-operated take-up shaft is used to rotate the shaft, thereby drawing cleaning cloth from a supply roll towards the take-up shaft. This incremental cloth advancing system is utilized to prevent an excessive amount of cleaning cloth from being drawn off of the supply roll, thereby preventing excess cleaning cloth usage and interference with the printing system. In order for such an incremental cloth advancing system to be effective, relative rotation between the supply core and supply shaft must be prevented. To date, a jaw system has been utilized to couple the supply core to the supply shaft to prevent relative rotation therebetween. This jaw system utilizes a series of pins or jaws to simultaneously grip both the supply shaft and the supply core. This assembly has a brake mechanism and, once the assembly is coupled to the shaft sockets, an applied spring rewind force.
The use of such jaws, however, has proven inadequate at times to insure the prevention of relative rotation between the supply shaft and the supply core in view of a problem known as core shrinkage. Core shrinkage is a problem which results from the manufacturing process and materials used to make a supply core. This problem results in a particular supply core being shorter than a supply shaft on which the core is to be mounted. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to utilize the jaws to couple the shorter core to the longer shaft, the jaws are incapable of coupling the core to the shaft in view of the shortened length of the core. In particular, because the jaws are unable to adequately reach the core as the jaws are being mounted onto the shaft, the core remains uncoupled to the shaft. Therefore, as a cylinder causes the take-up shaft to index in an attempt to draw cleaning material off of the supply core, the incremental advancing system associated with the supply shaft will fail to prevent excess cleaning cloth from feeding into the printing system, since the brake and spring rewind are ineffective when the core remains uncoupled to the shaft. Rather, as the take-up shaft rotates, the supply core can rotate with respect to the supply shaft thereby feeding an excessive amount of cleaning cloth into the system. Accordingly, the printing system may jam in view of this excess cleaning cloth. As such, this excess amount of cleaning material is wasted when the supply core is not properly coupled to the supply shaft.
Accordingly, there exists a need to address the core shrinkage problem to assure proper press cylinder cleaning and to alleviate system jamming during use of such cleaning systems for press cylinders.
Other problems also exist in present day cleaning systems for press cylinders. In particular, the systems currently use a take-up roll having a serrated surface which provides an exceptionally jagged frictional surface so that cleaning cloth will stick to the take-up shaft as that shaft rotates. The use of such a jagged surface prevents relative rotation between the used cleaning material and the take-up shaft as the take-up shaft rotates. Accordingly, as the cylinder rotates the take-up shaft, the used cleaning cloth adheres to the jagged surface of the take-up shaft thereby drawing additional cleaning material off of the supply core as the take-up roll rotates.
However, the use of such a jagged frictional surface, particularly when the take-up shaft is metal, can be a nuisance to a user. Accordingly, there exists a need to prevent relative rotation between used cleaning cloth and a take-up shaft without exposing a user to possible cuts and scratches.
Another problem associated with current cleaning systems for press cylinders is the difficulty associated with removing the supply or take-up shafts during an exchange of cleaning cloth. Accordingly, there exists a need for an enhanced engagement system which facilitates removal and reinsertion of the supply and take-up shafts during an exchange of cleaning cloth.
EP-A-0 539771 and EP-A-0 611651 disclose means to prevent relative rotation between the supply core and the supply shaft. The means comprises a rubber member attached to the supply core to frictionally engage the inner surface of the supply core.
The present invention fulfils the aforementioned needs.
According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning material supply apparatus for a press cylinder, comprising a supply shaft, a supply core and sheet cleaning material wound on the supply core, the supply core being disposed on the supply shaft and coupled for rotation therewith, characterised in that the supply core is coupled to the supply shaft through a keying engagement of an internal key structure on the supply core with a corresponding outer key structure on the supply shaft, configured to prevent relative rotation therebetween upon rotation of the shaft.
The internal key structure on the supply core may have a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
The supply core may have an external structure with an external cross-sectional shape which is different from the internal cross-sectional shape of the supply core.
The internal key structure of the supply core may have an internal structure with an internal polygonal cross-sectional shape.
Preferably the internal polygonal cross-sectional shape of the supply core may have three, four, five or six sides.
Accordingly internal structure of the supply core may have an internal structure with an oval cross-section.
The external key structure of the supply shaft may have a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
The supply shaft may have an external structure with an external polygonal cross-section shape.
The apparatus may further comprise a housing in which the supply shaft is rotatably mounted and a take-up shaft wherein take-up shaft rotatably mounted in communication with the housing.
Preferably the take-up shaft has a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
The supply shaft may have an external structure with an external polygonal cross-section.
Preferably the external polygonal cross-section may have three, four, five or six sides.
Accordingly the supply shaft may have an external structure with an external oval cross-section.
The housing may comprise a locking finger having an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the take-up shaft is rotatably coupled to the housing via the receiving slot when the movable locking finger is in the locked position.
Preferably the take-up shaft is configured to receive the cleaning material after the cleaning material has been used to clean the printing press.
Accordingly the supply core may have first and second ends the supply shaft may have first and second ends and may further comprise a first plug mounted on the first end of the shaft, and a second plug mounted on the second end on the shaft, a portion of each of the plugs being disposed within the supply shaft, and a portion of each of the plugs being disposed outside the supply shaft and extending beyond a periphery on the supply shaft to prevent the supply core from sliding off the supply shaft.
The press cylinder cleaning material may be a cloth fabric or paper.
The internal and external key structures may comprise a key member and a corresponding receptacle for the key member, the key member being movable in and out of keying engagement with the receptacle.
Preferably the key member passes through a side wall of the supply shaft.
Accordingly the key receptacle is a slot cut into the supply core.
The supply shaft may have an internal lumen formed by at least one sidewall of the supply shaft, the supply shaft having a key slot passing from the internal lumen through the sidewall.
Preferably at least a portion of the key member is disposable in the key slot, the key member having an unlocked position in which the key member is maintained within an outer surface of the supply shaft and the key member having a locked position in which the key member protrudes beyond the supply shaft and into the key slot of the supply core to couple the supply core to the supply shaft.
Preferably at least a portion of a plug is disposable within the lumen of the supply shaft at least a portion of the plug extends beyond the supply shaft to maintain the supply core on the supply shaft.
The apparatus further comprise a slidable cam disposed within the lumen of the supply shaft, the slidable cam operatively associated with the key member and the plug, the slidable cam having an unengaged position corresponding to the unlocked position of the key member, the slidable cam having an engagede position corresponding to the locked position of the key member.
The slidable cam may have a tapered portion in engagement with the key member.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of supplying cleaning material to clean a cylinder of a printing press, comprising engaging a supply core having cleaning material wound thereon, with a supply shaft, rotating the supply shaft to unravel the cleaning material, and passing the cleaning material through a cylinder cleaning apparatus in communication with the printing press characterised in that the engaging of the supply core with the supply shaft comprises coupling the supply shaft through a keying engagement of an internal key structure on the supply core with a corresponding outer key structure on the supply shaft, configured to prevent relative rotation therebetween upon rotation of the shaft.
Accordingly engaging the supply core with the supply shaft may comprise mounting the supply core on a supply shaft having an external structure with a polygonal cross-section.
The method may further comprise placing plugs within first and second ends of supply shaft to prevent the supply core from sliding off of the supply shaft during rotation of the supply shaft.
The method may further comprise receiving the unraveled cleaning material on a rotating take-up roll having an external cross-section with a polygonal shapes.
Preferably the engaging comprises placing the cleaning material supply core around the cleaning material supply shaft and engaging a key to couple the cleaning material supply core to cleaning material supply shaft.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is an overall view of a cleaning system of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side wall of a supply core disposed about a supply shaft (in dotted lines) of the present invention as shown in isolation from the remaining elements of the cleaning system of the present invention.
Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 3B is another cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 3D is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 3E is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 3F is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 3-3 of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side view of the take-up shaft of the present invention as shown in isolation from the remaining elements of the cleaning system of the present invention.
Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention along lines 5-5 of figure 4.
Figure 5B is another cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the present invention along lines 5-5 of figure 4.
Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 5-5 of figure 4.
Figure 5D is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention along lines 5-5 of figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention utilizing a key system.
Figure 7 is a top view of the embodiment shown in figure 6 of the present invention utilizing a key system.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line 8-8 of figure 6 of the embodiment of the present invention utilizing a key system.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 9-9 of figure 6 of the embodiment of the present invention utilizing a key system.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a supply core with a key receiver to receive a key of a supply shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a two plugs and a supply shaft with a key in the form of a protrusion extending from the shaft to be placed within the key receiver of figure 10.
Figure 12 is a side view of a supply shaft and supply core having a key system in the form of a plurality of notches disposed on the shaft and core in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a side view of an additional feature of the present invention along the lines 13-13 of figure 1.
With reference to figure 1, a view of a cleaning system 10 for a press cylinder of a printing press is disclosed. The cleaning system 10 comprises generally a rotatable supply shaft 20, a supply ore 30, a take-up shaft 40 and a housing 50, each of which will now be described in greater detail below.
With continuing reference to Figure 1, rotatable shaft 20 is shown as it extends from a first end 60 to a second end 70. Preferably, rotatable supply shaft 20 generally has a solid structure except for a hollow portion at each end for receiving a portion of a plug. A first plug 80 is disposed at and within first end 60 of rotatable supply shaft 20. A second plug 90 is disposed at and within second end 70 of rotatable supply shaft 20. Each of these plugs 80,90 has a portion disposed in a hollow end portion of rotatable supply shaft 20. Each of these plugs 80,90 also has laterally extending side portions which extend beyond the circumference of rotatable supply shaft 20 to prevent a supply core 30, which is disposed around rotatable supply shaft 20, from sliding off of rotatable supply shaft 20. Each plug 80,90 also has a socket-engaging portion 100,110 which allows the plugs (and therefore rotatable supply shaft 20) to engage within rotatable sockets 120,130. Once engaged, the supply shaft 20 and plug arrangement can move/rotate with respect to the sockets 120,130 under brake load and spring rewind tensions. Rotatable sockets 120,130 are rotatably disposed within housing 50 such that, when a rotational force is applied to rotatable supply shaft 20, rotatable supply shaft 20, in conjunction with plugs 80,90 and sockets 120,130, rotate about a rotational axis 140 of rotatable supply shaft 20.
Preferably, rotatable shaft supply 20 is made of aluminum. Plugs 80,90 and sockets 120,130 are preferably made of plated steel and housing 50 is preferably made of aluminum. It is to be understood, however, that other suitable materials may be used for these elements.
With continuing reference to figure 1, supply core 30 is shown disposed around rotatable supply shaft 20. As with rotatable supply shaft 20, supply core 30 extends from a first end 150 to a second end 160. Supply core 30 has an internal elongated hole which extends from first end 150 to second end 160 for receiving rotatable supply shaft 20 therein. Preferably, supply core 30 is made of cardboard, although it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be used.
Disposed about supply core 30 is an amount of cleaning material 170. Preferably, this cleaning material 170 is such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,368,157, herein incorporated by reference, although it is to be understood that other types of cleaning materials 170, such as cleaning films, may be used.
With reference to figures 2 and 3A-3F, views of the supply core 30 disposed about a supply shaft 20 are shown in isolation from the remaining elements of the cleaning system 10 of the present invention. With particular reference to figures 3A-3F, various embodiments of the present invention are shown. In general, the rotatable supply shaft 20 has an outer cross-sectional shape 180 and the supply core 30 has an inner cross-sectional shape 190 which couples the rotatable supply shaft 20 with the supply core 30 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. As can be seen in these figures, rotatable supply shaft 20 has an cross-section with a polygonal (figs. 3A-3E) or oval (fig. 3F) outer shape, while supply core 30 has a cross-section with a polygonal (figs. 3A-3E) or oval (fig. 3F) inner shape. In particular, the outer cross-sectional shape 180 of the supply shaft 20 and the inner cross-sectional shape 190 of the supply core 30 may be triangular (figure 3A), rectangular (figure 3B), pentagonal (figure 3C), hexagonal (figure 3D) or oval (figure 3F). As shown in figure 3E, it is to be understood that the external cross-sectional shape of the supply core 30 may vary from the internal cross-sectional shape of the supply core 30. Accordingly, in Figure 3E, a core with a round external shape and an internal cross-sectional square shape is shown. Accordingly, the core may outwardly appear to be a cylindrical shape, while the internal structure may have a non-cylindrical shape.
In sum, the outer cross-sectional shape 180 of the supply shaft 20 and the inner cross-sectional shape 190 of the supply shaft 20 may be any non-circular shape. A circle, by definition, is a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point (the center) of the curve. Accordingly, a non-circular shape has a center point and a perimeter whereby the perimeter has at least two points disposed at different distances from the center. As such, the outer cross-sectional shape 180 of the supply shaft 20 and the inner cross-sectional shape 190 of the supply core 30 may be any shape which has a center point and a perimeter whereby the perimeter has at least two points disposed at different distances from the center.
It is also to be understood that the outer cross-sectional shape 180 of the supply shaft 20 need not be the same as the inner cross-sectional shape 190 of the supply core 30 provided that these shapes cause the supply shaft 20 and supply core 30 to couple so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween.
In use, such a structural arrangement allows the rotatable supply shaft 20 and supply core 30 to rotate in unison thereby facilitating the dispensing of cleaning material 170 as the supply shaft 20 and supply core 30 rotate together.
With reference to figure 1, 4 and 5A-5D, a rotatable take-up shaft 40 of the present invention is shown. The rotatable take-up shaft 40 extends from a first end 192 to a second end 194. Disposed at each respective end is a protrusion 196,198 disposed in communication with the housing 50. As shown in figures 5A-5D, the take-up shaft 40 preferably has a polygonal shape such as triangular (fig.5A), rectangular (fig.5B), pentagonal (fig.5C) or hexagonal (fig. 5D), so that used cleaning material 170 may be wound around the take-up shaft 40 without needing to resort to a rough jagged surface texture on the take-up shaft 40. As with the supply shaft 20 and supply core 30, the take-up shaft 40 may assume various non-circular shapes.
With reference to figure 1, cylinder 199 is disposed in communication with a take-up shaft 40 to rotate the take-up shaft 40 during cleaning of a press cylinder. In use, the cylinder 199 rotates the take-up shaft 40 thereby drawing cleaning material 170 off the supply core 30 and rotating the supply core 30 and supply shaft 20 (in conjunction with the incremental advancing system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,176,080).
Preferably, take-up shaft 40 is made of aluminum although it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be used.
With reference to figures 6-9, an alternate embodiment of the present invention utilizing a key system is shown. In this embodiment, a supply shaft 200 is coupled to a supply core 210 by utilizing a key system. As best seen in figure 8, the supply core 210 contains key slots or key receivers 220,230 for receiving keys 240,250. As best seen in figures 8 and 9, the supply shaft 200 has an internal lumen 260 which contains essential elements of the key system. The supply shaft 200 also contains slots 270,280 in its sidewall. In general, as best seen in figure 9, the keys 240,250 pass through slots 270,280 to engage the supply core 210 via key receivers 220,230 to couple the supply shaft 200 to the supply core 210 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. While the key receivers 220,230, at a minimum, must be large enough to receive the keys 240,250, the key receivers 220,230 are preferably somewhat larger than this minimum size so as to provide a clearance gap to facilitate manufacturing tolerances for the supply shaft 200, supply core 210 and key system.
With continuing reference to figures 8 and 9, a transverse pin 290 is preferably utilized to prevent the key system from being pushed too deeply into the lumen 260. In the alternative, the supply shaft 200 may simply be made solid in the region to the right of the transverse pin 290 in figure 8 so as to maintain the entire key system to the left thereof. A spring 300 is disposed to the left of the transverse pin 290 in figure 8. This spring 300 may be attached at one end to the transverse pin 290 via clip. The other end of the spring 300 is placed into contact with a slidable camming member 310. Preferably, the spring 300 is attached to at least transverse pin 290 or the slidable camming member 310 to assure that the spring 300 is always disposed between the slidable camming member 310 and the transverse pin 290. Such an arrangement assures that the spring 300 will impart a force against the slidable camming member 310 and the transverse pin 290 as the camming member 310 is slid from retracted (unlocked) position, as shown in figure 8, to a locked position, as shown in figure 9.
Slidable camming member 310 has a first inclined camming surface 320 to engage a first key 240, and a second inclined camming surface 330 to engage a second key 250. Slidable camming member 310 also has an elongated neck 340 disposed between its inclined surfaces 320,330. In addition, slidable camming member 310 has a slot 350 to receive a fixed pin 360. As slidable camming member 310 slides from the unlocked position of figure 8 to the locked position of figure 9, this fixed pin 360 engages the ends of the slot 350 to prevent further movement of the slidable camming member 310 within the lumen 260 of the supply shaft 200.
With continuing reference to figures 8 and 9, a first key 240 having an inclined surface 370 and a second key 250 having an inclined surface 380 are also shown. The inclined surface 370 of the first key 240 is configured to engage the first inclined camming surface 320 of the slidable camming member 310. The inclined surface 380 of the second key 250 is configured to engage the second inclined camming surface 330 of the slidable camming member 310. Each of theses keys 240,250 has a pin for engaging a spring 390 which imparts a force drawing the two keys 240,250 together. As such, when the key system is in the unlocked position, both springs 300,390 act to force slidable camming member 310 toward its leftmost position as shown in figure 8. While spring 300 imparts a force urging the slidable camming member 310 into this position, spring 390 also pulls the keys 240,250 together thereby causing the inclined surfaces 370,380 of the keys 240,250 to engage the inclined surfaces 320, 330 of the slidable camming member 310 to urge the slidable camming member 310 into this unlocked position.
To urge the slidable camming member 310 from this unlocked position to the locked position shown in figure 9, a plug 400 having a plunger 410, a laterally extending protrusion 420 and a locking pin 430 is preferably used. The plunger 410 is dimensioned to be received within the lumen 260 of the supply shaft 200. As the plunger 410 enters the lumen 260, the plunger 410 engages the slidable camming member 310. As a user continues to push the plunger 410 into the lumen 260, the slidable camming member 310 is forced from its unlocked position to its locked position. As the slidable camming member 310 is forced into this locked position, first inclined camming surface 320 engages the inclined surface 370 of the first key 240, and second inclined camming surface 320 engages the inclined surface 380 of the second key 250, thereby forcing the keys 240,250 to slide through the slots 270,280 disposed in the sidewall of the supply shaft 200, and into the key receivers 220,230 of the supply core 210. The plunger 410 is preferably as long as (1) the slot 350 plus (2) any distance between the end of the slidable plunger 410 and the end of the supply shaft 200. The laterally extending protrusion 420 of the plug 400 extends beyond the circumference of the supply shaft 200 so that the protrusion 420 assists in preventing the supply core 210 from sliding off the supply shaft 200. However, because the key system prevents the supply core 210 from sliding off the supply shaft 200, the plug 400 need not have such a laterally extending side member. The plug 400 also has a locking pin 430 which is slid through a locking pin receiving slot 440 in the sidewall of the supply shaft 200 to a locking slot 450 which is also in the sidewall of the supply shaft 200. To lock the plug 400 onto the first end 60 of the supply shaft 200, the plug 400 need only be turned a small amount such that the locking pin 430 enters the locking slot 450 and engages the sidewall of the supply shaft 200 surrounding this locking slot 450. It should be noted that such a key system can be built with only one key and one slot in the core and shaft, rather than two key/two slot arrangement shown in the drawings.
Preferably, plated steel and other metallic materials are to be used in such a key system, although it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be used.
With reference to figures 10 and 11, another embodiment of the present invention also utilizing a key system is disclosed is shown. In this embodiment, the key 500 protrudes from the sidewall of the supply shaft 510. This key 500 may be integral with this sidewall. This key 500 is received in a key receiver or slot 520 in the supply core 530 which extends from the end of the supply core 530 to an intermediate point (between the ends) of the supply core 530. Although two plugs 540,550 are shown in the embodiment of figures 10 and 11, it is to be understood that the first plug 540 shown in figure 11 is unnecessary to keep the supply core 530 from sliding off the supply shaft 510 (the key system adequately prevents the supply core 530 from sliding off of the supply shaft 510 at that end). Once this supply core 530 is slid onto this supply shaft 510 so that the key 500 is received in the key receiver 520, relative rotation between the supply shaft 510 and supply core 530 is prevented.
With reference to figure 12, another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a supply shaft 600 and supply core 610 have a key system in the form of a plurality of notches 620,630 disposed on the shaft 600 and core 610, respectively, to prevent relative rotation therebetween.
With reference to figure 13, a unique arrangement for rotatably coupling the take-up shaft 40 to the housing 50 is shown. In this arrangement, the take-up shaft 40 may be slid into housing 50 via a slot 700. Once the take-up shaft 40 is disposed in communication with housing 50 via slot 700, a tightening screw 710 may be used to tighten a movable locking finger 720 from an unlocked position to a locked position. The unlocked position of movable locking finger 720 is shown in phantom in figure 13 while the locked position is shown in solid lines in figure 13. Such an 5 arrangement may also be used to dispose the supply shaft in communication with the housing 50.
It will be appreciated that many modification can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A cleaning material supply apparatus for a press cylinder, comprising: a supply shaft (20,200), a supply core, and sheet cleaning material (170) wound on the supply core the supply core (30,210) being disposed on the supply shaft and coupled for rotation therewith, characterised in that the supply core is coupled to the supply shaft through a keying engagement of an internal key structure on the supply core with a corresponding outer key structure on the supply shaft, configured to prevent relative rotation therebetween upon rotation of the shaft.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the internal key structure (190) on the supply core (30,210) has a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supply core (30,210) has an external structure (180) with an external cross-sectional shape which is different from the internal cross-sectional shape of the supply core.
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the internal key structure (190) of the supply core (30,210) has an internal polygonal cross-sectional shape.
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the internal polygonal cross-sectional shape (190) of the supply core (30,210) has three, four, five or six sides.
Apparatus according to either claim 2 or 3 wherein the supply core has an internal key structure (190) of an oval cross-section.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the external key structure of the supply shaft (20,200) has a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the supply shaft (20,200) has an external structure with an external polygonal cross-section shape.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a housing (50) in which the supply shaft (20,200) is rotatably mounted and a take-up shaft (40) wherein the take-up shaft is rotatably mounted in communication with the housing.
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the take-up shaft (40) has a cross-section with a centre point and a perimeter, the perimeter having at least two points disposed at different distances from the centre.
Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the supply shaft (20,200) has an external structure with an external polygonal cross-section.
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the external polygonal cross-section has three, four, five or six sides.
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the supply shaft (20,200) has an external structure with an external oval cross-section.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the housing (50) comprises a receiving slot and a movable locking finger, the movable locking finger having an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the take-up shaft (40) is rotatably coupled to the housing via the receiving slot when the movable locking finger is in the locking finger locked position.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the take-up shaft (40) is configured to receive the cleaning material (170) after the cleaning material has been used to clean the printing press.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the supply core (30,210) has first and second ends (150,160) the supply shaft (20) has first and second ends (60,70) and further comprises a first plug (80,410) mounted on the first end (60) of the shaft, and a second plug (90,420) mounted on the second end (70) of the shaft, a portion of each of the plugs being disposed within the supply shaft, and a portion of each of the plugs being disposed outside the supply shaft and extending beyond a periphery of the supply shaft to prevent the supply core from sliding off the supply shaft.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the press cylinder cleaning material (170) is a cloth fabric.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the press cylinder cleaning material (170) is paper.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the internal and external key structures comprise a key member (240,250) and a corresponding receptacle (220,230) for the key member, the key member being movable in and out of the keying engagement with the receptacle.
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the key member is configured to pass through a side wall of the supply shaft (20,200).
Apparatus according to either claim 19 or 20 wherein the key receptacle (220,230) is a slot cut into the supply core (30,210).
Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the supply shaft(20,200) has an internal lumen (260) formed by at least one sidewall of the supply shaft, the supply shaft having a key slot (270,280) passing from the internal lumen through the sidewall.
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the key member (240,250) is disposable in the key slot (270,280), the key member having an unlocked position in which the key member is maintained within an outer surface of the supply shaft (20,200) and the key member having a locked position in which the key member protrudes beyond the supply shaft and into the key slot of the supply core (30,210) to couple the supply core to the supply shaft.
Apparatus according to claim 22 or 23 wherein at least a portion of a plug (80,400,410) is disposed within the lumen (260) of the supply shaft (20,200) and at least a portion of the plug (90,400,420) extends beyond the supply shaft to maintain the supply core (30,210) on the supply shaft.
Apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a slidable cam (310) disposed within the lumen (260) of the supply shaft (20,200), the slidable cam operatively associated with the key member (240,250) and the plug (400), the slidable cam having an unengaged position corresponding to the unlocked position of the key member and the slidable cam having an engaged position corresponding to the locked position of the key member.
Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the slidable cam (310) has a tapered portion (370,380) in engagement with the key member(240,250).
A method of supplying cleaning material (170) to clean a cylinder of a printing press, comprising:

engaging a supply core having cleaning material wound thereon, with a supply shaft (20,200);

rotating the supply shaft to unravel the cleaning material; and

passing the cleaning material through a cylinder cleaning apparatus in communication with the printing press characterised in that the engaging the supply core with the supply shaft comprises coupling the supply shaft through a keying engagement of an internal key structure on the supply core with a corresponding outer key structure on the supply shaft, configured to prevent relative rotation therebetween upon rotation of the shaft.
A method according to claim 27 wherein engaging the supply core (30,210) with the supply shaft (20,200) comprises mounting the supply core on a supply shaft having external structure with a polygonal cross-section.
A method according to either claim 27 or 28 further comprising:
placing plugs (80,90) within first and second (60,70) ends of the supply shaft (20,200) to prevent the supply core (30,210) from sliding off of the supply shaft during rotation of the supply shaft.
A method according to any one of claim 27 to 29 further comprising:
receiving the unraveled cleaning material (170) on a rotating take-up roll (40) having an external cross-section with a polygonal shape.
A method according to claim 27 wherein the engaging the supply core (30,210) with a supply shaft (20,200) comprises:

placing the supply core around the cleaning material supply shaft (20, 200); and

engaging a key to couple the cleaning material supply core to cleaning material supply shaft.