The anilox roller facilitates ink transfer through its cells, which, being small, are prone to clogging from solidified ink during operation, thus impacting ink transfer efficiency. As a result, the anilox roller is pivotal in the printing process, significantly influencing the print quality.
Currently, there are 5 methods for cleaning anilox rollers: manual cleaning, powerful chemical cleaning for heavy corrosion, jet cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and laser cleaning.
1. Manual cleaning
The cleaning agent is administered onto the surface of the anilox roll, and the chrome-coated metallic anilox roll is scrubbed using a copper wire brush, while the ceramic anilox roll necessitates a wire brush for cleaning.
This particular cleaning technique offers convenience and is environmentally friendly. However, inadequate cleaning may compromise ink transfer efficiency. Typically recommended for low-web anilox rolls or non-dirty anilox rolls.
2. Strong corrosion chemical cleaning
A caustic cleaning solution (typically alkaline) is uniformly applied onto the anilox roller’s surface. Optionally, a layer of plastic film may be wrapped around the roller to prevent liquid evaporation. The roller is left to undergo ablation for a duration ranging from 1 to 48 hours. Once the cured ink has adequately softened, the roller undergoes manual cleaning using either water or an alcohol-based solution (avoiding acidic solutions like acetic acid).
While this cleaning approach yields effective results, it also exerts some corrosive influence on the anilox roller and contributes to environmental pollution.
3.Jet cleaning
Jet cleaning involves spraying a baking soda solution onto the surface of the anilox roll, effectively softening and breaking down solidified ink for cleaning purposes. Baking soda’s easy solubility and non-toxic nature ensure it dissolves quickly and harmlessly when it touches other substances, safeguarding the anilox roll’s surface and ink chamber walls. Consequently, this cleaning technique proves highly effective, with significant potential for promotion and utilization.
4. Ultrasonic cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning involves immersing the anilox roller in a bath filled with a chemical cleaning solution. As the roller slowly rotates, a frequency conversion device emits high-frequency sound waves into the liquid, causing it to vibrate and generate bubbles. These bubbles implode inwardly, exerting a continuous force that ejects ink from the roller’s cells. Cleaning typically lasts 15 to 45 minutes.
However, prolonged vibration can lead to the formation of tiny cracks on the surface of ceramic anilox rollers. These cracks can accumulate over time, allowing high pH or crude chemicals to penetrate the porous ceramic coating, gradually corroding the substrate and affecting the roller’s lifespan. Therefore, it’s advisable not to clean anilox rollers too frequently, especially ceramic ones.
5. Laser cleaning
Laser cleaning is a dry, chemical-free method that relies on precise settings for laser focus, power, ink type, and rotation speed. It delivers excellent cleaning results and can be used for both inline and offline cleaning. Additionally, laser cleaning is capable of cleaning anilox rollers exceeding 1000 LPI. However, its limited adoption is due to high initial investment and demanding operational requirements.
