CA1306330C - Apparatus for removing particles, liquids etc. from an underlayer by means of vacuum - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for removing, by partial vacuum, particles, liquids etc. from a substrate. The apparatus includes a connection conduit which is common to a plurality of channels, and distributes partial vacuum to one end of the channels, the conduit being arranged to he connected to a source of partial vacuum establishing requisite partial vacuum at the one end of the channels.

The other end of the channels is obliquely inclined in relation to the substrate, from which material is to be removed for the purpose of retaining the other end of the channels open against the substrate on abutment thereagainst.
The space between such other end and substrate of the channels are bridged by a suitably somewhat resilient portion which is arranged to seal from the other ends of the channels against the substrate.

Description

ITLE OF IN~ENTION: AN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING, BY
PARTIAL VACUUMs PARTICLES, LIQUIDS
ETC. FROM A SUBSTRATE

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for removin~, by partial vacuum, particles, liquids etc. from a substrate, the apparatus including a connection conduit which is common to a plurality of channels and distributes partial vacuum to one end of the channels, the conduit being arranged to be connected to a source of partial vacuum supplying requisite partial vacuum to one end of the channels.
Various types of nozzles for removing dust, water etc. by means of partial vacuum are known in the art. One such prior-art nozzle utilizes nozzle channels whose level is controlled by rollers, which channels may hence suck relatively close to that substrate wher~ material is to be removed. However, the very least unevenness in the substrate creates problems for such a prior-art nozzle, since the sucking ends of the channels will, in such an event, either approach too closely or be too distally from the substrate to be of optimum effect. In particular, in such substrates which are of an inherent uneven surface, nozzles of this type are relatively ineffective.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention has for example to devise a suction nozzle whose efficiency is but slightly affected or una~fected by unevenness in the surface of the substrate.

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SOLUTION
The object of the present inven~ion in the type of apparatus as described by way of introduction is solved in that the one ends of the channels are, according to the invention, obliquely inclined in relation to that substrate from which material is to be removed, for the purpose of maintaining the other ends of the channels open towards the substrate on abutment thereagainst, at least that space between these other ends and the substrate which is hereby created being bridged by a suitably slightly yieldably portion which is operative to seal from the other ends of the channels against the substrate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto.
In the accompanying Drawings:
Fig. 1 shows a nozzle according to the present inventionl in side elevation;
Fig. 2 shows the nozzle of Fig. 1 in front elevation;
Fig. 3 shows a section taken through one channel of the nozzle of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a cross section seen in the direction of the arrows A-A in Fig. 3, DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the Drawings, the nozzle according to the present invention includes a connection 4, to which a per se known suitable source (not shown) is coupled for delivering a partial . vacuum to the nozzle. The connection 4 is sealingly connected to a connection conduit 3 which advantageously consists of a tube 3 which is pressure-sealed at both ends. The tube 3 is advantageously slit in khe longitudinal direction thereof throughout its entire - or al~ost entire - length. The size of the slit in the peripheral direction of the tube 3 has been selected to be sligthly less than that which is required in reality for those closed channels which are described in greater detail below, - ~L3~3~

in order to be urged against the outer surfaces of the channels in a pressure-tight connection without leakage.
The channels 5a, 5b, 5c, etc. of the nozzle are, in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 4, formed by a body 1 of, for example, rein~orced rubber whose underside, according to Fig. 4, is planar and whose upper side is undulated. This upper side is covered at the wave crests by a suitably sheet-formed material, for example a r~latively rigid but nonetheless flexible sheet 2 of rubber. As is apparent from Fig. 3, the sheet 2 is provided with such an overlap 2a that this latter more than comfortably bridges the distance between the other, sucking ends of the channels 5a~
5b, 5c, etc., and that substrate 7 from which material is to be removed.
The channels 5a, Sb, 5c, etc. are - as will be apparent from Fig. 4 - localized along a substantially straight line and, on abutment against the substrate 7, mutually adjacent channels 5a and 5b; and 5a and 5c, respectively, will cooperate and also mutually communicate, i.e. a highly efficient suction effect will be attained, essentially irrespective of the appearance of the ?O substrate 7.
It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that the overlap 2a is advantageously disposed - seen in the direction of movement of the nozzle - after the channels 5a, 5b, 5c etc. However, it is, naturally, also possible - if the overlap 2a is relatively large -to move the nozzle in the opposite direction.
Thè sheet 2 need not be fixedly secured to the wave crests ofthe body 1 but may be retained in place by the partial vacuum. On ~accumulation of dirt or the like in one or more channels 5a, 5b, Sc, etc., it ;s, therefore, a simple operation to lift the sheet 2, in which event residual refuse may readi1y be removed.
Variations on the present invention are, of course, conceivable. For example, according to Fig. 3, the sucking ends of the channels 5a, 5b, 5c, etc. are cut at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the channels and, in such instance, the channels are moved in an acute angle to the substrate 7~ but 33~
" 4 instead, the channels may, naturally, be obliquely cut and be held at approximately a right angle in relation to the substrate 7.
Suitable materials of low friction to the substrate 7 for the body 1 and the sheet 2 may, for example, instead consist of plastic materials of the polypropylene type.

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Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for removing, by means of partial vacuum, particles, liquids etc. from a substrate (7), the apparatus including a connection conduit (3) which is common to a plurality of channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.), which distributes partial vacuum to the one end of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.), and which is arranged to be connected (4) to a partial vacuum source delivering requisite partial vacuum to the one end of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.), characterized in that the other end of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) are obliquely inclined in relation to that substrate (7) from which materials is to be removed, for the purpose of retaining the other ends of said channels (5a, 5b, 5G, etc.) open against the substrate (7) on abutment thereagainst; and that at least that space between said other end and said substrate (7) thus created is bridged by a suitably slightly yieldable portion (2a) to seal from the other end of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) against said substrate (7).

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) are localized adjacent one another along a straight line, preferably such that - seen along said line - a channel merges in the two immediately adjacent channels.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said part (2a) is localized - seen in the contemplated direction of movement of the apparatus on said substrate (7) -after the other ends of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.).

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the degree of yieldability or elasticity of said part (2a) is adapted such that said part (2a) follows said substrate (7).

5. The apparatus as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, with substantially right-angled other ends of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) disposed in relation to the longitudinal direction, characterized in that said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) are held at an acute angle to the substrate (7); and that said part (2a) bridges with overlap the distance from the channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) to said substrate (7).

6. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, etc.) are formed by a preferably somewhat elastically yieldable undulated body whose side facing away from the wave crests is advantageously planar;
and by a preferably loosely disposed sheet (2) across the wave crests, the sheet being substantially arranted to be retained against the wave crests by the partial vacuum.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said connection conduit consists of a longitudinally slit tube (3) in which slit the one ends of said channels (5a, 5b, 5c, ete.) are retained.

8. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that both said body (1) and said sheet (2) are of flexible, durable material.