GB2218049A - Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile and like machines - Google Patents

Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile and like machines Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2218049A
GB2218049A GB8909835A GB8909835A GB2218049A GB 2218049 A GB2218049 A GB 2218049A GB 8909835 A GB8909835 A GB 8909835A GB 8909835 A GB8909835 A GB 8909835A GB 2218049 A GB2218049 A GB 2218049A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cleaning
sheet
cleaning sheet
impregnated
facsimile communication
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8909835A
Other versions
GB2218049B (en
GB8909835D0 (en
Inventor
John William Shaw
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SAPONA CHEMICALS Ltd
Original Assignee
SAPONA CHEMICALS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SAPONA CHEMICALS Ltd filed Critical SAPONA CHEMICALS Ltd
Publication of GB8909835D0 publication Critical patent/GB8909835D0/en
Publication of GB2218049A publication Critical patent/GB2218049A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2218049B publication Critical patent/GB2218049B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00909—Cleaning arrangements or preventing or counter-acting contamination from dust or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/17—Cleaning arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00443—Copy medium
    • G03G2215/00531—Copy medium transported through the apparatus for non-imaging purposes, e.g. cleaning

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Instead of partially dismantling a facsimile machine in order to obtain access to its recording or reading head to clean them by wiping with cotton wool or the like it is proposed to clean the heads, and the feed rollers, by replacing the sheet material which is usually fed to the respective heads with a cleaning sheet (1), impregnated with a cleaning liquid and to pass that cleaning sheet (1) through the machine instead of the normal sheet material. Both the recording and reading heads can be cleaned simultaneously if one sheet of cleaning material is "copied" onto another by the machine. A cleaning sheet (1) for use in the method, and a pack containing such cleaning sheets are also disclosed. The cleaning sheet (1) may carry dark indicia (3). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CLEANING FACSIMILE MACHINES This invention relates to a method oç cleaning facsimile communication devices and to apparatus for use in the method.
To transmit a sheet of information by facsimile reproduction the sheet is fed into a slot in the facsimile device where it is guided te pass a reading head which converts the information on the sheet into signals which are communicated to another, receiving, device remote from the transmitting device. The sheet of information is re-constituted in visible form from the transmitted signals by a recording (or printing) head of the receiving device.
In order for the system to function properly the recording head has to be clean. At present the recording heads of at least some facsimile communication devices are periodically cleaned by removing exterior panels of the facsimile device and wiping the head with a soft cloth dampened with a solvent. This is messy and inconvenient. Furthermore, it is not always possible for the user to obtain access to the recording head himself; it may be necessary to call upon the maintenance personnel of the company who lease or manufacture the facsimile device in order to clean the head. This is of course inconvenient, and can be expensive.
It is the aim of the invention to provide a simple method of cleaning facsimile communication devices.
According to a first aspect the invention consists in a method of cleaning a facsimile communication device which feeds sheet material, comprising the steps of replacing the sheet material which is usually fed to pass through the device with a cleaning sheet impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and passing the cleaning sheet through the device instead of the sheet material.
This method has the advantage that the device does not have to be unduly disturbed and dismantled in order to clean it.
The sheet material replaced by the cleaning sheet may comprise the paper upon which incoming messages are printed, or the sheet containing information to be transmitted, or, if two cleaning sheets are used, both the paper upon which incoming messages are printed and the sheet containing information to be transmitted can be replaced with cleaning sheets simultaneously and the device activated in its "copy" mode.
The method is especially applicable, but not exclusively so, to facsimile communication devices having relatively inaccessible recording, or printing, heads to which paper is fed in order to be printed upon. Replacing the paper with a cleaning sheet during a cleaning operation enables the printing head to be cleaned with ease.
Replacing a sheet of information to be transmitted with a cleaning sheet enables the reading head of the device to be cleaned.
A further advantage of the method is that the feed rollers of the recording or reading stations of the device are also cleaned, without having specifically to provide a separate cleaning step for them.
The cleaning sheet may have only a restricted area impregnated with cleaning liquid, or the whole cleaning sheet may be impregnated with cleaning liquid. The cleaning sheet, or that part of it that is impregnated, may be impregnated with cleaning liquid to saturation, or may carry less cleaning liquid than the maximum that it is capable of carrying. The cleaning liquid may comprise a solvent.
The cleaning sheet may be passed through the device more than once.
The cleaning sheet may be at least partially introduced into the device prior to impregnation of at least a part of the cleaning sheet.
According to a second aspect the invention consists in a cleaning sheet adapted to be impregnated with cleaning liquid and to retain its integrity when so impregnated, and being of a size enabling it to be passed through a facsimile communication device.
Preferably the cleaning sheet has a rough or slightly abrasive surface texture which assists in the cleaning action.
In a preferred embodiment the cleaning sheet is of conventional A4 size, and is made of a spun-bonded polyester.
The cleaning sheet may carry indicia to ensure that the presence of the cleaning sheet is recognised by the device, or it may be suitably coloured for that purpose. The indicia may comprise an arrow serving also to indicate a preferred direction of introduction for the cleaning sheet.
The sheet may be pre-impregnated with cleaning liquid and so may not require any impregnation operation to be performed by the user.
According to a third aspect the invention consists in a pack comprising at least one cleaning sheet in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, instructions presenting a method in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and cleaning liquid.
The cleaning liquid may be provided in a container, which may be a spray dispenser, or may be pre-impregnated in the or each cleaning sheet which is preferably enclosed in a protective wrapper or envelope until the sheet is required to be used.
Two methods of cleaning a facsimile communication device in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cleaning sheet adapted for use in the methods.
In order to clean an impact printer of a facsimile communication device the device is opened and its roll of paper adjacent the impact printer upon which incoming messages are printed is removed. A cleaning sheet 1 is introduced into the printer of the device at the appropriate aperture of the device as though the cleaning sheet 1 were paper upon which an incoming message would be printed. The device is closed and the "start and talk" buttons are pressed. The cleaning sheet then begins to be fed through the printer in paper-feeding mode. At this point the device is again opened and a cleaning solvent, for example ethyl alcohol, is applied to an area 2 of the cleaning sheet 1 identified on the sheet as being intended to receive the cleaning solvent.The facsimile device is then closed and the cleaning sheet 1 allowed te feed completely through the printer of the device. Both the printing head and feed rollers of the device are cleaned simultaneously. In some facsimile communication devices it may be necessary to apply the cleaning solvent to the cleaning sheet before the "start and talk" buttons are pressed.
In order to clean both the printing head and the reading head of a facsimile communication device at the same time (and their associated feed rollers) the following method is employed. The device is opened and the roll of paper adjacent the printer is replaced with a cleaning sheet 1, which may have solvent applied to it before or after the device is actuated. A further cleaning sheet 1 is introduced into the trasmission slot of the device instead of a sheet of information to be transmitted and the device accepts part of this further sheet into itself. Solvent is then applied to the further sheet. The "start and talk" buttons are pressed and both the cleaning sheets are fed through the facsimile device with the device in "copy mode".
The cleaning sheets clean the recording head, rubber transfer rollers and other components of the device in the paths of the sheets. Depending upon the type of facsimile communication device being cleaned it may be necessary to press the "start and talk" buttons a few further times in order to pass both sheets completely through the device. When the two cleaning sheets have been removed from the device the normal roll of paper upon which incoming messages are recorded is replaced.
The device is then clean and ready for use.
The cleaning sheets may be passed through the device more than once if it is so desired.
This second method of cleaning the facsimile device is based on the idea of actuating the device to "copy" one cleaning sheet onto another cleaning sheet, instead of a sheet of information onto the roll of paper of the device. Both the printing and reading heads are cleaned simultaneously.
As will be apparent from the method of cleaning the recording head described above, it is of course possible to clean either the reading head alone or the recording head alone if only the appropriate one of the paper to be printed upon and the sheet of information to be transmitted is replaced by a single cleaning sheet.
The cleaning sheets 1 are of standard A4 size and are made of spun-bonded polyester, and have a slightly abrasive surface texture. The area 2 to which the cleaning solvent is to be applied extends completely across the width of the sheets. Since each cleaning sheet is the same only one will be described further.
The sheet 1 is white, and a black arrow 3 is provided on the sheet and serves two purposes: firstly, it indicates the direction in which the cleaning sheet is to be inserted into the facsimile device, and secondly it ensures that an optical sensor provided at the printer of the device to detect the presence of paper at the printer, or the presence of a sheet to be transmitteed at the reading head, is activated and allows the cleaning sheet to be fed through the printer.
It may be desirable to provide the cleaning sheet with two indicia, for example if the relative locations of the optical sensors at the recording head and at the reading head are different.
We have had difficulty in using sheets of white spun-bonded polyester without dark indicia since the optical sensor may not recognise the cleaning sheet as being present and so may indicate that no paper is available or that no sheet of information to be transmitted is present, preventing operation of the device. Whilst we could use coloured spun-bonded polyester cleaning sheets we prefer to use white cleaning sheets and provide indicia, such as arrow 3, at a location on the sheet 1 which registers with the position of the paper-sensing sensor of the facsimile device. The location of the indicia may thus vary with the type of facsimile device with which the cleaning sheet is suitable for use. White cleaning sheets more readily show any soiling from the cleaning of the printer so that the cleaning is shown to be effective.
The area 2 may contain instructions, such as the words "Apply solvent here". Any instructions, and the indicia 3, are printed onto the sheet 1 using inks which will not be affected by the solvent used.
We propose to provide packs incorporating a number of cleaning sheets (for example 5 or 6 sheets), instructions setting out the cleaning method, and a supply of solvent.
The solvent may be poured onto the cleaning sheet or it may be sprayed on. We may therefore also include a spray dispenser for the solvent in our packs. The spray dispenser may be re-fillable and may comprise a hand-operated pump applicator. Alternatively the dispenser may be non-refillable.
We may also choose to provide a general-purpose cleaner in our pack for cleaning the exterior of the device.
As an alternative to applying the solvent only to a limited area of the sheet 1 we may apply it to the whole surface of the sheet.
An alternative pack which we envisage comprises a number of cleaning sheets (for example 5 or 6 sheets) pre-impregnated with cleaning solvent and sealed in a wrapper or envelope. Each cleaning sheet could be individually sealed in its own wrapper or envelope, which could be made of cellophane (registered trade mark) or other suitable plastics sheet-material.

Claims (22)

1. A method of cleaning a facsimile communication device which feeds sheet material, comprising the steps of replacing the sheet material which is usually fed to pass through the device with a cleaning sheet impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and passing the cleaning sheet through the device instead of the sheet material.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which paper upon which incoming messages is recorded is replaced by the cleaning sheet and the recording head of the device is cleaned by the cleaning sheet.
3. A method according to claim 1 in which a sheet containing information to be transmitted is replaced by the cleaning sheet and the reading head of the device is cleaned by the cleaning sheet.
4. A method according to claim 1 in which both paper upon which incoming messages are printed and a sheet containing information to be transmitted are simultaneously replaced by respective cleaning sheets and the device activated so as to feed the cleaning sheets past the reading and recording heads of the device simultaneously.
5. A method according to any preceding claim in which the or each cleaning sheet is passed through the device more than once in succession.
6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the or each cleaning sheet is impregnated with cleaning liquid to saturation.
7. A method according to any preceding claim in which the or each cleaning sheet is impregnated with cleaning liquid immediately prior to cleaning of the device.
8. A method according to any preceding claim in which the or each cleaning sheet is partially introduced into the device prior to impregnation with cleaning liquid.
9. A method according to any preceding claim in which only a restricted area of the cleaning sheet is impregnated with cleaning liquid.
10. A cleaning sheet for use in the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising a sheet of fluid absorbent material adapted to be impregnated with cleaning liquid and to retain its integrity when so impregnated, and being of a size enabling it to be passed through a facsimile communication device.
11. A cleaning sheet according to claim 10 which has a rough or slightly abrasive surface texture which assists in the cleaning action.
12. A cleaning sheet according to claim 11 which is of A4 size, and is made of a spun-bonded polyester.
13. A cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 10 to 12 which carries indicia to ensure that the presence of the cleaning sheet is recognised by the device, or is suitably coloured for that purpose.
14. A cleaning sheet according to claim 13 which carries indicia comprising an arrow serving also to indicate a preferred direction of introduction for the cleaning sheet.
15. A cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 10 to 14 which is pre-impregnated with cleaning liquid se as not to require any impregnation operation to be performed by the user.
16. A pack for use in cleaning a facsimile communication device comprising at least one cleaning sheet in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 15, instructions presenting a method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, and cleaning liquid.
17. A pack according to claim 16 in which the cleaning liquid is provided in a container in the pack.
18. A pack according to claim 16 in which the cleaning liquid is pre-impregnated into the or each cleaning sheet.
19. A pack according to claim 18 in which the or each cleaning sheet is enclosed in a protective wrapper or envelope.
20. A method of cleaning a facsimile communication device substantially as described herein.
21. A cleaning sheet for use in cleaning a facsimile communication device substantially as illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
22. A pack for use in cleaning a facsimile communication device substantially as described herein.
GB8909835A 1988-05-04 1989-04-28 Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile machines Expired - Fee Related GB2218049B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888810499A GB8810499D0 (en) 1988-05-04 1988-05-04 Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile machines

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8909835D0 GB8909835D0 (en) 1989-06-14
GB2218049A true GB2218049A (en) 1989-11-08
GB2218049B GB2218049B (en) 1992-10-28

Family

ID=10636316

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888810499A Pending GB8810499D0 (en) 1988-05-04 1988-05-04 Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile machines
GB8909835A Expired - Fee Related GB2218049B (en) 1988-05-04 1989-04-28 Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile machines

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888810499A Pending GB8810499D0 (en) 1988-05-04 1988-05-04 Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile machines

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8810499D0 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2238510A (en) * 1989-11-09 1991-06-05 Dataproducts Corp Absorbent sheets for cleaning and absorbing ink from ink-jet printheads
EP0531992A2 (en) * 1991-09-13 1993-03-17 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha A stack of recording sheets with cleaning sheets dispersed therein and method of maintaining recording apparatus
US5239316A (en) * 1989-11-09 1993-08-24 Dataproducts Corporation Head tend media and system for an ink jet printer
GB2295990A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 Hewlett Packard Co Inkjet page-wide-array printhead cleaning method and apparatus
US6851787B2 (en) 2003-03-06 2005-02-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printer servicing system and method
US6932455B2 (en) 2003-04-30 2005-08-23 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing apparatus and method
US7311376B2 (en) 2004-09-22 2007-12-25 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Imaging device and method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1390187A (en) * 1971-05-14 1975-04-09 Barron R M Method of cleaning printing type
GB1426930A (en) * 1972-06-19 1976-03-03 Cii Honeywell Bull Device for cleaning the characters of a printing machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1390187A (en) * 1971-05-14 1975-04-09 Barron R M Method of cleaning printing type
GB1426930A (en) * 1972-06-19 1976-03-03 Cii Honeywell Bull Device for cleaning the characters of a printing machine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
JP 58057129 *

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2238510A (en) * 1989-11-09 1991-06-05 Dataproducts Corp Absorbent sheets for cleaning and absorbing ink from ink-jet printheads
US5239316A (en) * 1989-11-09 1993-08-24 Dataproducts Corporation Head tend media and system for an ink jet printer
EP0531992A2 (en) * 1991-09-13 1993-03-17 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha A stack of recording sheets with cleaning sheets dispersed therein and method of maintaining recording apparatus
EP0531992A3 (en) * 1991-09-13 1993-12-08 Canon Kk A stack of recording sheets with cleaning sheets dispersed therein and method of maintaining recording apparatus
US5560980A (en) * 1991-09-13 1996-10-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Stack of recording sheets with cleaning sheets dispersed therein and method of maintaining recording apparatus
US5751306A (en) * 1991-09-13 1998-05-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Stack of recording sheets with cleaning sheets dispersed therein and method of maintaining recording apparatus
GB2295990A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 Hewlett Packard Co Inkjet page-wide-array printhead cleaning method and apparatus
US5589865A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-12-31 Hewlett-Packard Company Inkjet page-wide-array printhead cleaning method and apparatus
GB2295990B (en) * 1994-12-14 1999-05-19 Hewlett Packard Co Inkjet page-wide-array printhead cleaning method & apparatus
US6851787B2 (en) 2003-03-06 2005-02-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printer servicing system and method
US6932455B2 (en) 2003-04-30 2005-08-23 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing apparatus and method
US7311376B2 (en) 2004-09-22 2007-12-25 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Imaging device and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2218049B (en) 1992-10-28
GB8909835D0 (en) 1989-06-14
GB8810499D0 (en) 1988-06-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2165637C (en) Mailing machine utilizing ink jet printer
GB2307679B (en) Apparatus for forming a sheet pile e.g. in a delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine
EP0622205A3 (en) Paper pre-conditioning heater for ink jet printer.
EP0403775A3 (en) Printer
GB2350832B (en) Roll of printing paper,video printer using such roll of printing paper and method of detecting remaining quantity of printing paper
GB2218049A (en) Improvements relating to cleaning facsimile and like machines
GB2301096B (en) Apparatus for the automatic singling-out of sheets in the delivery of a sheet-fed rotary printing press
JPS6121674A (en) Picture forming device
JPS57128553A (en) Device for delivering paper sheet by slight vibration between printing unit of polychrome printer
EP0683054A3 (en) Paper delivery apparatus for printing machines
ES518456A0 (en) A PAPER FEED ROLLER DEVICE, INSERTABLE AND MANUALLY REMOVABLE, FOR A WRITING MACHINE OR PRINTER.
AU684690B2 (en) Apparatus for printing graphic images on sheet material having an ink web cassette with constant web tension
JP3061941B2 (en) Stencil printing machine
JPS62256559A (en) Facsimile equipment
JP3027537B2 (en) Stencil printing machine
JP2619748B2 (en) Flexo printing machine for corrugated cardboard
JPH01141075A (en) Image recorder
JPS6174876A (en) Recording apparatus
JPS5795461A (en) Paper sheet offset printer for printing both surface
JPH0435566A (en) Carrier sheet
JPS5693549A (en) Rubber drum for paper sheet offset printing press
JPS6230068A (en) Controller for paper discharge of ink jet printer
GB9607761D0 (en) Sheet delivery apparatus for a printer
JPS5573583A (en) Printing device
JPH0449074A (en) Recording sheet

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040428