GB2483464A

GB2483464A - A contact cleaning roller assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2483464A
Application number: GB201014913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Crookston
Original assignee: ITW CS UK Ltd
Current assignee: ITW CS UK Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-08
Filing date: 2010-09-08
Publication date: 2012-03-14
Also published as: GB201014913D0; WO2012032488A2; WO2012032488A3

Abstract

A contact cleaning roller assembly comprises a contact cleaning roller with a cleaning surface capable of removing and/or collecting contaminating particles from a surface, and a housing 210 capable of receiving and mounting the roller about a centrally located pivot point 242and wherein the contact cleaning roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point 242. The housing 210 controls the movement of the contact cleaning roller so that there is no forwards and/or backwards movement of the roller during use which therefore prevents wrinkles form forming in the surface being cleaned. The housing preferably includes a centrally located opening which is capable of receiving and mounting the contact cleaning roller.

Description

IMPROVED ROLLER HOLDER ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a contact cleaning roller apparatus comprising an improved roller holder assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a contact cleaning roller apparatus comprising an improved contact cleaning roller holder assembly wherein a cleaning roller pivots vertically or at least substantially vertically about a centrally located pivot point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Contact cleaning is now well-known and cleaning rollers have been used for many years with the initial rubber pick-up rollers and combined adhesive roll systems being designed in 1984. Contact cleaners use high energy pick-up rollers which come into contact with contaminated surfaces which need to be cleaned. The particles form a temporary bond with the roller and are then transferred to an adhesive sheet or roll where they are permanently captured.

The rubber rollers have more surface energy than the substrate being cleaned.

The adhesive sheet or roll has higher surface energy than the rubber rollers so that the pick-up roller cleans the substrate and the adhesive sheet or roll cleans the pick-up roller. After the adhesive sheet or roll is fully loaded it must be replaced.

There is a problem in the art in that current contact cleaning rollers can cause wrinkles on a substrate during cleaning. This is caused because as the roller is initially placed on the substrate to be cleaned or as the roller passes over a thicker or thinner area to be cleaned there can be a slight forwards or backwards movement of the roller. The wrinkles can seriously affect further processing of the cleaned substrate which may be used in a variety of sophisticated processes such as in the manufacturing of electronics, photovoltaics and flat panel displays. Wrinkles in the substrate can render the cleaned substrate useless for these processes meaning that there can be a high volume of wastage. This problem has existed since 1984.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved contact cleaning roller holder assembly which overcomes the problem of causing wrinkles on a substrate being cleaned.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method of cleaning a contaminated substrate using a contact cleaning roller holder assembly which overcomes the problem of causing wrinkles on a substrate being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a contact cleaning roller assembly comprising: a contact cleaning roller comprising a cleaning surface capable of removing and/or collecting small contaminating particles from a contaminated surface; a housing capable of receiving and mounting the roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.

The present invention therefore resides in the provision of a housing which controls the movement of a contact cleaning roller so that there is no forwards (and/or backwards) movement of the roller during use which has been found to cause wrinkles in a substrate during cleaning. The contact cleaning roller during rotation and use is therefore restricted to only movement in the vertical or substantially vertical direction so that the formation of wrinkles is prevented.

The housing forms a roller holder assembly. The housing may be of any suitable shape and may preferably comprise a centrally located opening which may be used to receive and mount the rotatable contact cleaning roller. The contact cleaning roller may rotate within the centrally located opening. The housing may be formed from any number of parts but typically may comprise a first member in the form of a central mount which may be connected (using any suitable mechanical and/or adhesive means) to a second member in the form of a front bearing clamp. The central mount and front bearing clamp are capable of being attached to one another to form the centrally located opening which may be used to receive and mount the contact cleaning roller. The central mount and front bearing clamp may be substantially U-shaped.

The housing may be connected to an articulating base member around which the housing may be articulated (i.e. moved up and down). The articulating base member may have at least one or a series of holes through which, for example, a rotatable shaft (e.g. a pivot pin) may be inserted. The pivot pin may form a pivot point for the vertical movement of the roller and may also extend through a rearwardly and centrally located aperture on the central mount.

The centrally located pivot point may therefore only allow vertical (or substantially vertical) up and/or down movement of the roller. The pivot point is therefore located horizontally and centrally through the articulating base member and also extends through a rearwardly and centrally located aperture on the housing for the contact cleaning roller. This prevents the formation of wrinkles on a substrate being cleaned as no horizontal movement of the roller is allowed.

The housing may also comprise an anti-static brush which may prevent a build-up of static during use. Static may occur due to the rotation of the roller.

The contact cleaning roller may be used to clean surfaces which are contaminated with microscopically sized particles. The contact cleaning as defined in the present invention may be used to clean surfaces which are intended to form electronic components such as plastic electronics, photovoltaics and flat panel displays. The contact cleaning roller may be formed from rubber or rubber-like material and may be smooth or microscopically roughened to assist in removal of the contaminating material. The contact cleaning roller may therefore clean a contaminated surface and may be rotated and/or urged against a surface to be cleaned. The particles may form a temporary bond with the roller and may then be transferred to an adhesive sheet or roll where they are permanently captured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of contact cleaning a contaminated surface said method comprising providing a contact cleaning roller assembly comprising: a contact cleaning roller comprising a cleaning surface capable of removing and/or collecting small contaminating particles from a contaminated surface; a housing capable of receiving and mounting the roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.

The contact cleaning roller assembly may be as defined in the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a housing capable of being used in contact cleaning, the housing capable of receiving and mounting a roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.

The housing may be as defined in the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a contact cleaning roller holder assembly

according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is an assembled view of the contact cleaning roller holder assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a contact cleaning roller holder assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is an assembled view of the contact cleaning roller holder assembly shown in Figure 3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, the present invention resides in the provision of an improved contact cleaning roller holder assembly which overcomes the problem of causing wrinkles on a substrate being cleaned. As will be shown below this is achieved by designing the roller holder assembly so that the cleaning roller is restricted to lifting vertically upwards and/or downwards or substantially vertically upwards and/or downwards during use. Therefore, even as a cleaning roller is initially placed on a substrate or passes over a thicker or thinner area to be cleaned, there is no forwards and/or backwards movement of the cleaning roller during the lifting up and/or down of the cleaning roller.

Figures 1 and 2 represent a contact cleaning roller holder assembly according to the prior art, generally designated 1 00. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the roller holder assembly 100 comprises a central mount 110 with two side portions 112, 114. The central mount 110 has a rearwardly facing notch 116 and two forward facing guide arms 118, 120. Located towards a front portion of the forward facing guide arms 118, 120 there are two openings 122, 124. There is also a further opening 128 intended to receive a pivot pin. There is also shown pivot pins 126, 130 which extend through openings 122, 124. Pivot pin 130 also extends through a clip 132.

Towards the front of the roller holder assembly 100 there is a bearing clamp 132 which comprises a front curved portion 134 and an aperture 136 located towards the upper end of the front curved portion 134. There is also a protruding lug 138 located towards the lower end of the front curved portion 134.

Figure 1 also shows that there is a compression spring 140 through which a caphead 142 is inserted. Located between the central mount 110 and the bearing clamp 132 there is a spring mounting bush 144.

Towards the rear of the roller holder assembly 100 there is a roller pivot block 146. The roller pivot block 146 has a front face 148 which abuts against the rear of the central mount 110. Towards the bottom of the pivot block 146 there is a notch 150 and at the top of the pivot block 146 there is a protruding member 154 which comprises an opening 155 which functions as a pivot point.

This pivot point in contrast to the design described in the present application is not centrally located. Along the rear of the pivot block 146 there are a series of openings 152. There is also shown a clamp pivot pin 156 which extends through the rearward facing notch 116 on the central mount 110 and the opening 155 in the protruding member 154 of the pivot block 146. The pivot pin 156 also extends through a clip 157. Additionally, there is also shown a spacer 158, a bush 160 and a bump stop 161 to restrict the amount of pivoting. Located between the sides forming the notch 150 on the pivot block 146 there is a pivot member 162.

The roller holder assembly 100 also comprises a static earthing brush 164 which has a series of teeth 166. There is also shown an extension link 168 and a series of washers and O'-rings 166, 170, 172, 174.

The roller holder assembly 100 also comprises a further pin 176 and a spring 178 which makes the pivoting of the assembly 100 sprung-mounted.

As previously mentioned the roller holder assembly 100 due to the design which has a pivot location about the pivot pin 156, which is above the roller centerline, means that during use there is a slight forward movement to the operation of the device as the roller lifts. This forward movement can cause the formation of wrinkles in a substrate being cleaned.

Figures 3 and 4 represent a contact cleaning roller holder assembly according to the present invention, generally designated 200. The roller holder assembly 200 comprises a central mount 210 which is capable of articulating during use. The central mount 210 has two forward located lugs 212, 214 which comprise apertures 220, 222. The central mount 210 has a substantially U'-shaped central section 216 within which a contact cleaning roller may be mounted. The central mount 210 also comprises a rearwardly located protruding member 218 which has an opening 219. The opening 219 is centrally located and defines the pivot point for the roller holder assembly 200.

A pin 224 extends through the apertures 220, 222 on the forward located lugs 212, 214 and is fixed in place with a clip 228 and an 0-ring 226.

Located in front of the central mount 210 there is a bearing clamp 230 which has a substantially U-shaped central section 238. The bearing clamp 230 has an upper section 232 and a lower protruding member 234 which has an aperture 236. The pin 224 extends through the aperture 236.

There is also shown a captive screw 262 which inserts through a washer spring 264 and attaches into the upper section of the bearing clamp 230.

Figures 3 and 4 also show that there is a shaft 242 which functions as an articulating pivot point. The shaft 242 inserts through the opening 219 in the rearwardly located protruding member 218 and is attached in place with flange bushes 240, 241. The shaft 242 allows the roller holder assembly 200 to rotate and/or articulate about the opening 219.

There is also shown a screw 244 which inserts through a spring 246 into an anti-static brush 248 through aperture 250. The anti-static brush 248 has a series of teeth 251.

The roller holder assembly 200 also comprises an articulating base member 252 which comprises a central aperture 254 with holes 256, 258 on either side face. The shaft 242 extends through the opening 219 on the central mount 210 and the holes 256, 258 on the articulating base member 252 to connect the articulating base member 252 and the central mount 210 together.

The shaft 242 also extends through the washer spring 260.

An important feature of the design of the roller holder assembly 200 is that the pivot point for the contact cleaning roller is centrally located and is at a mid-way point between the top and bottom of the roller holder assembly 200. The pivot point is clearly shown in Figure 4 with the location of the shaft 242 which is centrally located and extends centrally through the articulating base member 252 and the opening 219 on the central mount 210. This enables a roller in use to move vertically (or substantially vertically) up and/or down which prevents the formation of wrinkles on a substrate being cleaned. The centrally located pivot point therefore prevents any horizontal movement of the cleaning roller. In Figure 4, the vertical up and down movement occurs along the direction shown by A-B.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any suitable type of mechanism may be used to restrict the movement of the contact cleaning roller to only moving substantially vertically upwards and/or downwards during use.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A contact cleaning roller assembly comprising: a contact cleaning roller comprising a cleaning surface capable of removing and/or collecting small contaminating particles from a contaminated surface; a housing capable of receiving and mounting the roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the contact cleaning roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.
2. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing controls the movement of the contact cleaning roller so that there is no forwards and/or backwards movement of the roller during use which has been found to cause wrinkles in a substrate during cleaning.
3. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprises a centrally located opening which is capable of being used to receive and mount the contact cleaning roller.
4. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a first member (e.g. a central mount) which is capable of being connected (using any suitable mechanical and/or adhesive means) to a second member (e.g. a front bearing clamp) to form a centrally located opening which is capable of being used to receive and mount the contact cleaning roller.
5. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first and second members are substantially U-shaped.
6. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is connected to an articulating base member around which the housing is capable of being rotated and/or articulated.
7. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to claim 6, wherein the articulating base member has at least one centrally located aperture through which a rotating shaft (e.g. a pivot pin) is capable of being inserted and around which the housing is capable of pivoting in a vertical or at least a substantially vertical direction.
8. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing also comprises an anti-static brush which is capable of preventing build-up of static during use.
9. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact cleaning roller is capable of being used to clean surfaces which are contaminated with microscopically sized particles.
10. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact cleaning is used to clean surfaces which are intended to form electronic components such as plastic electronics, photovoltaics and flat panel displays.
11. A contact cleaning roller assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact cleaning roller is made from rubber or rubber-like material and is smooth or microscopically roughened to assist in removal of the contaminating material.
12. A method of contact cleaning a contaminated surface said method comprising providing a contact cleaning roller assembly comprising: a contact cleaning roller comprising a cleaning surface capable of removing and/or collecting small contaminating particles from a contaminated surface; a housing capable of receiving and mounting the roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.
13. A method of contact cleaning a contaminated surface according to claim 12 using a contact cleaning roller assembly as defined in any of claims 1 to 11.
14. A housing capable of being used in a contact cleaning roller, the housing capable of receiving and mounting a roller about a centrally located pivot point; wherein the roller is capable of pivoting vertically or at least substantially vertically about the centrally located pivot point.
15. A contact cleaning roller assembly as described hereinbefore and/or as shown in any of Figures 1 to 4.