US3582400A - Apparatus and methods for cleaning strip materials - Google Patents

Apparatus and methods for cleaning strip materials Download PDF

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Publication number
US3582400A
US3582400A US878771A US3582400DA US3582400A US 3582400 A US3582400 A US 3582400A US 878771 A US878771 A US 878771A US 3582400D A US3582400D A US 3582400DA US 3582400 A US3582400 A US 3582400A
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United States
Prior art keywords
bore
transducer
roll
cleaning
film
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US878771A
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English (en)
Inventor
Arthur J Miller
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AT&T Corp
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Individual
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Assigned to AT & T TECHNOLOGIES, INC., reassignment AT & T TECHNOLOGIES, INC., CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE JAN. 3,1984 Assignors: WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • B08B3/10—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
    • B08B3/12—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
    • B08B3/123—Cleaning travelling work, e.g. webs, articles on a conveyor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates broadly to apparatus and methods for cleaning strip materials, and more particularly to improved ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and methods for use with fragile strip materials such as motion picture film, magnetic and video tape, and the like.
  • strip materials of the type mentioned have a great tendency to attract and retain foreign matter, and especially particulates such as dust, lint, etc.
  • Such effects often include, for example, actual damage to the materials themselves, or a degradation in the fidelity of the reproduced record, or both.
  • cleaning of the strip materials is accomplished by passing the film through a solvent bath, usually agitated ultrasonically, then through a rinsing station where contaminants picked up in the solvent bath are rinsed from the film surfaces, and finally through a dryer where the solvent or other moisture adhering to the film is removed.
  • a solvent bath usually agitated ultrasonically
  • a rinsing station where contaminants picked up in the solvent bath are rinsed from the film surfaces
  • a dryer where the solvent or other moisture adhering to the film is removed.
  • the film must be easily recoverable intact from the solvent bath at the end of, or at any interruption of, a cleaning run.
  • all components of the film transport mechanism used to carry the film through the apparatus including the components which pass the film through the solvent bath, must be readily accessible to the operator both to facilitate threading of the film on the transport mechanism and to permit removal of the film from the mechanism without delay.
  • fragile strip materials such as motion picture film, magnetic and video tapes, and the like are cleaned upon being passed at high speed in a double run through the axial bore of a generally cylindrical electromechanical transducer.
  • a solvent bath suitable for cleaning the material is provided within the bore and is agitated ultrasonically upon energization of the transducer, thus subjecting the material to a vigorous cleaning action as it travels through the bore.
  • a transport mechanism for carrying the strip material includes a first roll located adjacent one end of the transducer for guiding the material axially into the transducer bore and a second roll, movable between a threading position adjacent the first roll and a running position at the other end of the transducer, for receiving the strip moving from the first roll and returning it axially through the bore in the opposite direction.
  • the movable second roll is slidably mounted on a guide track which extends axially through the transducer bore and is selectively reciprocated therealong between the threading and running positions by an appropriate drive system.
  • the transducer may be immersed in a solvent bath with one or both ends of the bore open to the bath, or the solvent bath may be contained in the bore, in which case one end of the bore is capped with a fluidtight enclosure.
  • the first roll and the threading position of the second roll are spaced axially outward of one end of the bore, while the running position of the second roll preferably is spaced axially outward of the opposite end of the bore.
  • the running position of the second roll is located within the enclosure closing off the one end of the bore, but preferably is still axially outward of the end of the bore.
  • the bore of the transducer is located in a generally vertical plane, with the location of the first roll and the threading position of the second roll being selected to be above the level of the solvent bath. Accordingly, both the first and second rolls are readily accessible for threading of the strip material at the beginning of the cleaning process. By the same arrangement, the strip material is easily withdrawn from the solvent bath at any time.
  • the present invention therefore, allows the high speed cleaning of strip materials at low operating cost, and additionally yields a markedly compact unit that affords significant savings in space and solvent usage over prior art cleaning devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of strip cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away to show the details of a preferred type of magnetostrictive transducer;
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away for clarity.
  • film cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention includes a cleaning chamber of any convenient configuration, for example, square, rectangular or circular, as space considerations may require.
  • a bath 12 of a solvent suitable for cleaning the film is provided within the chamber 10 in suflicient quantity to receive, and preferably submerse, an electromechanical transducer 14.
  • the transducer 14 is generally cylindrical in form, having a hollow, axial bore 16 extending therethrough which is open to the solvent bath at least at one end.
  • Any suitable electromechanical transducer may be used, including those of the magnetostrictive, electrostrictive and piezoelectric types. It need only be suificiently compatible with the solvent to be used without an elaborate protective housing for the vibratory elements and have a capacity sufficient to agitate vigorously the portion of the solvent bath contained within the axial bore 16.
  • appropriate electrical leads (not shown) are provided to connect the transducer to a source of electrical power.
  • transducer is described herein as cylindrical merely to indicate the preferred type of transducer.
  • the film 18 to be cleaned passes from a feed reel (not shown) and over a guide roll 20 to be guided downward toward the vertically oriented bore 16 of the transducer 14.
  • the film is received in its downward run 18a by a return roll 22 which reverses the direction of movement of the film and directs it in an upwardly run 18b that, as shown, is generally parallel to the downward run 18a.
  • the film is rinsed in a conventional manner by sprays of clean solvent issuing from a pair of opposed spray heads 24 and is thereafter passed to a dryer (not shown) where solvent adhering to the film surfaces is removed.
  • a third guide roll 26 may be provided to maintain the upward run 18b of the film in proper alignment with the spray heads 24 and the dryer.
  • the guide rolls 20 and 26 are mounted in a rotatable manner on shafts 28 and 30, respectively, carried by a wall 10a of the cleaning chamber 10 (see FIG. 3).
  • the transducer 14 is also supported, as by the brackets 32, from the wall 10a, Other mounting arrangements for the rolls and transducer may of course be used, the foregoing being merely illustrative of one possible arrangement.
  • the return roll 22 is intended to move vertically through the transducer bore 16 between an upper position, shown in the drawings in solid lines, and a lower position, shown in dashed lines.
  • the roll 22 is slidably mounted on a guide track 34 which extends through the transducer bore and is rigidly attached at either end to the chamber wall 10a by brackets 36.
  • the track 34 is generally T-shaped in cross section (see FIG. 2) and the roll 22 is rotatably carried at one end only by a generally C-shaped slide 38 that fits in sliding relation over the T-shaped track 34.
  • a cable 40 connected at either end to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the slide 38 forms with the slide a complete loop that passes tautly over a driven pulley 42 at its upper end and an idler pulley 44 at its lower end.
  • the shaft 46 of a reversible electric motor 48 drives the pulley 42, and through it the cable 40, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as the case may be, to raise or lower, respectively, the return roll 22.
  • the shaft 46, and a corresponding shaft 50 for the idler pulley 44 may be conveniently journaled in lugs 52 formed on the brackets 36 supporting the guide track 34, while the electric motor 48 preferably is mounted outside of the cleaning chamber wall 10a.
  • Appropriate electrical controls are provided so that the motor 48 can be selectively energized to reciprocate the return roller 22 between the upper and lower positions.
  • microswitches (not shown) connected in the motor energization circuit may be located adjacent each end of the guide track 34 to be contacted by the slide 38. and hence deenergize the motor, when it reaches the proper end positions. These positions, ideally, are axially outward of the ends of the transducer bore 16. So spaced from the bore, the roll 22 and its associated mounting structure are not directly exposed to the high level ultrasonic energy within the bore, and, perhaps more importantly, the film is subject to the cleaning action of the solvent over the full length of the transducer.
  • the guide roll 20, return roll 22, and the guide roll 26, if used are readily accessible for threading of the film over the rolls and, conversely, for removing the film from the rolls at the end of a cleaning run or in the event a cleaning run is interrupted.
  • the film may be quite easily threaded over and removed from the rolls when the return roll 22 is in the upper position.
  • the invention includes a very simple, yet highly reliable, provision for introducing the film into and for withdrawing the film from the solvent bath 12.
  • the motor 48 is energized to move the return roll from the threading position to the lower, or running, position where it remains throughout the cleaning run.
  • the film may be withdrawn from the solvent bath simply by again energizing the motor 48, this time in the reverse direction, to raise the return roll 22 to the threading position.
  • the film is therefore at all times easily recoverable intact from the solvent bath, with virtually no risk that the soft film surfaces will be damaged or that the film will be broken.
  • the transducer 14 may be arranged honzontally within the cleaning chamber 10 (see FIG. 4).
  • the guide roll 20' and the return roll 22 when at the running position, that is, when at the right hand end of the guide track 34 as viewed in FIG. 4, cooperate to pass the film 18 through the bore 16 1n two generally horizontal runs 180 and 18d.
  • the film passes over a guide roller 54, which may be mounted on the bracket 36 for the guide track 34 or on a wall of the cleaning chamber 10, and is directed vertically out of the solvent bath 12 toward the spray heads 24 and the dryer.
  • the guide rollers 20 and 54, the return roller 22, and of course the guide track 34 and its associated cable 40 and pulleys 42 and 44 are all submerged in the solvent bath. Accordingly, when it is desired to thread the film 1 8 on or to remove it from the rolls, the solvent bath preferably is drained otf to a level 56 somewhat below the position of the rolls.
  • the reversible motor (not shown) used to reciprocating the return roll 22 along the guide track 34 is, however, preferably mounted above the solvent bath.
  • a second pulley groove is provided on the pulley 42 to receive an endless cable 58 leading from a drive pulley '60 on the motor shaft 46.
  • the size of the cleaning apparatus can be reduced still further by using the transducer itself as the cleaning chamber and eliminatiing the separate cleaning chamber 10.
  • the vertically extending bore 16 of the transducer 14 is capped at the lower end by an enclosure 62 has an axial length sufiicient to allow the running position of the return roll 22 to be spaced axially below the bottom end of the transducer bore 16 so as not to subject the roll 22, slide 38 and idler pulley 44 to the intense ultrasonic energy existing within the bore.
  • the running position of the return roll 22 may be located within the bore 16. In the latter instance, the bottom end of the transducer 16 may simply be closed olf with a plate to confine the solvent bath 12 within the bore.
  • the cap 62 is represented as being separate from the transducer, it will be appreciated that it may be formed integrally therewith. Also, even if separate, it need not be flanged as depicted in FIG. 5, but may take any suitable configuration as design considerations may require. Similarly, the guide track 34 may be attached to the cap 62 in any suitable manner, for example, by screw fastners (not shown) received in the bottom or side wall of the cap.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 the structural details are shown of a magnetostrictive transducer that is especially suited for use with the present invention.
  • a magnetostrictive transducer is the subject of United States Pat. No. 3,406,- issued 1 1968 to the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., and includes, in brief, a hollow cylinder 64 and one or more arrays 66 of annular magnetostrictive elements 68 in vibratory coupling at their inner peripheries to the outer circumferential wall of the cylinder 64.
  • An energizing coil 70 is toroidally wound around the arrays 66, with the turns 72 of the coil 70 being received within axial slots 74 formed in the outer wall of the cylinder 64.
  • the arrays '66 of magnetostrictive elements are caused to vibrate in a radial mode with respect to the axis of the cylinder 64, thereby imparting a corresponding radial vibration to the cylinder member 64 and hence to the solvent bath 12 located within the bore of the cylinder.
  • the solvent bath is vigorously agitated throughout both the axial and radial extents of the bore. Both sides of the film are accordingly subjected to a very thorough cleaning action as the film travels through the transducer bore.
  • Apparatus for ultrasonically cleaning strip material comprising:
  • a generally cylindrical electromechanical transducer having an axial bore open at at least one end, the transducer being adapted to direct ultrasonic vibrations radially into the bore,
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for passing the strip through the bore includes:
  • a first roll positioned adjacent the one end of the transducer bore for guiding the strip into the bore in the one direction
  • a second roll for receiving the strip moving in the one direction from the first roll and for guiding it in the return direction
  • drive means forvselectively sliding the second roll along the track between the threading position and the running position.
  • the longitudinal axis of the transducer bore is located in (a; generally vertical plane with one end uppermost, an
  • the position of the first roll and the threading position of the second roll are above the level of the solvent bath, thereby to withdraw the strip from the solvent bath when the second roll is at the threading position.
  • the transducer bore is open at both ends
  • the means for providing a solvent bath within the bore includes means enclosing in fluid tight relation the other end of the bore and the running position of the second roll.
  • the transducer bore is open at both ends, at least one of which is in fluid communication with the solvent bath in the chamber, and
  • the runing position of the second roll is spaced axially outward of the other end of the bore.
  • the longitudinal axis of the transducer bore is located in a generally vertical plane
  • the first roll and the threading position of the second roll are above the level of the solvent bath within the chamber, thereby to withdraw the strip from the solvent bath when the second roll is at the threading position.
  • the longitudinal axis of the transducer bore is located in a generally horizontal plane
  • the means for passing the strip through the bore further includes a third roll for receiving the strip moving in the return direction and for guiding it vertically out of the solvent bath.
  • the transducer comprises a magnetostrictive transducer having a hollow cylinder member and an array of annular magnetostrictive elements in vibratory coupling at its inner periphery to the outer circumferential wall of the hollow cylinder member, whereby the solvent located within the transducer lbore is vigorously agitated by high intensity sound energy.
  • a method for ultrasonically cleaning strip materials comprising:
  • a method according to claim 13 further comprising withdrawing the strip material intact from the solvent bath after cleaning.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the strip material is easily damaged, fragile material.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
US878771A 1969-11-21 1969-11-21 Apparatus and methods for cleaning strip materials Expired - Lifetime US3582400A (en)

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US87877169A 1969-11-21 1969-11-21

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US3582400A true US3582400A (en) 1971-06-01

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US (1) US3582400A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE759241A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE2057133A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR2068585B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB1287876A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL7017048A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2624369A1 (de) * 1975-06-02 1976-12-09 Mccord James W Ueberschallreinigungsgeraet
US4244078A (en) * 1979-04-26 1981-01-13 Research Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for cleaning film
US4788992A (en) * 1987-04-28 1988-12-06 Lewis Corporation Ultrasonic strip cleaning apparatus
US20070045144A1 (en) * 2005-08-31 2007-03-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Packaging component for personal care articles
CN107855299A (zh) * 2017-12-22 2018-03-30 合保电气（芜湖）有限公司 电力操作棒清洗装置
CN112452921A (zh) * 2020-11-10 2021-03-09 上海圣奇清洗机械有限公司 一种滚筒式清洗烘干一体机
CN113860036A (zh) * 2021-09-30 2021-12-31 安徽华猫软包装有限公司 一种塑料复合膜生产加工用复卷机

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9101966B2 (en) 2010-08-23 2015-08-11 International Business Machines Corporation Cleaning magnetic tape

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2624369A1 (de) * 1975-06-02 1976-12-09 Mccord James W Ueberschallreinigungsgeraet
US4244078A (en) * 1979-04-26 1981-01-13 Research Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for cleaning film
US4788992A (en) * 1987-04-28 1988-12-06 Lewis Corporation Ultrasonic strip cleaning apparatus
US20070045144A1 (en) * 2005-08-31 2007-03-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Packaging component for personal care articles
CN107855299A (zh) * 2017-12-22 2018-03-30 合保电气（芜湖）有限公司 电力操作棒清洗装置
CN112452921A (zh) * 2020-11-10 2021-03-09 上海圣奇清洗机械有限公司 一种滚筒式清洗烘干一体机
CN112452921B (zh) * 2020-11-10 2022-07-19 上海圣奇清洗机械有限公司 一种滚筒式清洗烘干一体机
CN113860036A (zh) * 2021-09-30 2021-12-31 安徽华猫软包装有限公司 一种塑料复合膜生产加工用复卷机
CN113860036B (zh) * 2021-09-30 2024-05-07 安徽华猫软包装有限公司 一种塑料复合膜生产加工用复卷机

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Publication number Publication date
FR2068585A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1971-08-27
BE759241A (fr) 1971-04-30
NL7017048A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1971-05-25
FR2068585B1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1973-02-02
DE2057133A1 (de) 1971-06-03
GB1287876A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1972-09-06

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Owner name: AT & T TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:004251/0868

Effective date: 19831229