WO2007010260A1

WO2007010260A1 - Surface cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007010260A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/002700
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sheila Hamilton; Charles Jonathan Kennett
Original assignee: Teknek Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2006-07-20
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: GB0514837D0

Abstract

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus for removing contamination from a work piece. The apparatus comprises a framework into which a roller cartridge (10) is removably insertable. The cartridge (10) comprises a sub-assembly (see (10c) in Fig. 4b) and receives a cleaning roller (26) and an adhesive roller (28). The respective rollers are mountable within the cartridge (10) for relative movement between non-operating and operating positions wherein the rollers (26, 28) are separated and in contact respectively. The relative movement of the rollers (26, 28) is effected by movement of the sub-assembly relative to the cartridge (10) in such a way that the rollers are automatically engaged upon insertion of the cartridge (10) into the framework, and automatically disengaged upon removal of the cartridge (10) from the framework.

Description

Surface Cleaning Apparatus

This invention relates to surface cleaning apparatus, and particularly, but not exclusively, to surface cleaning apparatus employing a cleaning roller and an adhesive roller for removing contamination and/or debris from a surface to be cleaned.

Surface cleaning apparatus employing cleaning and adhesive rollers is known. Such apparatus operates by providing the cleaning roller with a surface of relatively low tackiness that contacts an adhesive roller of relatively high tackiness, the respective rollers being arranged parallel to one another and contacting each other over substantially their entire length. As a web or sheet material (hereinafter referred to as a work piece) is conveyed over the surface of the cleaning roller, debris on the work piece is removed. In order that the cleaning roller remains effective over a period of time, the removed debris is transferred to, and retained by, the adhesive roller during rotation of the respective rollers. Commonly, the work piece to be cleaned is passed between at least two opposed cleaning rollers which simultaneously remove debris from its opposing surfaces.

It is known to provide the cleaning and adhesive rollers within cartridges to facilitate their insertion into, and removal from, the surface cleaning apparatus. A problem with such cartridge systems is that, if the cleaning roller and the adhesive roller are left stationary and in contact with each other, "wetting" or transfer of adhesive from the adhesive roller to the cleaning roller will occur, and will have an adverse effect on the operation of the cleaning roller. This can be a particular problem upon removal of the cartridge from the surface cleaning apparatus. Manually operable means such as a lever which an operator can use to separate the cleaning roller(s) from the adhesive roller(s) may be provided on the cartridge to solve this problem. This solution relies on the operator remembering to separate the rollers and, when doing so, to use the system correctly. In particular, no simple fail-safe mechanism is provided to cause the adhesive roller(s) to separate from the cleaning roller(s) when cartridges are removed from the surface cleaning apparatus.

Other known cartridge mechanisms involve complex mechanical constructions and cam arrangements and are therefore costly and difficult to manufacture, operate and repair.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a work piece comprising a framework and a roller cartridge removably insertabie into said framework; the roller cartridge comprising a moveable sub-assembly and being adapted to rotatably receive a cleaning roller and a co-operating adhesive roller; the respective rollers being mountable for relative movement ■ between a non-operating position in which the cleaning roller and adhesive roller are separated and an operating position in which the cleaning roller is in contact with both the adhesive roller and a work piece to be cleaned; and wherein movement of the sub-assembly relative to the roller cartridge produces said relative movement of the rollers between the non-operating and operating positions.

Preferably, the cleaning roller is mountable on, and moveable with, the sub-assembly.

Preferably, the adhesive roller is mountable on the roller cartridge. Preferably, the adhesive roller is mountable on the roller cartridge within moveable bearing members.

Preferably, the sub-assembly is slidable perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axes of the rollers.

Preferably, a first resilient means connects the roller cartridge to its sub- assembly to bias the cleaning roller into the non-operating position.

Preferably, a second resilient means is provided in the roller cartridge to bias the adhesive roller into its non-operating position.

Preferably, a roller engagement assembly operatively connects the adhesive roller and the sub-assembly.

Preferably, the roller engagement assembly is adapted to move the adhesive roller against the bias of the second resilient means from the non-operating position in which it is separated from the cleaning roller to the operating position upon movement of the sub-assembly against the bias of the first resilient means.

Preferably, the roller engagement assembly comprises a roller engagement member pivotably mountable on the roller cartridge, and an actuating arm co-operable with the roller engagement member, said actuating arm being being connectable to, and moveable with, the sub- assembly.

Preferably, a distal end of the actuating arm contacts the roller engagement member at a position between its pivot axis and its point of contact with the adhesive roller to effect the movement of the adhesive roller against the bias of the second resilient means.

Preferably, the framework comprises a cartridge engaging member which selectively engages and moves the sub-assembly against the bias of the first resilient means.

Preferably, the cartridge engaging member is adapted to release the rollers from their operating position in the event of a power failure.

Preferably, two opposed roller cartridges are insertable into said framework, their respective cleaning rollers being adapted for cleaning opposite surfaces of the work piece.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning system comprising a plurality of frameworks and roller cartridges according to the first aspect, wherein said roller cartridges are interchangeable between said frameworks.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 A is a perspective view of surface cleaning apparatus comprising two roller cartridges in an operation position within the framework;

Fig. 1 B is a partially exploded view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 A in a non-operating position;

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the framework; Fig. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the framework of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a roller cartridge;

Fig. 3B is a partially exploded view of the roller cartridge of Fig. 3A showing the relative positions of the cleaning and adhesive rollers and the pivotable roller engagement member of the roller engagement means;

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of part of the casing of the roller cartridge slidably connected by tension springs to its moveable sub- assembly;

Fig. 4B is an exploded view of the casing and sub-assembly of Fig. 4A;

Fig. 5A is a partially exploded perspective view of the sub- assembly; and

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the sub-assembly through the actuating arm of the roller engagement means.

Figs 1A and 1 B show surface cleaning apparatus in an operative and non- operative condition respectively. The apparatus comprises two substantially rectangular roller cartridges 10, 12 which are removably insertable into a framework 14. Mounting members 16 are provided on a lateral side of each roller cartridge 10, 12 and are receivable within recessed guide tracks 14a of the framework 14. A back plate 14b and a support member 14c connect the opposing distal ends of the respective guide tracks 14a. A piston assembly 18 is provided on each guide track 14a, the function of which is described in detail below. The cartridges 10, 12 are provided with handles 20 on an end face thereof to facilitate their insertion and removal from the framework 14. Each handle 20 is provided with an extension member 20a which protrudes beyond the lateral surface upon which the mounting members 16 are located.

Figs. 2A and 2B show the various components of the framework in more detail. In particular, Fig. 2B shows pneumatic pistons 22, each having a piston head 22a dimensioned to pass through an aperture 14d provided in its corresponding guide track 14a (only shown on the top guide track 14a). A resilient catch member 24 is provided on each guide track adjacent the support member 14c.

Fig. 3A shows a roller cartridge 10 removed from the framework 14. The roller cartridge 10 comprises two cover panels 10a and 10b which are connected by screws at the lower edge of their end faces. The screws are tightened to the extent that cover panel 10a can be pivoted away from cover panel 10b to open the roller cartridge 10. The respective cover panels are maintained in a closed position by virtue of their frictional contact.

As illustrated by Fig. 3B, the cleaning roller 26 is mountable in opposing bearing members 26a provided at the lower end of cover panel 10b and the adhesive roller is mountable in bearing members (not shown) provided in cover panel 10a. Although not shown in the figures, the bearing members provided in cover panel 10a for the adhesive roller 28 are positioned higher than the corresponding bearing members 26a in cover panel 10b. Moreover, the adhesive roller's bearing members are moveable against the bias of resilient means towards the bearing members 26a of the cleaning roller 26.

A roller engagement assembly 30 is shown both in an assembled and disassembled condition within the cover panel 10b. The engagement assembly comprises an actuating arm 30a which is connected to a roller engagement member 30b by a hinge arrangement. The roller engagement member 30b is mounted on an inner end face of the cover panel 10b for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 30c. The engagement end 3Od of the roller engagement member 30b is remote from the pivot axis is shaped and dimensioned to correspond with the axle of the adhesive roller. The hinged connection of the actuating arm 30a and the roller engagement member 30b is located between the pivot axis 30c and the engagement end 3Od, the significance of which is described in detail below.

Fig. 4A shows the cover panel 10b in isolation. As is apparent from Fig. 4B, the cover panel 10b is provided with a moveable sub-assembly 10c which nests within the recess defined by the walls of the cover panel 10b. The sub-assembly 10c is connected to its cover panel 10b by means of a pair of tension springs 32 and mechanical fixings 33 proximate the bearing members 26a. The mechanical fixings 33 permit slidable movement of the sub-assembly 10c relative to the cover panel 10b.

A bush member 34 is fixed to the sub-assembly and extends through an aperture formed in the top face of the cover panel 10b. The bush member 34 is positioned midway between the tension springs 32.

Fig. 5A shows the moveable sub-assembly 10c of the cover panel 10b in isolation. The actuating arm 30a of the roller engagement assembly 30 is shown both in an assembled and disassembled condition. It will be appreciated from Fig. 5A that the bearing members 26a and the actuating arm 30a are connected to, and move with, the sub-assembly 10c.

Fig. 5B shows that the actuating arm 30a is secured within the sub- assembly 10c by means of bush members 3Oe which are urged by tension springs into apertures formed in opposing flange members. This arrangement maintains the actuating arm 30a in a fixed position relative to the sub-assembly 10c.

In use, each cartridge is held by its handle 20 and moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 B (see cartridge 10). The first mounting member 16 is introduced in to the guide track 14a and the roller cartridge 10 is progressively slid towards the back plate 14b. When the roller cartridge 10 is fully inserted, both mounting members 16 are concealed within the guide track 14a and the bush member 34 is positioned opposite the aperture 14d (shown in Fig. 2). Also, during insertion, the extension member 20a of the handle 20 engages a cam surface of the resilient catch member 24 and urges it upwards. Once the extension member 20a passes the cam surface, the resilient catch member 24 snaps back into position to thus retain the roller cartridge 10 in position within the framework 14. Interacting formations are provided on the back plate 14b and the end face of the roller cartridge 10 to ensure its correct alignment within the framework 14. The foregoing procedure is repeated for the other roller cartridge 12 such that the apparatus is ready for use as shown in Fig. 1A.

When the apparatus is in a non-operating position in which the cleaning roller 26 and adhesive roller 28 are separated, a work piece to be cleaned may be fed through the framework 14 and through the gap defined between the roller cartridges 10, 12.

The respective rollers 26, 28 are then moved into an operating position (not shown) in which the cleaning roller is in contact with the adhesive roller. In this operating condition, the gap between the respective cleaning rollers 26 is closed to form a nip such that opposing sides of the work piece to be cleaned are in contact with the respective cleaning rollers 26.

The mechanism by which the rollers 26, 28 are moved into their operating condition is as follows. Firstly, each piston assembly 18 is activated such that each pneumatic piston 20 moves its piston head 22a through aperture 14d and into contact with the bush member 34 of the sub-assembly 10c.

Each piston head 22a moves the sub-assembly 10c by pushing its bush member 34 (best seen in Figs. 3B and 4A) against the bias of the tension springs 32. As each sub-assembly 10c slides linearly within its cover panel 10b, it moves the bearing members 26a and the actuating arms 30a relative to the cover panels 10a, 10b. The cleaning roller 26 is therefore moved into a position where it contacts the work piece to be cleaned.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the adhesive roller 28 must move through a greater distance than the cleaning roller 26. This is because the adhesive roller 28 has to "catch up" with the cleaning roller 26 as it slides with the sub-assembly 10c to the extent that both rollers 26, 28 contact each other.

The required additional movement of the adhesive roller 28 is effected by the roller engagement assembly 30 (best shown in Fig. 3B). As the sub- assembly 10c slides within the cover panel 10b, the actuating arm 30a of the roller engagement member 30 moves linearly with it. Accordingly, the hinged connection between the actuating arm 30a and the roller engagement member 30b also moves with the sub-assembly 10c.

As stated above, the roller engagement member 30b is pivotably connected to the inner end face of the cover panel 10b and therefore the linear motion of the actuating arm 30a is transmitted to the roller engagement member 30b to cause it to pivot about its pivot axis 30c.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the distance through which the engagement end 3Od of the engagement member 30b moves is proportional to the distance of the hinged connection from the pivot axis 30c. In particular, the closer the hinged connection is to the pivot axis 30c, the greater the distance the engagement end 3Od of the engagement member 30b will move per unit of linear movement of the sub-assembly

10c and actuating arm 30a. The movement of the engagement end 3Od is transmitted to the adhesive roller 28 which is moved against the force of the resilient means maintaining it in its non-operating position.

Accordingly, the movement of the piston head 22a is transmitted through the sub-assembly 10c to move the cleaning roller 26 through a first linear distance x whilst simultaneously moving the adhesive roller 28 through a second distance substantially linear distance which is greater than x.

The distal end of the actuating arm 30a which forms part of the hinged connection is provided with an elongated slot 31 in order to accommodate the slight lateral movement of the engagement member 30b during its pivoting motion. It will be appreciated that the foregoing arrangement ensures automatic disengagement of the rollers 26, 28 from each other: (i) when a roller cartridge 10, 12 is removed from the framework 14; and (ii) when the piston head 22a disengages from the bush member 34. In effect, the piston head 22a is selectively operable to engage and disengage the bush member 34 at a single point of contact. Accordingly, the essential requirement of separating the respective rollers is achieved by means of a simple mechanical construction which allows quick and easy insertion and removal of the cartridges from the framework.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although two roller cartridges are shown in the figures, the present invention may use only a single roller cartridge (i.e. when only one surface of the work piece requires to be cleaned). Equally, the invention may comprise multiple frameworks and roller cartridges in order to clean a work piece at different positions along a web, the various roller cartridges being easily interchangeable between the different frameworks.

Whilst the roller cartridges shown in the figures are inserted horizontally into the framework, the apparatus could of course operate in any required orientation (i.e. vertically or inclined).

Claims

1. Surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a work piece comprising a framework and a roller cartridge removably insertable into said framework; the roller cartridge comprising a moveable sub-assembly and being adapted to rotatably receive a cleaning roller and a co-operating adhesive roller; the respective rollers being mountable for relative movement between a non-operating position in which the cleaning roller and adhesive roller are separated and an operating position in which the cleaning roller is in contact with both the adhesive roller and a work piece to be cleaned; and wherein movement of the sub-assembly relative to the roller cartridge produces said relative movement of the rollers between the non-operating and operating positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning roller is mountable on, and moveable with, the sub-assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive roller is mountable on the roller cartridge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the adhesive roller is mountable on the roller cartridge within moveable bearing members.

5. The apparatus any preceding claim, wherein the sub-assembly is slidable perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axes of the rollers.

6. The apparatus any preceding claim, wherein a first resilient means connects the roller cartridge to its sub-assembly to bias the cleaning roller into the first non-operating position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a second resilient means is provided in the roller cartridge to bias the adhesive roller into its first non- operating position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a roller engagement assembly operatively connects the adhesive roller and the sub-assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the roller engagement assembly is adapted to move the adhesive roller against the bias of the second resilient means from the non-operating position in which it is separated from the cleaning roller to the operating position upon movement of the sub-assembly against the bias of the first resilient means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the roller engagement assembly comprises a roller engagement member pivotably mountable on the roller cartridge, and an actuating arm co-operable with the roller engagement member, said actuating arm being connectable to, and moveable with, the sub-assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a distal end of the actuating arm contacts the roller engagement member at a position between its pivot axis and its point of contact with the adhesive roller to effect the movement of the adhesive roller against the bias of the second resilient means.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 6 to 11 , wherein the framework comprises a cartridge engaging member which selectively engages and moves the sub-assembly against the bias of the first resilient means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cartridge engaging member is adapted to release the rollers from their operating position in the event of a power failure.

14. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein two opposed roller cartridges are insertable into said framework, their respective cleaning rollers being adapted for cleaning opposite surfaces of the work piece.

15. A surface cleaning system comprising a plurality of frameworks and roller cartridges according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein said roller cartridges are interchangeable between said frameworks.