Method and apparatus for cleaning film

Claim 2

The method of claim 2 wherein said advancing means has a rotating surface and said strip engages said rotating surface and is resiliently maintained in contact with said rotating surface.

Claim 3

The method of claim 2 including washing said strip by passing the same through a washing bath prior to said brushing.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 including directing a stream of air against and past said strip to Remove loose material from the same.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 including advancing said strip in a direction contrary to the peripheral movement of said rotating brushing means.

Claim 6

The method of claim 6 wherein said brushing means include a pair of contrarotating brushes and brushing both sides of said strip by advancing said strip between said pair of brushes.

Claim 7

Apparatus for cleaning an endless strip of film like material housed in a casing and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom and returned thereinto when in use through openings formed by pressing inwardly on a resiliently mounted plate covering an aperture in the casing wall, comprising: a support for positioning and holding said casing, rotatable brushing means carried by said support and formed to remove dust and dirt from said strip; guide means carried by said support and formed to position and maintain a portion of the strip withdrawn from said casing in a loop, strip-advancing means formed to engage said strip for moving successive portions of said strip through said loop, around said guide means, and against said brushing means; and means carried by said support and adapted on the positioning of said casing on said support to press said resiliently mounted plate inwardly to free said strip for free movement into and out of said casing.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 8 said brushing means comprising two adjacent cylindrical brushes positioned to brush opposite sides of the strip; and said apparatus including a common drive means for rotating said brushes and for operating said strip-advancing means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 8, said strip advancing means comprising a driven cylindrical roller, a member positioned to press said strip against said driven roller and resilient means operatively associated with said member for effecting said pressing.

Claim 10

Apparatus of claim 8 and including roller means cooperating with said strip freeing means and positioned to guide said strip out of the casing free from frictional contact with the casing and said driven roller being positioned to push said strip back into said casing without frictional contact with the casing.