US4706325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film cleaner
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-07-09
•
Granted: 1987-11-17
•
Expires: 2006-07-09
Abstract
Abstract An elongated film strip is cleaned by two pairs of rotary brushes with soft bristles contacting opposite sides of the film strip traveling between the two pairs of brushes. Each pair of brushes is placed at an angle to the direction of film travel for brushing dirt particles away from the center of the film. The top pair of brushes and the bottom pair of brushes are arranged so that one brush in each pair brushes the particles from the central region of the film toward one edge of the film, while the other brush on the same side of the film brushes particles away from the central region of the film toward the other edge of the film. The brushes avoid contact with perforations on the edge of the film which would result in particles lodged in the perforations being brushed toward the central region of the film. A separately electrically conductive vacuum tube contacts each brush after the brush contacts the film. The vacuum tube discharges static electricity from the brush and vacuums the discharged particles away from the brush.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred G. Michelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:38
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B6/00; G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip; means mounting the brushes for direct contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that one brush contacts the film from only the central region of the film to one edge of the film and the other brush contacts the film from only the central region of the film to the other edge of the film; and means for rotating the brushes so that each brush is rotated in a direction for brushing particles only from the central region of the film strip toward its opposite edges, thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip; means mounting the brushes for direct contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that one brush contacts the film from only the central region of the film to one edge of the film and the other brush contacts the film from only the central region of the film to the other edge of the film; and means for rotating the brushes so that each brush is rotated in a direction for brushing particles only from the central region of the film strip toward its opposite edges, thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including an electrically conductive element contacting each brush after it contacts the film for discharging static electricity from particles removed from the film by the brush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including vacuum means for removing the discharged particles from the brush.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the vacuum means comprises a tube with a narrow vacuum slot in contact with the periphery of the brush to obtain high air velocity at the vacuum slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the electrically conductive element and vacuum means comprise an electrically conductive vacuum tube having an opening to which the vacuum is applied adjacent the periphery of the brush.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 including a second pair of brushes spaced apart axially along the opposite side of the film strip and arranged for direct contact with the film strip and mounted in angular positions so that the brushes on the other side of the film also brush dirt particles only from the central region of the film toward the opposite edges of the film while avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from perforations along each edge of the film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a second pair of brushes spaced apart axially along the opposite side of the film strip and arranged for direct contact with the film strip and mounted in angular positions so that the brushes on the other side of the film also brush dirt particles from the central region of the film toward the opposite edges of the film while avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from perforations along each edge of the film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for rotating the brushes slowly to prevent centrifugal force from the rotating brush from directing removed particles back onto the film surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip and means mounting the brushes for continuous and direct pressure contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that the brushes each contact the central region of the film and are rotated to brush particles from the central region of the film strip toward opposite edges of the film strip thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip and means mounting the brushes for continuous and direct pressure contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that the brushes each contact the central region of the film and are rotated to brush particles from the central region of the film strip toward opposite edges of the film strip thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including an electrically conductive element contacting each brush after it contacts the film for discharging static electricity from particles removed from the film by the brush.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including vacuum means for removing the discharged particles from the brush.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the vacuum means comprises a tube with a narrow vacuum slot in contact with the periphery of the brush to obtain high air velocity at the vacuum slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the electrically conductive element and vacuum means comprise an electrically conductive vacuum tube having an opening to which the vacuum is applied adjacent the periphery of the brush.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 including a second pair of brushes spaced apart axially along the opposite side of the film strip and arranged for direct contact with the film strip and mounted in angular positions so that the brushes on the other side of the film also brush dirt particles from the central region of the film toward the opposite edges of the film while avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from perforations along each edge of the film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including a second pair of brushes spaced apart axially along the opposite side of the film strip and arranged for direct contact with the film strip and mounted in angular positions so that brushes on the other side of the film also brush dirt particles from the central region of the film toward the opposite edges of the film while avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from perforations along each edge of the film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including means for rotating the brushes slowly to prevent centrifugal force from the rotating brush from directing removed particles back onto the film surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip; means mounting the brushes for continuous and direct pressure contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that the brushes each contact the central region of the film and are rotated to brush particles only from the central region of the film strip toward opposite edges of the film strip thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip; an electrically conductive element contacting each brush after it contacts the film for discharging static electricity from particles removed from the film by each brush; and vacuum means for removing the discharged particles from each brush.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
163 words
A film cleaner for cleaning an elongated traveling film strip, the film cleaner comprising: a pair of rotary brushes spaced apart axially along the direction of travel of the film strip; means mounting the brushes for continuous and direct pressure contact with the same side of the film strip for brushing dirt particles away from the film, the brushes being mounted on an angle relative to the direction of film travel so that the brushes each contact the central region of the film and are rotated to brush particles only from the central region of the film strip toward opposite edges of the film strip thereby avoiding brushing of particles toward the central region of the film from a region along each edge of the film strip; an electrically conductive element contacting each brush after it contacts the film for discharging static electricity from particles removed from the film by each brush; and vacuum means for removing the discharged particles from each brush.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the electrically conductive element and vacuum means comprise an electrically conductive vacuum tube having an opening to which the vacuum is applied adjacent the periphery of the brush.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3593642A
Cited
US3470576A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-16 | 1991-05-18 | 1991-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-16 | 1995-05-18 | 1995-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-16 | 1999-05-18 | 1999-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |