US5220868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Print band cleaner
Assignee: Intersil Corp
•
Filing: 1991-11-14
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2011-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning a print band utilizes a self-contained housing with pulleys arranged vertically or horizontally. One of the pulleys is motor driven at relatively low speed. A print band to be cleaned is installed around the pulleys in the housing and is urged toward a high-speed rotating brush by a spring-biased pressure plate. Air jets can be used downstream of the brush station to dry cleaning solution that remains on the print band.
Inventors
- 👤 Glen A. Dunnam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:30
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/17; B41P; B41P2235/00; B41P2235/10; B41P2235/20; B41P2235/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A cleaning apparatus for a print band, comprising a container sized to receive at least one size of print band in the form of a continuous loop and a print band cleaning solution in a bottom portion thereof, a driver pulley operatively arranged at one end of the container, a driven pulley arranged at said bottom portion of the container, so as to be at least partially covered by said print band cleaning solution said driver pulley and driven pulley configured to be engaged by the print band during a cleaning operation, a brush rotatably mounted in the container and arranged to contact a face of the print band, and a pressure plate arranged opposite the brush so as to engage an opposed face of the print band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A cleaning apparatus for a print band, comprising a container sized to receive at least one size of print band in the form of a continuous loop and a print band cleaning solution in a bottom portion thereof, a driver pulley operatively arranged at one end of the container, a driven pulley arranged at said bottom portion of the container, so as to be at least partially covered by said print band cleaning solution said driver pulley and driven pulley configured to be engaged by the print band during a cleaning operation, a brush rotatably mounted in the container and arranged to contact a face of the print band, and a pressure plate arranged opposite the brush so as to engage an opposed face of the print band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver pulley and the driven pulley are arranged vertically within the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver pulley and the driven pulley are arranged horizontally within the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven pulley is operatively mounted in the container, so as to be selectively movable with respect to the driver pulley.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure plate is mounted so as to be biased toward the brush.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the driven pulley is operatively mounted in the container, so as to be selectively movable with respect to the driver pulley.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the driver pulley and the driven pulley are arranged vertically within the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means for drying the cleaning solution from the print band is arranged downstream of the brush as viewed in a travel direction of the print band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven pulley is operatively mounted so a to be normally biased away from the driver pulley during operation of the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the driven pulley is operatively mounted in the container, so as to be selectively movable with respect to the driver pulley.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pressure plate is mounted so as to be biased toward the brush.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein means for drying the cleaning solution from the print band is arranged downstream of the brush as viewed in a travel direction of the print band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the driver pulley and the driven pulley are arranged vertically within the container.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rapidly cleaning a print band in a self-contained housing, comprising the steps of providing a cleaning solution mounting the print band about a driver and a driven member and between a rotatable brush and pressure plate, actuating the driver to move the print band through a cleaning solution at a bottom portion of the housing, mounting the driven member so that at least a lower circumferential portion is submerged in the cleaning solution and cleaning the print band by rotating the brush with the print band held in contact therewith by the pressure plate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rapidly cleaning a print band in a self-contained housing, comprising the steps of providing a cleaning solution mounting the print band about a driver and a driven member and between a rotatable brush and pressure plate, actuating the driver to move the print band through a cleaning solution at a bottom portion of the housing, mounting the driven member so that at least a lower circumferential portion is submerged in the cleaning solution and cleaning the print band by rotating the brush with the print band held in contact therewith by the pressure plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of mounting includes moving the driver and the driven member toward each other and moving the pressure plate away from the brush.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of mounting includes looping the print band which is in the form of a continuous loop around the driver configured as a motor driven pulley and around the driven member configured as a pulley after the pulleys have been moved toward each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of cleaning includes drying the print band by directing forced air against the print band at a location downstream of said brush after it has passed through the cleaning solution and the rotating brush at least one time.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for cleaning printing ink ribbon residue from timing notches and interstices among characters of a continuous loop print band, said apparatus comprising a housing sized to receive said print band, said housing having a bottom portion that is sealable with respect to the passage of fluid therethrough, said bottom portion being arranged to receive and retain print band cleaning solution though which said print band may pass, a driver pulley operatively arranged at a first, upper portion of said housing and a driven pulley arranged at a second, lower portion of said housing, such that cleaning solution in said bottom portion of said housing covers at least a lower circumferential portion of said driven pulley, said driver pulley and said driven pulley being configured to be engaged by said print band during a cleaning operation, a brush rotatably mounted at a location in said housing that is adjacent to said bottom portion of said housing, said brush being arranged to contact a face of said print band as said print band emerges from said cleaning solution, a pressure plate arranged opposite to said brush so as to engage an opposed face of said print band, and a pair of forced air elements arranged adjacent to opposite faces of said print band, downstream of said brush as viewed in a travel direction of said print band, said pair of forced air elements positioned to direct forced drying air against opposite faces of said print band after said print band has passed through said cleaning solution and been subjected to rotational cleaning action of said brush thereagainst.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for cleaning printing ink ribbon residue from timing notches and interstices among characters of a continuous loop print band, said apparatus comprising a housing sized to receive said print band, said housing having a bottom portion that is sealable with respect to the passage of fluid therethrough, said bottom portion being arranged to receive and retain print band cleaning solution though which said print band may pass, a driver pulley operatively arranged at a first, upper portion of said housing and a driven pulley arranged at a second, lower portion of said housing, such that cleaning solution in said bottom portion of said housing covers at least a lower circumferential portion of said driven pulley, said driver pulley and said driven pulley being configured to be engaged by said print band during a cleaning operation, a brush rotatably mounted at a location in said housing that is adjacent to said bottom portion of said housing, said brush being arranged to contact a face of said print band as said print band emerges from said cleaning solution, a pressure plate arranged opposite to said brush so as to engage an opposed face of said print band, and a pair of forced air elements arranged adjacent to opposite faces of said print band, downstream of said brush as viewed in a travel direction of said print band, said pair of forced air elements positioned to direct forced drying air against opposite faces of said print band after said print band has passed through said cleaning solution and been subjected to rotational cleaning action of said brush thereagainst.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |