Cleaning apparatus, spherical object cleaning system, and method for cleaning spherical object

A spherical object cleaning system, comprising a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a spherical object, the cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a first member having a first surface;
• a second member having a second surface facing the first surface,
• the first surface and the second surface being sandwiching surfaces sandwiching the spherical object,
• the first surface and the second surface being configured to be rotatable relative to each other:
• an introduction portion configured to introduce the spherical object into a space between the first surface and the second surface;
• and
• a discharge portion configured to discharge the spherical object from the space,
• wherein one of the first surface and the second surface is provided with a curve or linear spiral groove configured to guide the spherical object from the introduction portion to the discharge portion along at least one complete spiral turn of the curve or linear spiral groove, and
• wherein the curve or linear spiral groove includes a portion having a linear path located between portions having a curve or linear spiral path.

A method for cleaning a spherical object, comprising:

• preparing a spherical object;
• preparing a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the spherical object;
• the cleaning apparatus including:
• a first member having a first surface;
• a second member having a second surface facing the first surface;
• an introduction portion configured to introduce the spherical object into a space between the first surface and the second surface;
• and
• a discharge portion configured to discharge the spherical object from the space,
• one of the first surface and the second surface being provided with a curve or linear spiral groove configured to guide the spherical object from the introduction portion to the discharge portion along at least one complete spiral turn of the curve or linear spiral groove,
• wherein the curve or linear spiral groove includes a portion having a linear path located between portions having a curve or linear spiral path,
• introducing the spherical object from the introduction portion into the space;
• cleaning the spherical object in the space;
• and
• discharging the cleaned spherical object from the discharge portion,
• in cleaning the spherical object, with the spherical object sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface, the first surface and the second surface being rotated relative to each other, to thereby rotate the spherical object, and the rotating spherical object being guided in the curve or linear spiral groove from the introduction portion to the discharge portion and cleaned.