Apparatus and method for cleaning charged particles from objects
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsGerard W. Ernst, Thomas Albano, Dean L. Smith, Klaus R. Pohl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for cleaning objects having generally irregular surface features, such as reloadable photographic cameras, has a partial enclosure having opposing side walls, and a top wall joining the opposing side walls. An air ionizing element composed of an ion emitter and an air knife is arranged in the enclosure for electrostatically neutralizing the object with ions entrained in a curtain-like stream of air directed onto the object.
Claims11
Apparatus for cleaning objects having generally irregular surface features, said apparatus comprising:
- a partial enclosure having opposing side walls, a top wall joining said opposing side walls, a first opening at one end of said side walls and a second opening opposite said first opening;
- an object support member for supporting said objects with the generally irregular surface features exposed for cleaning in said partial enclosure;
- an air ionizing element arranged in said partial enclosure symmetrically about said generally irregular surface features, said air ionizing element directing a curtain-like stream of ionized air onto said generally irregular surface features of said objects thereby neutralizing electrostatic electric field intensities and dislodging particles from said generally irregular surface features;
- and,
- means for exhausting particles dislodged from said generally irregular surface features, said particles being captured in a downward flow of directed air and directed away from said objects.
A method of cleaning electrostatically bound particles from objects having generally irregular surface features, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cleaning apparatus comprising a partially enclosed enclosure;
- a source of filtered directed air;
- and an ionizing member arranged in said partially enclosed enclosure for bombarding said objects with ions;
- providing an object support member for supporting said objects for cleaning in said cleaning apparatus;
- arranging said objects on said object support member with said generally irregular surface features exposed for cleaning;
- positioning said objects on said object support member for exposure inside said partially enclosed enclosure;
- directing a curtain-like stream of air across said generally irregular surface features of said objects;
- ionizing said generally irregular surface features of said objects for a predetermined period of time, said step of ionizing comprising neutralizing static charges on said generally irregular surface features so as to dislodge particles electrostatically bonded on said generally irregular surface features;
- continually exhausting said partially enclosed enclosure so as to eliminate said particles dislodged from said generally irregular surface features;
- and,
- removing said objects from said partially enclosed enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.