Method and apparatus for cleaning the front surface of a mounted lens
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsMichael D. Davis, Mark S. Carducci, Stephen P. North
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method and apparatus for cleaning the front surface of a mounted lens a web is moved to a lowered position against the lens. A first segment of the web is then slackened. The first segment of web is then rubbed against the lens. Following the rubbing the web is pulled taut while the web is still in the lowered position. A second segment of web can be wiped against the lens while the web is held taut. The first segment can be wet and the second segment dry.
Claims20
A method for cleaning the front surface of a mounted lens, said method comprising the steps of:
- lowering a web into a lowered position against the lens;
- following said lowering, slackening a first segment of said web;
- following said slackening, rubbing said first segment against the lens;
- following said rubbing, pulling said web taut;
- maintaining said web in said lowered position during said slackening, rubbing, and pulling steps.
A method for cleaning the front surface of a mounted lens, said method comprising the steps of:
- lowering a segment of a web into a lowered position against the lens;
- isolating a portion of said web including said segment;
- moving a probe to a contact position against said segment of said web, said probe, in said contact position, holding said first segment against said lens;
- following said lowering, isolating, and moving, slackening a first segment of said web;
- following said slackening, pivoting said probe;
- following said pivoting, pulling said web taut;
- maintaining said web in said lowered position and said probe in said contact position, during said slackening, pivoting, and pulling steps.
Apparatus for cleaning a mounted lens, said apparatus comprising:
- a probe movable between a retracted position and a contact position, said probe, in said contact position, defining a work site;
- a guide having opposed first and second arms, said guide being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said arms defining a web path that crosses said work site when said guide is in said lowered position and is spaced from said work site when said guide is in said raised position, said first arm being movable relative to said second arm while said guide is in said lowered position, between a web tensioning position and a web slackening position;
- a web threaded about said guide along said web path, said web being taut when said first arm is in said web tensioning position, said web being slack when said first arm is in said web slackening position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.