Ground corona comb
AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorGwido K. Swistun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cleaning apparatus using an ionized fluid, such as air, to dislodge charged debris from a workpiece includes a ground corona comb disposed adjacent the workpiece. The ground corona comb has a jagged edge which conforms to the surface of the workpiece. The ground corona comb is attached to a vacuum device which suctions the dislodged debris from the vicinity of the workpiece. Utilization of the ground corona comb reduces the time required for the cleaning process by quickly discharging all electrical charges on the debris enabling the debris to be swiftly suctioned off by the vacuum device.
Claims17
A ground corona comb in an ionized fluid cleaning apparatus, the ionized fluid cleaning apparatus including a nozzle for directing a jet of ionized fluid toward a workpiece carrying debris, and a suction pipe having an opening therein for withdrawing the debris dislodged by the jet of ionized fluid, said ground corona comb comprising:
- a plate, formed of electrically conductive material, having a jagged edge disposed adjacent to and separated from the workpiece;
- and
- grounding means for electrically grounding said plate.
An ionized fluid cleaning apparatus for removing debris from a workpiece, comprising:
- pressurized means for directing jets of ionized fluid at the workpiece to dislodge the debris;
- vacuum means for suctioning the debris dislodged by the jets of ionized fluid;
- and
- a ground corona comb, formed from electrically conductive material and operatively connected to electrical ground, having a jagged edge disposed adjacent to and separate from the workpiece.
An ionized fluid cleaning apparatus for removing debris from workpieces, having upper and lower surfaces, said apparatus comprising:
- conveyance means for conveying the workpieces through said ionized fluid cleaning apparatus in a conveyance direction from an entrance to an exit;
- first and second pressurized means disposed above the conveyance means for directing jets of ionized fluid along substantially parallel first and second planes toward the workpieces to dislodge the debris from the upper surface of the workpieces, said second pressurized means following said first pressurized means in the conveyance direction;
- first, second and third vacuum means, disposed above said conveyance means, said first vacuum means preceding said first pressurized means in the conveyance direction, said second vacuum means disposed between said first and second pressurized means and said third vacuum means following said second pressurized means in the conveyance direction;
- third pressurized means disposed below said conveyance means, for dislodging debris from the lower surface of the workpieces;
- fourth vacuum means, disposed below said conveyance means and preceding said third pressurized means in the conveyance direction, for suctioning the debris dislodged by the jets of ionized fluid issuing from said third pressurized means;
- and
- ground corona combs, attached to said first through fourth vacuum means, formed from electrically conductive material and operatively connected to electrical ground, having a jagged edge disposed adjacent to and separated from the workpieces.
A ground corona comb in an ionized fluid cleaning apparatus, the ionized fluid cleaning apparatus including a nozzle for directing a jet of ionized fluid toward a workpiece carrying charged debris, and a suction pipe having an opening therein for withdrawing the charged debris dislodged by the jet of ionized fluid, said ground corona comb comprising:
- a plate, formed of electrically conductive material, having a jagged edge disposed adjacent to and separated from the workpiece;
- and
- grounding means for electrically grounding said plate to accelerate electrical discharge of the ionized fluid and for forming a dense electrical field around the jagged edges of said plate, the dense electrical field having a polarity opposite to that of the charged debris dislodged by the jet of ionized fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.