System and method for cleaning data bearing cards

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• cleaning means having at least one engaging surface adapted for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned, said cleaning means comprises at least one cleaning roller having an outer surface for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• means on said engaging surface for adhesively attracting loose particles from the corresponding surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• feeding means engaging the workpiece prior to engagement of the workpiece by said cleaning means for feeding the workpiece to said cleaning means;
• conveying means for engaging and conveying the workpiece away from said cleaning means, said conveying means continuing to engage and convey the workpiece after the workpiece leaves said cleaning means;
• and
• means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means, said particle removing means comprises a stripping element having stripping means thereon for stripping particles from said at least one cleaning roller, and means for causing engagement at adjustably selected intervals between said at least one cleaning roller and stripping means during operation of the apparatus, wherein said stripping element comprises a stripping tape having an adhesive surface thereon for stripping particles from said outer engaging surface of said at least one cleaning roller, said stripping element further comprises first, means for storing unused stripping tape and second, means for storing used tape, said stripping element further comprises a stripper roller about which said stripping tape is wound between said first and second storing means, wherein said means for causing engagement between said at least one cleaning roller and said stripping means comprises turret means having said at least one cleaning roller mounted thereon and being rotatably mounted on a central turret axis for displacing said at least one cleaning roller from a workpiece cleaning position to at least one stripping position so that said at lease one cleaning roller is engageable by said stripping tape at the point said stripping tape winds around said stripper roller.

A method for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece at a cleaning station prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• (a) detecting the presence of a workpiece before the workpiece reaches the cleaning station;
• (b) feeding the workpiece into the cleaning station;
• (c) engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned with an adhesive particle attracting element;
• (d) conveying the workpiece from the cleaning station;
• (e) determining the total number of workpieces that have been cleaned responsive to said detecting step;
• and
• (f) removing particles that have collected on the adhesive particle attracting element by moving the adhesive particle element from a workpiece cleaning position to a particle removal position distinct from the workpiece cleaning position whenever the total number of workpieces cleaned exceeds a predetermined number.

A method for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece at a cleaning station prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• (a) detecting the presence of a workpiece before the workpiece reaches the cleaning station;
• (b) feeding the workpiece into the cleaning station;
• (c) engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned with an adhesive particle attracting element, wherein said engaging step includes engaging two opposite surfaces of the workpiece with two particle attracting elements comprising a pair of adhesive cleaning rollers mounted on a turret which is constructed to rotate about a central axis, and wherein said engaging step is performed by passing the workpiece the adhesive cleaning rollers when the cleaning rollers are in a workpiece cleaning position;
• (d) conveying the workpiece from the cleaning station;
• (e) determining the total number of workpieces that have been cleaned responsive to said detecting step;
• and
• (f) removing particles that have collected on the adhesive particle attracting element whenever the total number of workpieces cleaned exceeds a predetermined number.

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece, comprising:

• cleaning means positionable in a workpiece cleaning position having at least one cleaning roller for attracting loose particles from the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned when said cleaning means is in said workpiece cleaning position;
• feeding means for feeding a workpiece to said cleaning means;
• stripping means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means when said cleaning means is in a cleaning means stripping position;
• and
• means for displacing said cleaning means alternatively between said workpiece cleaning position and said cleaning means stripping position distinct from the workpiece cleaning position.

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece, comprising:

• cleaning means positionable in a workpiece cleaning position having at least one adhesive surface for attracting loose particles from the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned when said cleaning means is in said workpiece cleaning position, wherein said cleaning means comprises at least one cleaning roller having an outer surface for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• feeding means for feeding a workpiece to said cleaning means;
• stripping means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means when said cleaning means is in a cleaning means stripping position;
• and
• means for displacing said cleaning means alternatively between said workpiece cleaning position and said cleaning means stripping position.

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• cleaning means comprising at least one cleaning roller having an outer surface for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned, the cleaning means being movable between a workpiece cleaning position and a cleaning means stripping position distinct from the workpiece cleaning position;
• means on said outer surface of said at least one cleaning roller for adhesively attracting loose particles from the corresponding surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• means for feeding a workpiece to said cleaning means;
• means for converying the workpiece away from said cleaning means;
• and
• means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means comprising a windable stripping means for stripping elements thereon for stripping particles from said at least one cleaning roller, and means for causing engagement at adjustably selected intervals between said at least one cleaning roller and said stripping means during operation of the apparatus.

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• cleaning means having at least one engaging surface adapted for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned, the cleaning means being movable between a workpiece cleaning position and a cleaning means stripping position distinct from the workpiece cleaning position;
• means on said engaging surface for adhesively attracting loose particles from the corresponding surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• means for feeding a workpiece to said cleaning means;
• means for conveying the workpiece away from said cleaning means;
• means for detecting a workpiece and for counting the number of workpieces passing through said cleaning means;
• and
• means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means when a predetermined number of workpieces have been detected by said detecting means

An apparatus for removing loose particles from at least one surface of a workpiece prior to printing on the surface by a printer, comprising:

• cleaning means comprising at least one cleaning roller having an outer surface for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• means on said outer surface of said at least one cleaning roller for adhesively attracting loose particles from the corresponding surface of the workpiece to be cleaned;
• means for feeding a workpiece to said cleaning means;
• means for conveying the workpiece away from said cleaning means;
• and
• means for removing collected particles from said cleaning means comprising a stripping means for stripping particles from said at least one cleaning roller, said means for removing particles further comprising rotatable means for supporting said stripping means for said cleaning roller to bias thereagainst.