Cleaning apparatus for light tube in an optical inspection system

An inspection system operable to determine characteristics of articles in motion through an inspection region according to automated analysis of a light pattern produced by illumination of the articles in the region by an illumination source, comprising:

• a protective shield disposed between the source and the region, transmissive of the illumination, having a length, having first and second shield ends, and having a major surface including an illumination portion that occupies a substantial portion of the length;
• a first mounting device located adjacent the first shield end and near the major surface;
• a second mounting device located adjacent the second shield end and near the major surface;
• a cleaning element having first and second cleaning element ends each attached to a respective one of the first and second mounting devices, and an active portion between the cleaning element ends, the devices applying to the cleaning element ends respective resultant forces that are directed substantially collinearly with and outward from the cleaning element at the respective cleaning ends;
• and
• a movement system operable to produce relative movement of the major surface and the active portion, the forces sufficient to cause the active portion to contact the major surface and to exert sufficient pressure on the major surface to dislodge contaminants from the major surface as a result of the relative movement and thereby to produce a swept portion of the major surface, the movement system further operable to cause the swept portion to be the illumination portion.

An inspection system operable to determine characteristics of articles in motion through an inspection region according to automated analysis of a light pattern produced by illumination of the articles in the region by an illumination source, comprising:

• a protective shield disposed between the source and the region, transmissive of the illumination, having a length, having first and second shield ends, and having a major surface including an illumination portion that occupies a substantial portion of the length;
• a first mounting dayice located adjacent the first shield end and near the major surface;
• a second mounting device located adjacent the second shield end and near the major surface;
• a string having first and second string ends, each attached to a respective one of the first and second mounting devices, and an active portion between string ends, the devices applying forces to the string ends so as to cause the active portion to extend along the major surface and to define a portion of a helix having a pitch greater than about the length;
• and
• a movement system operable to produce relative movement of the major surface and the active portion, the forces sufficient to cause the active portion to contact the major surface and to exert sufficient pressure on the major surface to dislodge contaminants from the major surface as a result of the relative movement and thereby to produce a swept portion of the major surface, the movement system further operable to cause the swept portion to be the illumination portion.