Filter cleaning system including individually driven belt mounted extending nozzles

An air cleaning apparatus for removing dust and debris from a volume of air, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a stationary filter having a dust and debris collecting surface;
• b) a cleaning unit comprising:
• i) a longitudinally extending duct spaced from said collecting surface a predetermined distance and extending lengthwise along said collecting surface, a lengthwise slot formed in said duct and facing said collecting surface said slot further including a pair of opposed flanges formed along said slot said flanges forming opposing belt receiving cavities within the slot;
• ii) a belt in said duct and extending across said slot, said belt extending between said flanges and having a pair of spaced apart edge portions each disposed within a respective one of said pair of opposed flanges, said duct and said belt defining a plenum, said belt having an opening formed therein adjacent said slot and in fluid communication with said plenum, said belt mounted for movement within said slot such that said opening may be repositioned along the length of said slot;
• and
• iii) a nozzle mounted on said belt for movement therewith and extending outwardly from said belt toward said collecting surface, said nozzle having an inlet adjacent said collecting surface and distal from said belt, said inlet having a width substantially transverse to the length of said slot which is greater than a corresponding width of said opening in said belt, said inlet in fluid communication with said opening and thereby said plenum;
• c) a belt driver operatively coupled to said belt;
• and
• d) a suction source operable to create a vacuum in said plenum and thereby at said inlet of said nozzle, for drawing dust and debris disposed on said collecting surface through said inlet, said nozzle, and said opening, and into said plenum.