ADHESIVE ROLL MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR CONTACT CLEANING APPARATUS

Abstract

Example core plug assemblies for an adhesive roll mounting apparatus of a contact cleaning apparatus are disclosed, the assembly comprising a frustoconical moveable core plug and a frustoconical fixed core plug being spaced apart from one another along a common longitudinal axis and each configured and arranged to receive an end of a hollow adhesive roll core, the frustoconical moveable core plug being configured for translational movement towards and away from the frustoconical fixed core plug to increase the spacing between the core plugs.

Claims

1. A core plug assembly for an adhesive roll mounting apparatus for a contact cleaning apparatus, the assembly comprising a frustoconical moveable core plug and a frustoconical fixed core plug being spaced apart from one another along a common longitudinal axis and each configured and arranged to receive an end of a hollow adhesive roll core, the frustoconical moveable core plug being configured for translational movement towards and away from the frustoconical fixed core plug to increase the spacing between the core plugs.

2. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein the position of each core plug is at a substantially fixed angle to the common longitudinal axis.

3. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frustoconical moveable core plug is translatable along the common longitudinal axis and rotatable about the common longitudinal axis.

4. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixed core plug is rotatable about the common longitudinal axis.

5. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein the core plug assembly comprises a frame.

6. The core plug assembly according to claim 5, wherein the frustoconical moveable core plug and a frustoconical fixed core plug are mounted on the frame.

7. The core plug assembly according to claim 5, wherein the frame comprises a pair of drawer slides and the frustoconical moveable core plug and a frustoconical fixed core plug are mounted on the drawer slides.

8. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the frustoconical moveable core plug and the frustoconical fixed core plug is attached to a respective mounting block.

9. The core plug assembly according to claim 8, wherein the frustoconical moveable core plug is biased away from its mounting block.

10. The core plug assembly according to claim 8, wherein the frustoconical moveable core plug is attached to its mounting block by a core plug support and is configured for translational movement towards and away from its mounting block along the core plug support.

11. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the frustoconical moveable core plug and the frustoconical fixed core plug has a conic angle of approximately 5 to 60 degrees.

12. The core plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frustoconical core plug comprises a gripping element.

13. An adhesive roll mounting apparatus comprising a housing and a drawer receivable in the housing and being moveable into and out of the housing, the drawer comprising a core plug assembly according to claim 1.

14. A contact cleaning apparatus comprising: an adhesive roll mounting apparatus according to claim 13; and a contact cleaning roller mounting apparatus comprising a housing and a drawer receivable in the housing and being moveable into and out of the housing, the drawer comprising a roll mounting system configured to receive and retain a contact cleaning roller wherein the adhesive roll mounting apparatus and the contact cleaning roller mounting apparatus together provide a contact cleaning roller configured and located to contact a substrate to be cleaned and an adhesive roll configured and located to remove debris from the contact cleaning roller.

15. The contact cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the frustoconical core plug comprises a gripping element.

16. The contact cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the frustoconical core plug extends from a broad proximal portion to a narrow distal portion, and wherein the gripping element is adjacent to the proximal portion of the frustoconical core plug.

17. The contact cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the frustoconical core plug extends from a broad proximal portion to a narrow distal portion, and wherein the gripping element is adjoining the proximal portion of the frustoconical core plug.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] One or more aspects of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a moveable core plug according to the prior art;

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an adhesive roll mounting apparatus including a core plug assembly according to a first aspect of the disclosure with the moveable core plug in its resting position;

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the adhesive roll mounting apparatus including the core plug assembly according to the disclosure with an adhesive roll received in the core plug assembly and the moveable core plug in an operating position;

[0072] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the moveable core plug of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0073] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the moveable core plug in circle A of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in its resting position;

[0074] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the moveable core plug in circle B of the apparatus of FIG. 3 in its biased position;

[0075] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the moveable core plug according to the disclosure during assembly of an adhesive roll in the adhesive roll mounting apparatus (a) in a resting position, (b) in a biased position and (c) in an operating position; and

[0076] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a contacting cleaning apparatus with a drawer including the adhesive roll mounting apparatus of FIG. 2 in an open position;

[0077] FIG. 9 shows a side view of an adhesive roll mounting apparatus including a moveable core plug according to a second aspect of the disclosure with the moveable core plug in a retracted position;

[0078] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the adhesive roll mounting apparatus including the moveable core plug of FIG. 9 with an adhesive roll received in the core plug assembly and the moveable core plug in an extended position; and

[0079] FIG. 11 shows a side view of another example of a moveable core plug according to the disclosure in an operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an adhesive roll mounting apparatus 100 according to a first aspect of the disclosure in a drawer 102. The drawer 102 can be mounted in a housing (202, see FIG. 8) of a contact cleaning system (200, see FIG. 8). The drawer 102 includes a pair of opposing drawer slides 104, along which the drawer 102 can be retracted into the housing 202 to a closed position and extended out of the housing 202 to an open position.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 2, the roll mounting apparatus 100 includes a fixed core plug 106 and a moveable core plug 108 spaced apart from one another along a common longitudinal axis 199. The fixed core plug 106 and the moveable core plug 108 are mounted to the drawer 102 by mounting blocks 112 and 114, respectively. The fixed core plug 106 is mounted at a first end of the drawer 102 closest to the housing 202 when the drawer 102 is mounted to the housing 202 and in an open position. The fixed core plug 106 remains in a fixed position relative to the drawer 102. The moveable core plug 108 is mounted at a second end of the drawer 102, opposite the first end. The moveable core plug 108 is moveable in a linear direction away from the fixed core plug 106 in the drawer 102. The moveable core plug 108 can thus be moved away from the fixed core plug 106 in order to receive an adhesive roll (210, see FIG. 3).

[0082] The moveable core plug 108 is moveable in a translational manner towards and away from the fixed core plug 106. In other words, the moveable core plug 108 can move in a linear direction along the common longitudinal axis 199. Both the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 are rotatable about the common longitudinal axis 199. This rotational movement of the fixed and moveable core plugs allows the adhesive roll received therebetween to rotate when in use. The moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 have a fixed angle relative to the drawer 102 and are not pivotable or moveable in any other direction. The fixed angle of the fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108 may be subject to machine tolerances during manufacture of the fixed and moveable core plug 106, 108, thus the fixed angle is a substantially fixed angle. In other words, movement of the moveable core plug 108 is limited only to translation and rotation about the common longitudinal axis 199, and movement of the fixed core plug 106 is limited only to rotation about the common longitudinal axis 199.

[0083] The fixed core plug 106 and moveable core plug 108 each have a frustoconical shape. A narrow end of the fixed core plug 106 and moveable core plug 108 faces the opposing fixed core plug 106 or moveable core plug 108. This allows an end of each of the fixed core plug 106 and moveable core plug 108 to be received in a hollow adhesive roll core. An adhesive roll (not shown) can thus be mounted between the fixed core plug 106 and moveable core plug 108. FIG. 3 shows an adhesive roll 210 mounted between the fixed core plug 106 and the moveable core plug 108.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 2, a latch 110 is pivotally mounted at a second end of the drawer 102. The latch 110 is mounted on the drawer 102 by a pin, or by another means which provides a fulcrum about which the latch can pivot.

[0085] The movable core plug 108 includes an actuator 117 fixedly connected to, and movable with, the frustoconical portion of the moveable core plug 108. The actuator 117 is a conical block.

[0086] A surface of the actuator 117 is moveable into contact with the latch 110. The actuator can press against the latch 110 to actuate the latch 110 to pivot between a latching position and a disengaged position. As shown in FIG. 4, the moveable core plug 108 has a conic angle Q of approximately 5 to 60 degrees. Similarly, the fixed core plug 106 has a conic angle ? of approximately 5 to 60 degrees. That is, the angle between a sidewall of the moveable core plug 108 or the fixed core plug 106 and the common longitudinal axis 199 is approximately 5 to 60 degrees. The frustoconical shape of the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 minimises the assembly footprint. In one example, the conic angle ? of the fixed and moveable core plugs is 45 degrees. The conic angle may be dependent upon the distance between the fixed core plug 106 and the moveable core plug 108. For example, a higher conic angle will be selected for shorter distances between the fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108 to allow for a greater angle of insertion of the adhesive roll 210, and a lower conic angle will be selected for longer distance between the fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the moveable core plug 108 is mounted to its mounting block 114 by a core plug support 116 and a spring 118. The core plug support 116 is an elongate cylindrical member which passes through an aperture in the moveable core plug 108 as the moveable core plug 108 moves towards its mounting block 114. The sliding of the core plug support 116 through the aperture in the moveable core plug 108 permits translational movement of the moveable core plug towards and away from its mounting block 114. A retaining means is provided to retain the moveable core plug 108 on the core plug support 116. The retaining means may be a fastener, for example a nut.

[0088] The moveable core plug 108 is biased away from its mounting block 114 by the spring 118. Thus, the translational movement of the moveable core plug 108 is against the bias of the spring 118. In use, the spring 118 will return the moveable core plug 108 towards the fixed core plug (106, see FIGS. 2 and 3) to hold an adhesive roll 210 in place between the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 7(a) to (c), the moveable core plug 108 has three positions relative to the fixed core plug 106, a resting position (see FIG. 7(a)), a biased position (see FIG. 7(b)) and an operating position (see FIG. 7(c)). The moveable core plug 108 is biased towards the resting position by the spring 118.

[0090] In the resting position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7(a), the moveable core plug 108 is the closest to the fixed core plug 106. There is no adhesive roll between the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106. In the biased position, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the moveable core plug 108 is furthest away from the fixed core plug 106. The distance between the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 is greater than the length of an adhesive roll 210, allowing an adhesive roll 210 to be positioned between the fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108 or removed from between the fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108. In the operating position, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7(c), the moveable core plug 108 is intermediate the resting and biased positions. The moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 are each located in their respective hollow ends of the adhesive roll core and are spaced at a distance which allows rotation of the adhesive roll 210 about its longitudinal axis without any translation of the axis of rotation.

[0091] The fixed and moveable core plugs 106, 108 include a gripping element 107, 108, for improved coupling to the adhesive roll. The gripping element 107, 109 includes a deformable surface. In the example shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the deformable surface is an O-ring.

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a contact cleaning apparatus 200 including a housing 202. The drawer 102, including the adhesive roll mounting apparatus 100, is slidable into and out of the housing 202 along the drawer slides 104. Each drawer slide 104 includes an outer member 105a, an inner member 105b and a fixed member (not shown). The outer member 105a, inner member 105b and fixed member are extendable in a telescopic manner. In one example, the fixed member is mounted to an internal surface of the housing 202. The outer member 105a is extendable along the fixed member, and the inner member 105b is extendable out of the outer member 105a in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axes of each of the outer and inner members 105a, 105b to fully extend the drawer slides 104. According to another example, the drawer slide 104 may only include two members, an outer member mounted to the housing 202 and an inner member extendable out of the outer member.

[0093] A contact cleaning roller 220 is mounted in the housing 202. An adhesive roll 210 is mounted in the adhesive roll mounting apparatus 100. The adhesive roll mounting apparatus 100 containing the adhesive roll 210 is slidable into, and fully receivable within, the housing 202 so that the adhesive roll 210 can be positioned in alignment with the contact cleaning roller 220. During use of the contact cleaning apparatus 200, the adhesive roll 210 is positioned such that the surface of the adhesive roll is in contact with the surface of the contact cleaning roller 220.

[0094] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 8, assembly of an adhesive roll 210 in the contact cleaning apparatus 200 will now be described. An end of the adhesive roll 210 is placed against the moveable core plug 108. The adhesive roll 210 can be used to move the moveable core plug 108 from the resting position (as shown in FIG. 7(a)) to the biased position (as shown in FIG. 7(b)). Alternatively, an operator may move the moveable core plug 108 by direct contact with the moveable core plug 108 or by using a lever (not shown), or movement of the moveable core plug 108 may be automated. This allows the adhesive roll 210 to be positioned between the moveable core plug 108 and the and the fixed core 106 plug such that an opposing end of the adhesive roll 210 can receive the fixed core plug 106 in the adhesive roll core. The moveable core plug 108 is then moved to the operating position (as shown in FIG. 7(c)) to hold the adhesive roll 210 in place. The adhesive roll 210 is then retained between the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106 (as shown in FIG. 3) and the moveable core plug 108 remains in the operating position. The drawer 102 is then slid to a closed position such that it is fully received into the housing 202. With the drawer 102 in the closed position, the adhesive roll 210 contacts the contact cleaning roller 220 and the contact cleaning system 200 can be operated.

[0095] During use of the contact cleaning apparatus 200, a substrate is passed over the contact cleaning roller 220 which rotates along the surface of the substrate and removes debris from the substrate. The adhesive roll 210 is rotated by the rotation of the contact cleaning roller 220 and collects the debris from contact cleaning roller 220. During operation of the contact cleaning apparatus 200, an outer surface of the adhesive roll 210 can be replenished, either by adding an adhesive layer to the adhesive roll 210 or removing an adhesive layer from the adhesive roll 210.

[0096] When the adhesive roll 210 is no longer usable, an operator will open the drawer 102 and move the moveable core plug 108 to the biased position to remove the spent adhesive roll 210. The moveable core plug 108 is then released and returns to the resting position by spring bias. A fresh adhesive roll 210 can then be replaced between the moveable core plug 108 and the fixed core plug 106, as outlined above.

[0097] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an adhesive roll mounting apparatus 300 according to a second aspect of the disclosure in a drawer 302. Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the drawer 302 can be mounted in a housing of a contact cleaning system. The drawer 302 includes a pair of opposing drawer slides 304, along which the drawer can be retracted into the housing to a closed position and extended out of the housing to an open position.

[0098] The roll mounting apparatus 300 includes a fixed core plug (not shown) and a moveable core plug 308 spaced apart from one another along a common longitudinal axis. The fixed core plug is mounted to the drawer 302 by a mounting block (not shown), and the moveable core plug 308 is mounted to the drawer 302 by a mounting block 314. The fixed core plug is mounted at a first end of the drawer 302 closest to the housing when the drawer is mounted to the housing and in an open position. The fixed core plug remains in a fixed position relative to the drawer. The moveable core plug 308 is mounted at a second end of the drawer 302, opposite the first end. The moveable core plug 308 is moveable in a linear direction away from the fixed core plug in the drawer. The moveable core plug 308 can thus be moved away from the fixed core plug in order to receive an adhesive roll 210.

[0099] The moveable core plug 308 can only be moved in a translational manner towards and away from the fixed core plug. In other words, the moveable core plug 308 can only move in a linear direction along the common longitudinal axis. Both the moveable core plug 308 and the fixed core plug have a fixed angle relative to the drawer 302 and are not pivotable.

[0100] The fixed core plug and moveable core plug 308 may have any suitable shape, for example a conical shape, a frustoconical shape, or a cylindrical shape. The roll mounting apparatus shown in FIG. 9 has a cylindrical shaped moveable core plug 308.

[0101] The moveable core plug 308 is mounted to a carriage 310 via the mounting block 314. The carriage 310 is slidably mounted to the drawer 302 so as to convey the moveable core plug 308 linearly. More specifically, the carriage 310 may be slidably mounted on least one of the drawer slides 304 or on a rail (not shown) fixedly mounted to the drawer 302.

[0102] A collapsible frame 316 is provided between the mounting block 314 of the moveable core plug 308 and an end plate 303 of the drawer 302. The carriage 310 holding the mounting block 314 of the moveable core plug 308 is slidable to permit translational movement towards and away from the frame end plate 303 by collapsing and extending the collapsible frame 316 between a first, stowed position (as shown in FIG. 9), and a second, extended position (as shown in FIG. 10).

[0103] The collapsible frame 316 includes a first member 318 pivotally mounted to the end plate 303 of the drawer. The first member 318 is an L-shaped member having a first arm and a second arm. The first member 318 is pivotally mounted to the end plate 303 at a pivot point between the first arm and the second arm. The collapsible frame 316 also includes a second member 320 pivotally mounted at a first end to an end of the second arm of the first member 318 and at a second end to the mounting block 314 of the moveable core plug 308.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 9, in the first, stowed position of the collapsible frame 316, the second member 320 is at an angle with respect the second arm of the first member 318, i.e. folded, reducing the distance between the end plate 303 and the mounting block 314. As shown in FIG. 10, in the second, extended position, the second member 320 is collinear with the second arm of the first member 318, increasing the distance between the end plate 303 and the mounting block 314.

[0105] An end of the first arm of the first member 318 may include a stopper 322. The stopper 322 contacts the mounting block 314 of the moveable core plug 308 in the first position. The stopper 322 may be made from an elastomer or a rubber material so as to prevent damage to the moveable core plug 308 during assembly and disassembly of the adhesive roll 210.

[0106] To assemble an adhesive roll in the roll mounting apparatus 300, the collapsible frame 316 is first moved from the second position to the first position, causing the carriage 310, and the moveable core plug 308 mounted to it, to translate towards the frame end plate 303. This creates space to mount an adhesive roll 210 between the moveable core plug 308 and the fixed core plug. The adhesive roll 210 is placed between the moveable core plug 308 and the fixed core plug. The collapsible frame 316 is then moved from the first position back to the second position to translate the moveable core plug 308 towards the adhesive roll 210. The moveable core plug 308 and the fixed core plug are received in the adhesive roll core and hold the adhesive roll 210 in an assembled position.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 11, there is shown another example of a moveable core plug 508 according to the disclosure in an operating position. Where the features are the same as the example of FIG. 2 to FIG. 8, the reference numbers are also kept the same, but with a 5 as the initial digit.

[0108] Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 8, a latch 510 is pivotally mounted at a second end of the drawer. The latch 510 is mounted on the drawer by a pin, or by another means which provides a fulcrum about which the latch can pivot.

[0109] The movable core plug 508 includes an actuator 517 fixedly connected to, and movable with, the frustoconical portion of the moveable core plug 508.

[0110] The actuator 517 is a flanged block. The actuator 517 allows a user to pull back the spring-loaded section by hand, moving the moveable core plug 508 towards the mounting block 514 to aid replacement of the adhesive roll 210.

[0111] The moveable core plug 508 includes a gripping element 509. The gripping element 509 is a cylindrical surface. The circumference of the cylindrical surface is configured to provide an interference fit with the adhesive roll core. Optionally, and the fixed core plug (not shown) also includes a corresponding gripping element.

[0112] The moveable core plug includes a stopping element 519. The stopping element 519 is configured to abut the adhesive roll core and limit axial movement of the adhesive roll when it is in the loaded position.

[0113] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0114] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0115] The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The claims should not be construed to cover merely the foregoing embodiments, but also any embodiments which fall within the scope of the claims.

LIST OF PARTS

[0116] Adhesive roll mounting apparatus 100 [0117] Drawer/frame 102 [0118] Drawer slides 104 [0119] Outer member 105a [0120] Inner member 105b [0121] Fixed core plug 106 [0122] Moveable core plug 108 [0123] Common longitudinal axis 199 [0124] Mounting block 112, 114 [0125] Core plug support 116 [0126] Spring 118 [0127] Contact cleaning apparatus 200 [0128] Housing 202 [0129] Adhesive roll 210 [0130] Contact cleaning roller 220 [0131] Adhesive roll mounting apparatus 300 [0132] Drawer/frame 302 [0133] End plate 303 [0134] Drawer slides 304 [0135] Moveable core plug 308 [0136] Carriage 310 [0137] Mounting block 314 [0138] Collapsible frame 316 [0139] First member 318 [0140] Second member 320 [0141] Stopper 322 [0142] Moveable core plug 508 [0143] Gripping element 509 [0144] Latch 510 [0145] Mounting block 514 [0146] Core plug support 516 [0147] Actuator 517 [0148] Spring 518 [0149] Stopping element 519 [0150] Common longitudinal axis 599