Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2039898
CLEANING KIT FOR FACSIMILE MAC~INES
AND THE LIRE
BACK~ROUND OF TBE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an kit for
maintaining moving parts of office equipment, particularly
feeder rollers and more particularly to a kit comprising a
plurality of reusable cleaning sheets which may be used
repeatedly to clean feeder rollers by removing debris,
such as toner, dust, oils, fusion oil or liquid paper~
which has accumulated thereon.
Office equipment, such as typewriters,
photocopiers, facsimile machines and laser printers, use
feeder rollers to move or feed documents and blank pages
to be created, reproduced, typewritten, scanned or
transmitted. These feeder rollers are most often composed
of rubber, which by friction drive move the documents or
blank pages one page at a time, thereby ensuring proper
tiering. Rubber is such that the feeder rollers are
succeptable to the accumulation of dust, fusion oil, toner
` 2 2039898
residue, liquid paper and other forei_n debris. This
accumulation affects the proper tierir~ function of the
feeder rollers and may lead to malfunr ion of the feeder
mechanism, soiled copies and the imprc?er feeding of
documents, resulting in jamming.
In the past, individual cleaning sheets have
been used to clean the feeding mechaniams of office
equipment. Typically, cleaning sheets carry or are
saturated with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol,
which is used as a cleaning fluid. The use of high
concentrations of isopropyl alcohol to clean rubber
rollers has the disadvantage that the al_ohol causes
cracking, hardening and drying of the rollers. This
hardening and drying of the rollers also results in
improper tiering and poor feeding of d~cuments.
In use, a cleaning sheet is ?assed through or
between pairs of rollers, or over or u~der single
rollers. As the sheet contacts the ro'lers the abrasive
action of the surface of the sheet, together with the
chemical action of the cleaning fluid, loosens and removes
debris which has accumulated on the rollers. After a
single use the sheet is discarded. Multiple use of known
sheets is not feasable because the high volatility of the
cleaning fluid leads to a rapid drying of the sheet. Once
a sheet has lost the cleaning fluid carried thereon, there
is a resulting loss in its cleaning effectiveness.
2039898
The high volatility of isopropyl alcohol has led
to the need for elaborate and expensive packaging t~
prevent the evaporation of the cleaning fluid from 'he
sheet before use. Typically a cleaning sheet is se~led in
a combination of metal foil and thermoplastic packaqing,
in order to provide a barrier to prevent volatiliza ion.
In addition to the added expense, the combination metal
foil and thermoplastic packaging has the disadvanta~e that
once the seal is opened .he package cannot be resealed and
therefore, the vapor barrier is lost. Once the package is
opened any cleaning fluid contained on or in the sheets
within the packaging will be quickly lost to
volatilization, thus requiring the sheet to be used
immediately. Accordingly, in the past, sheets were
required to be individually packaged, further adding to
the cost of the product and increasing non-recyclable
waste.
~U~ARY OF T~E INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages
o~ the prior art cleaning sheets. The present inventor
has found that cleaning sheets may be provided at a cost
saving where sneets are packaged multiply rather than
individually. By providing a resealable package and
4 2039898
suitable cleaning fluids, the cleaning sheets may be used
and then reinserted into the package. Once reinsetted,
the used sheets are reimpregnated with cleaning fluids
from either or both a fluid bath within the package or
through volatili~ation of fluids from other sheets
remaining in the package. This reimpregnation of cleaning
fluid prevents the drying out of the sheets enabling
multiple use of each sheet. sy reusing each sheet and
eliminating the need for individual packaging there is
less waste both in terms of sheets thrown away and in the
required packaging. The reduction of waste material
results in decreased expense of production and a cost
saving for the operator.
Accordingly in one of its broad aspects this
invention provides for a kit for cleaning office equipment
rollers, comprising a non-metal first package forming a
barrier to substantial movement therethrough of vapor from
a cleaning fluid and having a resealable opening
therethrough into an interior portion thereof; and a
plurality of reusable cleaning sheets packaged within the
interior of said package and being in contact with the
cleaning fluid or its vapor.
Further objects and advantages of the invention
will appear from reading the following description taken
together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate
the invention and preferred embodiments of the invention.
203~8~
BRIFF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partially cut away pictorial view
of a kit for cleaning office equipment according to the
present invention;
Figùre 2 is a pictorial view of a kit for
cleaning office equipment according to the present
invention;
Figure 3 is a pictorial view of a preferred
single reusable cleaning sheet;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of office
equipment showing the sheet of Figure 2 inserted in the
equipment rollers.
DBTAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED E~BODI~ENTS
Reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2 which
show a preferred kit 10 for cleaning the rollers 42 of
office equipment 40 ~shown in Figure 4~. Several reusable
cleaning sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d are contained within an
outer package 14. Although four sheets are shown in
Figure 1, there may be a different number of sheets such
as six, or whatever the outer package 14 can reasonably
contain. A resealable opening 16 through package 14
provides access through the walls 20 of package 14 into
the interior 24 of the package 14 where the sheets 12 are
6 2~3~898
located. Preferably, the opening 16 is located at an edge
18 of the package 14.
Reusable sheets 12 are impregnated with an
amount of cleaning fluid 22 which facilitates the removal
of accumulated foreign debris from the rollers 42. An
impregnated sheet 12 means the sheet 12 may be coated
with, carry, or otherwise hold the cleaning fluid 22. An
example of a suitable cleaning fluid 22 comprises a
mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water, the mixture being
between 15 and 60% water, and preferrably 50% water.
Another example of a cleaning fluid 22 is methyl alcohol.
In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning fluid 22
also contains rubber rejuvinating fluid in some amount for
rejuvinating or preventing the cracking and hardening of
the rubber. Suitable rubber rejuvinating fluids include
chlorinated hydrocarbon mixtures. Examples of
commercially available rubber rejuvinating fluids are sold
in association with the trade marks Solvent Blend, Glaze
Remover, Platen Kleen, Rubber Rejuvinating and Quick Wash.
When the sheets 12 are within the interior 24 of
package 14, they are in contact with the cleaning fluid 22
or its vapor 23. The sheets 12 are in contact with the
cleaning fluid 22 by either, or both, being impregnated
with the cleaning fluid 22 or being within a bath 21 of
the cleaning fluid 22.
203~89~
The walls 20 and edges 18 of outer package 14
are formed such that package 14 forms a vapor barrier
preventing the substantial movement therethrough of vapor
23 from cleaning fluids 22 contained within package 14.
Outer package 14 may be, for example, a plastic which may
or may not include polyethylene, polyvinyl, or other
materials which are sufficiently impermeable to the
cleaning fluid 22.
When closed, resealable opening 16 forms a vapor
barrier preventing the loss of fluids or vapors from outer
package 14. Preferably, resealable opening 16 is formed
to resealably open along its length such that when opened
access to the interior 24 of outer package 14 is
enabled. In this manner, a single reusable sheet, such as
sheet 12a shown in Figure 3, may be removed for use in
cleaning the rollers 42 of office equipment 40. After
use, the sheet 12a may be reinserted into the package 14
or discarded. The resealable opening 16 is closed thereby
re-forming the vapor barrier preventing the loss of
cleaning fluids 22 through volatization. The resealable
opening 16 is formed to permit repeated opening and
resealing without loss of the vapor barrier. An example
of a resealable opening 16 would be a 2ip-Lock~ type
fastener.
8 203~898
Reusable sheets 12 are preferrably made of rc on
of sufficient rigidity to enable its movement over the
rollers 42 to be cleaned. Also, preferrably, sheets 12
are made from a felted rayon of a random mat as is solc as
non-woven substrate. Rayon is bio-degradable and,
therefore, is preferred over polyester, which function~ in
a suitable manner, but which is not bio-degradable. Ot-er
suitable materials may be used.
Sheets 12 are of sufficient thickness T so ac -o
be compressable. The thickness T of the reusable sheet 12
is preferrably about 1.5 mm. However, sheets 12 of a
lesser or greater thickness T are also possible and
thickness T will vary depending on the spacing of the
rollers 42 to be cleaned.
A preferred sheet 12a is shown in Fig. 3 having
a tab or carrying means 26 disposed along one edge 30.
Preferably the carrying means 26 is a tab 26 which is
formed to enable the sheets 12 to be removed from the
package 14 and carried with the operator contacting a
minimum of cleaning fluid 22 impregnating the sheet 12.
Preferably, tab 26 should be formed from of a material
which resists impregnation by the cleaning fluid 22, such
as plastic. Tab 26 is particularly suitable where the
fluids used in cleaning the rollers are injurious to hu~an
skin. However, the tab 18 may be formed from the same
2039898
material as and integral with the sheet 12. Preferably,
the sheet 12 with tab 26 is die-cut.
Reusable sheet 12 may also possess tapered edges
32,34 to facilitate insertion into the roller mechanism to
be cleaned.
As shown in Figure 1, the reusable sheets 12a,
12b, 12c, and 12d may be further contained in a sealed
inner second package 36 within package 14. The second or
inner package 36 further reduces the chance of loss of
cleaning fluid 22 through volatilization. Preferably,
inner package 36 is made from three-ply laminate plastic
material.
If a bath 21 of fluid 22 is used in the package
14, the amoun~ of cleaning fluid 22 is chosen so that
there is sufficient bath 21 of cleaning fluid 22 to
impregnate all of the reusable sheets 12 contained in the
kit 10. The quantity of fluid should be chosen so that a
minimum of excess cleaning fluid 22 remains on the feeding
rollers 42 after cleaning. The proper amount of cleaning
fluid 22 required may be easily determined by simple
experimentation by a person skilled in the art.
If there is no bath 21, and the sheets 12 have
been impregnated with cleaning fluid 22 prior to initial
deposit into the package 14, the amount of cleaning fluid
22 is chosen so that there is a sufficient amount of
2039g98
cleaning fluid 22 to impregnate all of the reusable sheets
12 contained in the kit 10. The quantity of fluid should
be chosen so that a minimum of excess cleaning fluid 22
remains on the fee~ing rollers 42 after cleaning. The
proper amount of cleaning fluid 22 required may be easily
determined by simple experimentation by a person skilled
in the art.
In use, the resealable opening 16 is opened
allowing access to the inner package 36 if there is one.
The inner package 36 is cut open allowing the operator to
grasp tab 26 and remove sheet 12a. The sheet 12a is
inserted into the piece of office equipment 40, so as to
make contact with the roller mechanism 42 of the office
equipment 40, in much the same way as a document is
inserted. The sheet 12a is then held in place by the
operator, preferably by the tab 26, for a period of time,
preferably three to five seconds, so as to allow the
roller mechanism 42 to rotate 360 so that the entire
surface 42A of the roller mechanism 40 is cleaned or
otherwise maintained. After passing through the office
equipment rollers 42, the operator returns sheet 12a to
the outer package 14, or the inner package 36, if there is
one, and resealable opening 16 is closed to re-form the
vapor barrier.
11 203~
Sheets 12 returned to the interior 24 of p-^~age
14 (or inner package 36 if there is one) are placed i~.
contact with the cleaning fluid 22 or its vapor 23, and
become reimpregnated with cleaning fluid 22 and can ~gain
be used to clean the rollers 42 of office equipment 4~.
It will be understood that, although vario~s
features of the invention have been described with res?ect
to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the
various features and embodiments of the invention ma~ be
combined or used in conjunction with other features and
embodiments of the invention as described and illustr~-ed
herein.
Although the disclosure describes and
illustrates certain preferred embodiments of the
invention, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to these particular embodiments. Rather, ~he
invention includes all embodiments which are functiona' or
mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and
features that have been described and illustrated here~n.
