System and method for cleaning an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017113254-A1
Application number	US-201415315883-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2014
Publication date	Apr 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system ( 10 ) for cleaning an object ( 12 ) includes a roll cleaner ( 14 ) having a rotatable elastomeric roll ( 20 ) with a cylindrical outer surface configured to contact the first surface of the object ( 12 ), a rotatable adhesive roll ( 22 ) with a cylindrical outer surface contacting a portion of the outer surface of the elastomeric roll ( 20 ), and a support ( 24 ). The object ( 12 ) passes between the elastomeric roll ( 20 ) and the support ( 24 ), which contacts a second, opposing object surface. An atmospheric plasma cleaner ( 16 ) includes a sealed chamber ( 32 ) and at least one electrode ( 34 ) disposed in the chamber ( 32 ) and receiving a high voltage to generate a plasma applied to the first object surface. At least a portion of an inlet of the plasma cleaner ( 16 ) is formed by the elastomeric roll ( 20 ) and the support ( 24 ), and the contacting of the first and second surfaces of the object ( 12 ) by the elastomeric roll ( 20 ) and the support ( 24 ) seals the inlet of the plasma cleaner ( 16 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for cleaning an object, the system comprising:
(a) a roll cleaner configured to remove inorganic contaminants from a first surface of the object, the roll cleaner including:
(i) at least one elastomeric roll rotatably mounted to the roll cleaner and having a generally cylindrical outer surface configured to contact the first surface of the object for removing the inorganic contaminants,
(ii) at least one adhesive roll rotatably mounted to the roll cleaner and having a generally cylindrical outer surface in contact with a portion of the outer surface of the at least one elastomeric roll, and
(iii) a first support, the object passing between the at least one elastomeric roll and the first support such that the first support is in contact with a second, opposing surface of the object; and
(b) an atmospheric plasma cleaner configured to remove organic contaminants from the first surface of the object, the plasma cleaner including:
(i) a sealed chamber having an inlet and an outlet for respectively receiving and discharging the object, and
(ii) at least one electrode disposed in the chamber and receiving a high voltage to generate a plasma applied to the first surface of the object,
wherein at least a portion of the inlet of the plasma cleaner is formed by the at least one elastomeric roll and the first support, and wherein the contacting of the first and second surfaces of the object by the elastomeric roll and the first support seals the inlet of the plasma cleaner.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first support is at least one process roll.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first support is two process rolls that are aligned with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of each of the two process rolls, the axis of rotation of each of the two process rolls being parallel to and offset by about 45° from an axis of rotation of the at least one elastomeric roll.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the outlet of the plasma cleaner is formed by an idler roll and one of the first support or a second support, the object passing between the idler roll and the one of the first support or the second support such that the idler roll contacts the first surface of the object and the one of the first support or the second support contacts the second surface of the object, and wherein the contacting of the first and second surfaces of the object by the idler roll and the one of the first support or the second support seals the outlet of the plasma cleaner.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the idler roll is oriented such that a rotation axis thereof is parallel to and offset by about 45° from the axis of rotation of each of the two process rolls.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomeric roll is a first elastomeric roll, and the first support includes a rotatable second elastomeric roll configured to remove inorganic contaminants from the second surface of the object.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a second rotatable adhesive roll in contact with the second elastomeric roll.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) a rotatable ground roll arranged in the chamber of the plasma cleaner and coupled to ground, the ground roll being in contact with the second surface of the object as the at least one electrode generates the plasma to clean the first surface of the object.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is made from one of a metal material or a ceramic material.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object is a continuous web.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber of the plasma cleaner is held at substantially atmospheric pressure.

12 . A method for cleaning an object, the method comprising:
(a) receiving the object in a roll cleaner, the roll cleaner including at least one rotatable elastomeric roll, at least one rotatable adhesive roll in contact therewith, and a first support; (b) contacting a first surface of the object with the at least one elastomeric roll to remove inorganic contaminants from the first surface of the object, and contacting the second surface of the object with the first support; (c) passing the object from the at least one elastomeric roll and the first support into a sealed chamber of an atmospheric plasma cleaner having at least one electrode disposed therein; and (d) applying a high voltage to the at least one electrode to generate a plasma that removes organic contaminants from the first surface of the object, wherein the contacting of the first and second surfaces of the object by the at least one elastomeric roll and the first support provides a seal for the chamber of the plasma cleaner.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
(e) following organic contaminant removal, contacting the first surface of the object with an idler roll and the second surface of the object with one of the first support or a second support to output the object and create a seal for the plasma chamber.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one elastomeric roll is a first elastomeric roll, and the first support includes a rotatable second elastomeric roll, the method further comprising:
(e) contacting the second surface of the object with the second elastomeric roll to remove inorganic contaminants from the second surface of the object.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasma cleaner has a rotatable ground roll arranged in the sealed chamber proximate the at least one electrode, the method further comprising:
(e) contacting the ground roll to the second surface of the object.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
(e) maintaining the sealed chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Wolf Rory A
• Mitchell Stephen Frank
• Hamilton Sheila

Classifications

• B08B7/0035 Primary

  by radiant energy, e.g. UV, laser, light beam or the like · CPC title

• B08B7/0028 Primary

  by adhesive surfaces · CPC title

• G02F1/133528

  Polarisers · CPC title

• B08B1/54

  using mechanical tools · CPC title

• B08B1/007

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic