Self cleaning apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237127-A1
Application number	US-202117235354-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2017
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for self-cleaning of a component in a machine, which includes at least one air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a surface of the component to be cleaned, such as a sensor surface or a gripper surface. The air nozzle is in air flow communication with air exhaust from an air cylinder of the component or a second component of the machine. Related, corresponding, or associated methods for self-cleaning the component in a machine are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for self-cleaning of a component in a machine, the apparatus comprising:
at least one air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a surface to be cleaned of the component of the machine, the at least one air nozzle configured to be in air flow communication with air exhaust from an air cylinder of the machine.

2 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the air cylinder actuates the component or a second component of the machine, wherein the air exhaust is waste air generated directly from the component or the second component of the machine.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:
an air tube with a first end configured to connect the at least one air nozzle to air exhaust from the air cylinder of the machine.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the air exhaust is waste air generated directly from the machine, and wherein the air exhaust enters the tube from the first component or a second component of the machine at a second end of the tube.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one air nozzle is in air flow communication with the air cylinder via one or more conduits, and additionally comprising a valve or splitter disposed in the air flow communication between the air cylinder and the at least one air nozzle.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of air nozzles each in air discharge communication with a surface to be cleaned and wherein each of the plurality of air nozzles is in air flow communication with air exhaust from a single air cylinder.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the component is a gripper, and the surface to be cleaned is a grip surface.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the air nozzle extends into and/or through the gripper to discharge air out a discharge opening in the grip surface to be cleaned.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface to be cleaned is either a photo eye lens or a photo eye sensor reflector.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the machine from which the air exhaust is obtained comprises a packaging processing machine and/or a gripper.

11 . An apparatus for self-cleaning of a gripper, the apparatus comprising:
an air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a gripper jaw surface to be cleaned, the at least one air nozzle in air flow communication with air exhaust from an air cylinder component of the gripper.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the air nozzle extends into and/or through the gripper jaw to discharge air out a discharge opening in a gripper jaw surface to be cleaned.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the air nozzle discharges air through the gripper jaw surface.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the gripper jaw surface comprises a textured grip surface on a gripper jaw, and additionally comprising:
an air tube with a first end connected to the air nozzle through a side of the gripper jaw opposite the grip surface, and a second end connected to the air exhaust from the air cylinder of the gripper.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the gripper includes two gripper jaws, each with a corresponding air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a corresponding textured grip surface.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 additionally comprising:
an air tube connecting the air exhaust from the air cylinder component to the corresponding air nozzle of each of the two gripper jaws.

17 . A method for self-cleaning a first component in a machine having an air source actuator cylinder powered by compressed air to move the first component or a second component of the machine, the method comprising:
generating a waste exhaust air from reciprocating the actuator cylinder during use of the first component or the second component of the machine; conveying the waste exhaust air from the actuator cylinder of the machine to at least one air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a surface to be cleaned of the first component, and applying the waste exhaust air onto the surface to be cleaned of the first component to remove debris from the surface.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the waste exhaust air is conveyed from the actuator cylinder to the at least one air nozzle via one or more conduits and with a valve disposed in the air flow communication between the actuator cylinder and the at least one air nozzle.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein waste exhaust air from a single actuator cylinder of a component of the machine is conveyed to a plurality of said air nozzles.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the first component is a gripper, and the surface is a grip surface of the gripper.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Merritt Brian
• Stripe Brett
• Shiflet Charles Bryan
• Beesley Robert C
• Nunn J Mark

Classifications

• B08B5/02 Primary

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• G03G21/0052 Primary

  using an air flow; Details thereof, e.g. nozzle structure · CPC title