Dry type cleaning case and dry type cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9358589-B2
Application number	US-201113878461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2011
Priority date	Nov 10, 2010
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A dry type cleaning case is for cleaning an object with a medium that flies by a revolving airflow. The dry type cleaning case includes a case unit and a leakage prevention unit. The case unit includes a space in which the medium flies, an opening that contacts the object so that the medium collides with the object, a ventilation path through which air flows into the space from outside, a suction opening that suctions the air that has been guided into the space through the ventilation path, to generate the revolving airflow in the space, and a porous unit through which a substance removed from the object is passed to the suction opening. The leakage prevention unit prevents the medium from leaking outside through the opening from the space, by causing outer air to flow in when the case unit is separated from the object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dry type cleaning case for cleaning a cleaning object by causing a cleaning medium to fly by a revolving airflow and applying the cleaning medium to the cleaning object, the dry type cleaning case comprising:
a case unit; and
a cleaning medium leakage prevention unit,
wherein the case unit includes
an inner space in which the cleaning medium flies,
an opening that contacts the cleaning object so that the cleaning medium collides with the cleaning object,
a ventilation path through which air flows into the inner space from outside,
a suction opening that suctions the air that has been guided into the inner space through the ventilation path, to generate the revolving airflow in the inner space, and
a porous unit through which a substance removed from the cleaning object is passed to the suction opening,

wherein the cleaning medium leakage prevention unit prevents the cleaning medium from leaking outside through the opening from the inner space, by causing outer air to flow in when the case unit is separated from the cleaning object, the cleaning medium leakage prevention unit is provided at the opening of the case unit,
wherein the cleaning medium leakage prevention unit includes
a tube that can expand and contract in a contact/separation direction, the contact/separation direction being a direction in which the case unit contacts with and separates from the cleaning object, and
a ventilation unit formed on side surfaces of the tube,

wherein when the tube contracts, the ventilation unit is closed.

2. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 1 , wherein the tube includes
a fixed tube that is fixed or latched to the case unit, and
a movable tube that is fit to the fixed tube so as to be movable in the contact/separation direction,
wherein the ventilation unit is formed on side surfaces of at least one of the fixed tube and the movable tube.

3. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 2 , wherein
the fixed tube and the movable tube constitute plural fitting bodies that turn in the contact/separation direction by using a common shaft as a pivot point, and
the plural fitting bodies form a fan shape when the tube is expanded.

4. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 2 , wherein
the cleaning medium leakage prevention unit further includes a biasing member that causes the movable tube to protrude in the contact/separation direction, when the case unit is not contacting the cleaning object.

5. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 2 , wherein
the movable tube protrudes in the contact/separation direction, by gravity.

6. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 1 , wherein
the tube has an accordion shape.

7. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 1 , wherein
the tube is made of a flexible member.

8. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 7 , wherein
the ventilation unit is constituted by plural outer air inflow holes, and
the plural outer air inflow holes are elongated holes in which a minor axis extends in the contact/separation direction.

9. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible member is made of at least one of a foam sponge, rubber, and foam urethane.

10. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a ventilation path closing unit that closes the ventilation path in coordination with an expanding movement of the tube, when the case unit is separated from the cleaning object.

11. The dry type cleaning case according to claim 10 , wherein
the ventilation path closing unit is supported on an outer surface of the case unit in a manner as to freely turn, wherein
the ventilation path closing unit includes
a lever that has one end contacting the tube and that moves according to an expanding/contracting movement of the tube, and
a cap member that is provided on another end of the lever and that closes the suction opening when the tube expands.

12. A dry type cleaning device comprising:
the dry type cleaning case according to claim 1 ;
the cleaning medium that is accommodated in the case unit or that is supplied to the case unit; and
a suction unit that is connected to the suction opening of the dry type cleaning case.

Assignees

• Fuchigami Akihiro
• Okamoto Yoichi
• Tsukahara Kohji
• Taneda Yuusuke
• Murata Shozo
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fuchigami Akihiro
• Okamoto Yoichi
• Tsukahara Kohji
• Taneda Yuusuke
• Murata Shozo

Classifications

• H10P50/00

  Etching of wafers, substrates or parts of devices · CPC title

• H05K3/0073

  Masks not provided for in groups H05K3/02 - H05K3/46, e.g. for photomechanical production of patterned surfaces · CPC title

• B08B7/02 Primary

  by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B24C1/04

  for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass · CPC title

• B08B5/04 Primary

  Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action · CPC title