Contact cleaning system, adhesive roller, and method of forming adhesive roller

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact cleaning system and an adhesive roller for a contact cleaning system. The adhesive roller comprises a roller core part and at least one adhesive sheet wound on the roller core part. The or each adhesive sheet includes a leading edge, where the leading edge of one or more of the at least one adhesive sheet includes an indicator, and / or the roller core includes an indicator. A method of forming an adhesive roller is also disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: providing an adhesive substrate material; cutting the adhesive substrate material at a cut line to provide an adhesive sheet; marking the cutting line of the adhesive sheet with an indicator; and winding the adhesive sheet around the roller core.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact cleaning system and a sticky roller for a contact cleaning system. A method of forming a sticky roller is also disclosed. Background Art

[0002] Contact cleaning is used to clean the surface of a substrate. Once cleaned, the substrate surface can be used for various complex processes, such as in the manufacture of electronic devices, photovoltaic devices, and flat panel displays. Generally, a rubber or elastomeric cleaning roller is used to remove dirt particles from the substrate surface, and then a sticky roller can be used to remove dirt particles or debris from the cleaning roller. This allows the efficiency of the cleaning roller in removing dirt particles from the substrate surface to be maximized.

[0003] In contact cleaning, the sticky roller typically includes a substrate material of a certain wound length or sheet length wrapped around a core. The substrate material includes a sticky side that can be used to remove or collect debris from the surface of the cleaning roller. A certain length of sticky material is substantially free of debris before cleaning and has a relatively high level of stickiness.

[0004] As the sticky roller removes debris, the debris covers the sticky surface area, and as the debris covers a greater proportion of the sticky surface area, the level of stickiness of the sticky material will become lower. Accordingly, the sticky material will lose its effectiveness. When the performance of the sticky material drops below a required threshold, the sticky material is exhausted and must be removed from the sticky roller.

[0005] To remove the exhausted sticky material from the sticky roller, a sticky sheet removal device must contact the end of the sticky material to lift the material from the sticky roller. Identification of the end of the sticky sheet can be done manually by inspecting the sticky roller and aligning the sticky sheet removal device with the end of the sticky sheet. Alternatively, identification of the end of the sticky sheet can be achieved by using an expensive optical system.

[0006] In some known examples, another sticky surface is used to contact and lift the used sticky sheet. However, a disadvantage of such a system is that this other sticky surface must contact the dirty sheet, which means that this other sticky surface itself is dirty and needs to be renewed or replaced. Such a system increases the undesired complexity and cost of the process of removing the exhausted sticky sheet.

[0007] An object of embodiments of the present invention is to at least mitigate one or more problems of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a sticky roller for use in a contact cleaning system, a contact cleaning system, and a method of manufacturing a sticky roller as claimed in the appended claims.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sticky roller used in a contact cleaning system, the sticky roller comprising:

[0010] a roller core part, and

[0011] at least one sticky sheet wound around the roller core part,

[0012] wherein the sticky sheet or each sticky sheet includes a leading edge, and wherein:

[0013] the leading edge of one or more of the at least one sticky sheet includes an indicator, and / or the roller core part includes an indicator.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sticky roller used in a contact cleaning system, the sticky roller comprising:

[0015] a roller core part, and

[0016] at least one sticky sheet wound around the roller core part,

[0017] wherein the sticky sheet or each sticky sheet includes a leading edge, and wherein the leading edge of one or more of the at least one sticky sheet includes an indicator.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sticky roller used in a contact cleaning system, the sticky roller comprising:

[0019] a roller core part, and

[0020] at least one sticky sheet wound around the roller core part,

[0021] wherein the sticky sheet or each sticky sheet includes a leading edge, and wherein the roller core part includes an indicator.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sticky roller used in a contact cleaning system, the sticky roller comprising:

[0023] a roller core part, and

[0024] at least one sticky sheet wound around the roller core part,

[0025] wherein the sticky sheet or each sticky sheet includes a leading edge,

[0026] wherein the leading edge of one or more of the at least one sticky sheet includes an indicator for identifying the leading edge, and

[0027] wherein the indicator is a fluorescent indicator or a phosphorescent indicator.

[0028] The indicator may be located at a predetermined circumferential position on the roll core portion. That is, the indicator may be located at a predetermined circumferential position on the outer surface of the roll core portion. For example, the indicator may be an indicator point on the outer surface, or an indicator line may be formed on the outer surface, wherein the indicator line extends in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the roll core portion.

[0029] The indicator may be located only at the leading edge. The indicator may be located only in the leading edge end portion of the adhesive sheet. That is, at least a portion of the adhesive sheet does not include the indicator. For example, the central portion between the leading edge end portion and the trailing edge end portion of the adhesive sheet does not include the indicator. Advantageously, this allows for accurate detection of the rotational position of the leading edge.

[0030] The indicator may form an indicator line extending in a direction parallel to the leading edge. The position of the indicator line may be adjacent to the leading edge. The indicator may alternatively be one or more indicator points with positions adjacent to the leading edge. Advantageously, this allows for accurate detection of the rotational position of the leading edge.

[0031] The indicator may be configured to emit light. The indicator may be detected by an optical sensor.

[0032] The indicator may be a fluorescent indicator, such as a fluorescent indicator including fluorescent ink.

[0033] The indicator may be a phosphorescent indicator, such as a phosphorescent indicator including phosphorescent ink.

[0034] The indicator may include an indelible indicator. Generally, the indelible indicator is visible in light having a wavelength in the range from 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers.

[0035] The leading edge of at least one adhesive sheet may include a leading edge portion, wherein the indicator extends at least along the leading edge portion.

[0036] The indicator may extend from the leading edge of at least one adhesive sheet to the roll core portion.

[0037] The adhesive roll may have a first end and an opposite second end. That is, the adhesive roll includes a first end and an opposite second end spaced apart along the rotation axis of the roll core portion. The indicator may extend radially from at least one adhesive sheet to the roll core portion at the first end and / or the second end.

[0038] At least one adhesive sheet of the adhesive roll may be a continuous adhesive sheet. The continuous adhesive sheet may be spirally wound around the roll core portion.

[0039] At least one adhesive sheet of the adhesive roll may be a plurality of adhesive sheets, wherein each adhesive sheet of the plurality of adhesive sheets includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. The plurality of adhesive sheets may be successively wound onto the roll core portion.

[0040] The leading edge can extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the adhesive roller or extend at an angle to the axis of rotation of the adhesive roller. The leading edge can be helically wound around the adhesive roller.

[0041] The leading edge can be cut at an angle (usually a non-vertical angle) with respect to a length of continuous adhesive sheet. That is, the leading edge can be cut at an angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate surface of the adhesive substrate material. The leading edge can be cut to have a tapered leading edge. In these ways, the leading edge forms a gradually sloping surface at the boundary of adjacent layers of the adhesive sheet. The outermost adhesive sheet has a continuous and smooth outer surface in the leading edge region, thereby maintaining effective contact between the adhesive roller and the contact cleaning roller during use.

[0042] The length of each of the plurality of adhesive sheets can substantially cover the length of the circumference of the roller core portion and / or be equal to the length of the inwardly adjacent adhesive sheet.

[0043] The length of each of the plurality of adhesive sheets can be greater than the circumference of the roller core portion. The length of each of the plurality of adhesive sheets can be greater than the length of the adjacent adhesive sheet (i.e., the inwardly adjacent adhesive sheet).

[0044] Each adhesive sheet can include an overlapping region in which the leading edge of each adhesive sheet overlaps the trailing edge of that adhesive sheet. In other words, the overlapping region provides a region in which the trailing edge and the leading edge of the corresponding adhesive sheet are placed on top of each other when wound around the roller core portion.

[0045] The adhesive substrate material can include a thermoplastic release layer. Each adhesive sheet can include a thermoplastic release layer. The thermoplastic release layer can be provided on the lower surface of the adhesive substrate material. That is, the adhesive substrate material includes an adhesive layer provided on the first surface of the adhesive substrate material and a thermoplastic release layer provided on the opposite second surface of the adhesive substrate material. In this way, when the adhesive sheet is wound onto the roller core portion, the thermoplastic release layer can be provided on the inward-facing surface of the adhesive sheet. When the adhesive sheet is exhausted, the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet can be easily removed from the roller core portion.

[0046] The thermoplastic release layer can include a polyethylene material.

[0047] The trailing edge can include an indicator. The trailing edge indicator can be the same as the leading edge indicator. The trailing edge indicator can be located only at the trailing edge.

[0048] The adhesive sheet or each adhesive sheet of the at least one adhesive sheet may have a width and the roll core portion may have a core width. The width of the adhesive sheet or each adhesive sheet may be substantially the same as the core width. The core width and / or the width of the at least one adhesive sheet may correspond to the axial length of the adhesive roll.

[0049] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contact cleaning system, the contact cleaning system comprising:

[0050] An adhesive roll as described herein;

[0051] A detector configured to detect the position of an indicator at the leading edge of at least one adhesive sheet; and

[0052] An adhesive sheet removal device configured to contact the leading edge of the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet and remove the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roll.

[0053] The detector may detect the rotational position of the indicator relative to the axis of rotation of the adhesive roll. The detector may include a rotary encoder disposed on the axis of rotation of the adhesive roll, preferably a digital rotary encoder. The rotary encoder may be configured to measure the rotational position of a continuous cut line formed on the adhesive roll. The rotational positions of successive leading edges are recorded by the rotary encoder of the detector. In this way, for example when cutting a first length of adhesive sheet from a continuous adhesive sheet, the detector records the rotational position of the second leading edge (i.e., the leading edge of the most recently cut line on the outer surface of the replenished adhesive roll). Then, when the outer surface is exhausted again, the contact cleaning system records the rotational position pointing to the most recently cut line to accurately bring the adhesive sheet removal device into contact with the second leading edge and start removing the second length of adhesive sheet. The second length may then be cut by another cut line, thereby creating a third leading edge, and the rotary encoder measures the rotational position of the third leading edge for later removal of the third length, and so on.

[0054] The indicator may be located only at the leading edge of the adhesive sheet to advantageously allow the detector to accurately detect the rotational position of the leading edge.

[0055] The detector may include a transmitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation towards the adhesive roll. The emitted electromagnetic radiation may cause a response of the indicator at the leading edge such that the indicator emits light. The emitted light may be phosphorescent or fluorescent.

[0056] The detector may further include an optical sensor configured to detect the light emitted from the indicator.

[0057] The adhesive sheet removal device can be configured to apply a vacuum to the leading edge of the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet so as to lift the leading edge of the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from one of the following: the roll core portion, or an adjacent layer of the at least one adhesive sheet. The leading edge lifted by the applied vacuum enables the adhesive sheet removal device to remove the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roll.

[0058] The adhesive sheet removal device can include a blade configured to cut the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roll at a cutting line.

[0059] The adhesive sheet removal device can further include an applicator configured to apply an indicator to the at least one adhesive sheet at the cutting line.

[0060] The detector can be operably connected to the adhesive roll and configured to selectively stop the rotation of the adhesive roll.

[0061] The contact cleaning system can further include a contact cleaning roll arranged to contact the adhesive roll in use.

[0062] The contact cleaning system can be configured such that the adhesive roll is movable relative to the contact cleaning roll. The adhesive roll can move from a contact position where the adhesive roll contacts the contact cleaning roll for removing debris, to a retracted position where the adhesive roll is spaced apart from the contact cleaning roll. In the retracted position, the adhesive roll is positioned to engage the adhesive sheet removal device to remove the adhesive sheet.

[0063] The contact cleaning system can include a pickup element. The pickup element can apply a vacuum to the leading edge using a series of vacuum holes configured to be aligned along the axial length of the adhesive roll. The pickup element can include a series of hollow elements arranged to be spaced apart along the axial length of the adhesive roll in use. The series of hollow elements can be spaced apart from each other along the axial length. In this way, the pickup element can be adapted to intermittently apply a vacuum along the leading edge. The applied vacuum is thus stronger in local regions along the leading edge.

[0064] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an adhesive roll for a contact cleaning system, the method comprising:

[0065] Providing an adhesive substrate material;

[0066] Cutting the adhesive substrate material at a cutting line to provide an adhesive sheet;

[0067] Marking the cutting line of the adhesive sheet with an indicator; and

[0068] Winding the adhesive sheet around a roll core portion.

[0069] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a sticky roller for a contact cleaning system, the method comprising:

[0070] providing a sticky substrate material;

[0071] cutting the sticky substrate material at a cutting line to provide a sticky sheet;

[0072] marking the cutting line of the sticky sheet with an indicator for identifying the leading edge of the sticky substrate material at the cutting line,

[0073] wherein the indicator is a fluorescent indicator or a phosphorescent indicator; and

[0074] winding the sticky sheet around a roller core portion.

[0075] According to the method, the indicator can be a fluorescent indicator, for example, the fluorescent indicator includes fluorescent ink, or the indicator can be a phosphorescent indicator, for example, the phosphorescent indicator includes phosphorescent ink.

[0076] The cutting line can be marked before, during or after cutting the sticky substrate material. The rotational position of the cutting line on the sticky roller can be measured by a detector, for example, measured using a rotary encoder.

[0077] Advantages provided by some embodiments are that the end (i.e., the leading edge) of the sticky sheet is easily and quickly identified. In particular, the rotational position of the leading edge relative to the roller core portion is easily marked for identification. The identification of the rotational position of the leading edge is automatic, such that the contact cleaning system identifies the leading edge without unnecessary downtime. Manual inspection of the sticky sheet is no longer required.

[0078] Some embodiments ensure that the exhausted sticky sheet is removed from the sticky roller in a shorter time, thereby increasing the operating efficiency of the contact cleaning system. The sticky roller having the exhausted sticky sheet is rotationally aligned to coordinate with the sticky sheet removal device. The downtime of the contact cleaning system is reduced.

[0079] Some embodiments enable the leading edge to be lifted from the sticky roller without the risk of damaging the underlying sticky sheet.

[0080] Some embodiments provide a simple and convenient method of marking the leading edge of the sticky sheet. The leading edge can be marked before installing the sticky roller, thereby reducing the cost of the contact cleaning system. The leading edge can be marked whenever the exhausted sticky sheet is removed, thereby increasing the reliability of the sticky sheet removal device.

[0081] Certain embodiments are easily fixed to the waste roll once removed from the sticky roll. In particular, the inventors advantageously utilize a thermoplastic release layer to further provide a thermal bond between the waste roll and any received sticky sheet wound around the waste roll.

[0082] Within the scope of the present application, it is expressly intended that the various different aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set forth in the foregoing paragraphs, claims, and / or the following description and drawings, particularly their independent features, can be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless the features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or to file any new claim accordingly, including the right to modify any originally filed claim to be dependent on any other claim and / or to incorporate any feature of any other claim, even though the claim was not originally presented in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0084] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an example contact cleaning system including a sticky sheet removal device is shown;

[0085] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an example sticky roll having a plurality of sticky sheets is shown;

[0086] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another example sticky roll having a continuous sticky sheet is shown; and

[0087] Figures 4A to 4G Certain steps of removing a sticky sheet from the sticky roll of the contact cleaning system using an example sticky sheet removal device are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0088] Certain terms used in the following description are for convenience only and are not restrictive. The words "inner", "inwardly", "outer", and "outwardly" refer respectively to directions toward and away from the designated center line or geometric center (e.g., central axis) of the described element, the specific meaning being apparent from the context of the specification.

[0089] Further, as used herein, the terms "connected" and "mounted" are intended to include both a direct connection between two members without any other member intervening therebetween and an indirect connection between the members with one or more other members intervening therebetween. The terms include the specifically mentioned words above, their derivatives, and words of similar meaning.

[0090] Further, unless otherwise specified, the use of ordinal adjectives such as "first", "second", and "third" merely indicates different instances of like objects being referred to and is not intended to mean that the objects so described must be in a given order, whether in time, space, rank, or in any other way.

[0091] Like reference numerals are always used to depict like features.

[0092] Now referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a contact cleaning system 100 having a sticky roller 102 which includes a sticky sheet 104 wound around a core portion of the roller. The sticky sheet 104 includes a leading edge 106 having indicia.

[0093] The sticky roller 102 is mounted for use in the contact cleaning system 100 to engage in contact with a contact cleaning roller 130 for removing debris from a substrate surface 132. The sticky roller 102 and the contact cleaning roller 130 are mounted to rotate in contact with each other. The outermost sticky sheet 104 contacts the outer surface of the contact cleaning roller 130 to remove debris collected from the substrate surface 132 from the outer surface.

[0094] The sticky roller 102 may include a continuous sticky sheet, as described below with reference to Figure 2 Alternatively, the sticky roller may include a plurality of sticky sheets, such as described below with reference to Figure 3 .

[0095] Regardless of whether the sticky roller 102 includes a continuous sticky sheet and / or a plurality of sticky sheets, the sticky roller 102 is substantially cylindrical. The sticky sheet on the core portion or each sticky sheet has a width corresponding to the axial length of the sticky roller 102. Further, the leading edge 106 extends or is cut to extend substantially the axial length of the sticky roller 102, which axial length is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the sticky roller 102.

[0096] In an additional example, not shown, the leading edge may extend in other directions parallel to the axis of rotation, such as diagonally across the axial length of the sticky roller. For example, the leading edge may be helically wound around the sticky roller.

[0097] In another example, the leading edge may be cut at an angle to provide a tapered leading edge. The leading edge cut at an angle forms a gradually sloping surface at the boundary between layers of the sticky sheet.

[0098] The contact cleaning system 100 includes a sticky sheet removal device 110 for removing the outermost layer of the sticky sheet 104 from the sticky roller 102, for example when the sticky sheet 104 is exhausted. The sticky sheet removal device 110 includes a waste roller 120 and a pickup element 112.

[0099] The pick-up element 112 is pivotable relative to the sticky roller 102. The pick-up element 112 can pivot from a pick-up position, in which the pick-up element 112 is oriented towards the sticky roller 102 for lifting the leading edge 106 of the outermost layer of the sticky sheet 104, to a transfer position, in which the hollow element 114 is oriented towards the waste roller 120 to transfer the leading edge 106 onto the waste roller 120.

[0100] The pick-up element 112 can also pivot to a stowed position, in which the pick-up element 112 is disengaged from the sticky roller 102 and the waste roller 120.

[0101] The pick-up element 112 is operatively connected to a vacuum source (not shown) so as to apply a vacuum to the sticky roller 102. The pick-up element 112 is configured to transmit the vacuum applied from the vacuum source to the sticky roller 102. In particular, the pick-up element 112 includes a hollow element 114 that is configured to direct the applied vacuum from the pick-up element 112 towards the sticky roller 102.

[0102] The hollow element 114 is operatively connected to the vacuum source via the pick-up element 112. Suitably, the hollow element 114 is an elongate channel having a length that is substantially as long as the axial length of the sticky roller 102. In this way, when the pick-up element 112 is oriented in the pick-up position, a vacuum is applied along the entire leading edge 106 of the outermost layer of the sticky sheet 104.

[0103] In a further example, the pick-up element can use a series of vacuum cavities configured to align along the axial length of the sticky roller to apply a vacuum to the leading edge. For example, the vacuum source can include a series of hollow elements that are arranged to be spaced apart along the axial length of the sticky roller in use. The series of hollow elements can be spaced apart from each other along the axial length. In this way, the pick-up element can be adapted to apply a vacuum intermittently along the leading edge. The applied vacuum is thus stronger in the local regions along the leading edge.

[0104] The pick-up element 112 transmits the applied vacuum to apply a shearing force to the leading edge 106 of the outermost sticky sheet on the sticky roller 102, thereby lifting the leading edge 106 off the sticky roller 102. A vacuum is applied to the leading edge 106 of the outermost layer of at least one sticky sheet 104 so as to lift the leading edge 106 off the underlying sticky sheet 104 or the roller core 108. That is, the applied vacuum lifts the leading edge 106 off one of the following: an inwardly adjacent layer of at least one sticky sheet 104, or the roller core 108.

[0105] Once the pick-up element 112 has lifted the leading edge 106, the leading edge 106 of at least one adhesive sheet 104 is transferred to the waste roll 120. The waste roll 120 is rotatable relative to the adhesive sheet removal device 110. The waste roll 120 is positioned within the adhesive sheet removal device 110 to cooperate with the pick-up element 112 to transfer the leading edge 106 and the adhesive sheet 104 to the waste roll 120, as described in more detail with reference to Figures 4A to 4G as explained.

[0106] The contact cleaning system 100 includes a detector, in this example an optical detector 116. The optical detector 116 is positioned within the contact cleaning system 100 to monitor the outermost adhesive sheet 104 of the adhesive roll 102. In particular, the optical detector 116 is positioned to monitor the outermost adhesive sheet 104 when the adhesive roll 102 is in the retracted position, as explained in the following reference Figure 4B as explained.

[0107] The optical detector 116 is configured to detect the position of an indicator at the leading edge 106 of the adhesive sheet 104. That is, the optical detector 116 is configured to detect the indicator and thereby detect the rotational position of the leading edge 106 about the axis of rotation of the adhesive roll 102.

[0108] The optical detector 116 includes a transmitter and an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to detect light emitted from an indicator on the adhesive roll 102. The transmitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation towards the adhesive roll 102. The emitted radiation causes a response in the indicator such that the indicator emits light, which is detected by the optical sensor. For example, in response to the electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter, the indicator can fluoresce or phosphoresce depending on the choice of indicator. The optical sensor is thus selected to detect the associated fluorescence or phosphorescence produced by the indicator.

[0109] The optical detector 116 is oriented to detect when the leading edge 106 is oriented (i.e., rotationally oriented) to engage with the pick-up element 112 of the adhesive sheet removal device 110 for removal from the adhesive roll 102. In this way, the adhesive roll 102 can be rotated until the optical detector 116 detects that the leading edge 106 has reached a predetermined orientation, at which point the optical detector 116 causes the adhesive roll 102 to stop rotating. The optical detector 116 thus ensures that the adhesive roll 102 stops at an optimal position for the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104 to be engaged by the pick-up element 112. Preferably, the optimal position corresponds to the pick-up position of the pick-up element 112, thus facilitating removal from the adhesive roll 102.

[0110] The adhesive sheet removal device 110 further includes a heating element 124 and a pressure element 122, which are arranged to operate together with the waste roll 120. The heating element 124 and the pressure element 122 process the adhesive sheet 104 received by the waste roll 120 when removing the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104. The exhausted adhesive sheet 104 is thereby fixed to the waste roll 120.

[0111] The pressure element 122 is configured to apply pressure to the received adhesive sheet 104' when the received adhesive sheet 104' contacts the waste roll 120. The applied pressure causes the adhesive sheet 104 to adhere to the waste roll 120. The heating element 124 applies heat to the received adhesive sheet 104' when the received adhesive sheet 104' contacts the waste roll 120. The applied heat causes the received adhesive sheet 104' to adhere to the waste roll 120.

[0112] In the illustrated example, the pressure element 122 is arranged proximal to the heating element 124 such that the exhausted adhesive sheet 104 that has been removed from the adhesive roll 102 is heated and pressed against the waste roll 120 when it contacts the waste roll 120. In particular, when the exhausted adhesive sheet includes a thermoplastic release layer, the heat and / or pressure applied by the heating element and the pressure element softens the material of the thermoplastic release layer, thereby causing flow. Due to the flow of the thermoplastic release layer, the received adhesive sheet 104' binds to the waste roll 120. By thermally bonding the thermoplastic release layer, the received adhesive sheet 104' is fixed to the waste roll 120. Thus, in use, the thermoplastic release layer is typically sandwiched between the waste roll 120 and the outer layer of the received adhesive sheet 104' and is heated by the heating element 124. Then pressure is applied to cause the thermoplastic release layer to bind to the waste roll 120. Then the heated area is cooled before the pressure is released, creating a bond between the received adhesive sheet 104' and the waste roll 120.

[0113] In other configurations, depending on the characteristics of the adhesive sheet 104 required, the adhesive sheet removal device 110 can be provided with only a pressure element, only a heating element, or any suitable combination of a pressure element and a heating element to fix the received adhesive sheet 104' to the waste roll 120 installed in the contact cleaning system.

[0114] Optionally, the adhesive sheet removal device can include a cutting element, such as a blade. The cutting element can be configured to cut the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet from the adhesive roll at a cutting line, typically a continuous adhesive sheet. The cutting element cuts the adhesive sheet from the rest of the adhesive roll wound around the core portion. The adhesive sheet removal device can be configured to cut the adhesive sheet once the adhesive sheet removal device has removed a certain length (typically corresponding to the circumference of the adhesive roll) of the adhesive sheet.

[0115] Optionally, the adhesive sheet removal device may include an applicator. The applicator may be configured to apply an indicator to at least one adhesive sheet at a cutting line. In this way, the leading edge of the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet is marked for detection by a detector. The applicator may apply the indicator after the previous outermost layer of the adhesive sheet has been removed from the adhesive roller by the adhesive sheet removal device (usually immediately after this).

[0116] Now referring to Figure 2 , an adhesive roller 202 having a plurality of adhesive sheets is shown. The plurality of adhesive sheets are sequentially wound around a roller core portion 208 to form a series of adhesive sheets 204 for replenishing the adhesive roller 202 in use.

[0117] Each of the plurality of adhesive sheets 204 includes a leading edge 206 and a trailing edge 207. Preferably, the trailing edge 207 of one layer of the adhesive sheets 204 abuts the leading edge 206 of the same adhesive sheet 204. That is, each adhesive sheet 204 forms a continuous layer on the adhesive roller 202 such that the leading edge 206 and the trailing edge 207 of any particular adhesive sheet 204 intersect each other. Generally, there is an overlap region where the leading edge 206 of each adhesive sheet 204 overlaps the trailing edge 207 of that adhesive sheet 204.

[0118] In this way, the length of the innermost adhesive sheet 204 among the plurality of adhesive sheets substantially covers the circumference of the roller core portion 208. Each successive adhesive sheet 204 has a length that substantially covers the length of the inwardly adjacent adhesive sheet. In other words, the length of each adhesive sheet 204 among the plurality of adhesive sheets is greater than the circumference of the roller core portion and / or the length of the inwardly adjacent adhesive sheet.

[0119] Each leading edge 206 includes an indicator 209a, such as a phosphorescent indicator or a fluorescent indicator. Each trailing edge 207 includes an indicator 209b, such as a phosphorescent indicator or a fluorescent indicator. The indicator 209a of the leading edge 206 is the same as the indicator 209b of the trailing edge 207. Optionally, the corresponding indicators of the leading edge 206 and the trailing edge 207 may be different from each other.

[0120] Figure 2 The adhesive roller 202 shown in[[]] may be formed according to the following method. In a first step, an adhesive substrate material is provided. The adhesive substrate material is suitable for removing debris from a contact cleaning roller. Generally, the adhesive substrate material has a width corresponding to the axial length of the roller core portion on which the adhesive roller will be formed.

[0121] In a subsequent step, the adhesive substrate material is cut at a cutting line to provide an adhesive sheet. The adhesive sheet has a length corresponding to the circumference of the roller core portion. The cutting line forms the trailing edge of the adhesive sheet cut from the adhesive substrate material. The cutting line also forms the leading edge of the successive adhesive sheets cut from the remaining adhesive substrate material.

[0122] In another step, the cutting lines of the adhesive sheet are marked with indicators. In this way, in a single operation, the trailing edge of the first adhesive sheet and the leading edge of the successive adhesive sheets are each marked with an indicator.

[0123] In a final step, the adhesive sheet is wound around the core portion of the roller. A sticky roller having an adhesive sheet as described herein is formed.

[0124] In use, the sticky roller 202 is arranged in a contact cleaning system to remove debris from the contact cleaning roller. The contact cleaning system can be the above-described contact cleaning system 100. When the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 204 is exhausted, the detector of the contact cleaning system detects the indicator at the leading edge and the outermost layer removed by the adhesive sheet removing device 110. Thus, a fresh outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 204 is exposed to continue removing debris from the contact cleaning roller.

[0125] Now referring to Figure 3 , a sticky roller 302 having an adhesive sheet 304 is shown, wherein the adhesive sheet 304 is a continuous adhesive sheet.

[0126] The adhesive sheet 304 of the sticky roller 302 is wound around the core portion 308 of the roller several times. The length of the adhesive sheet 304 corresponds to a plurality of circumferences of the core portion 308.

[0127] The sticky roller 302 is formed with a trailing edge 307 of the adhesive sheet 304 in direct contact with the core portion 308 and a leading edge 306 exposed at the end of the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 304. The leading edge 306 includes an indicator 309a, such as a phosphorescent indicator or a fluorescent indicator.

[0128] In use, the sticky roller 302 is arranged in a contact cleaning system to remove debris from the contact cleaning roller. The contact cleaning system can be the above-described contact cleaning system 100, including a cutting element and an applicator. When the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 304 is exhausted, the detector of the contact cleaning system detects the indicator 309a at the leading edge 306, and a certain length of the adhesive sheet 304 corresponding to the circumference of the outermost layer is removed by the adhesive sheet removing device 110. The cutting element cuts the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 304 at the cutting line. The applicator applies an indicator to the cutting line. When the leading edge of the adhesive sheet is used to remove the cut length of the adhesive sheet, a new outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 304 is exposed to continue removing debris from the contact cleaning roller.

[0129] Referring to Figures 2 to 3, the indicators 209a, 309a are only located at the leading edges 206, 306 of the adhesive sheets 204, 304. The second optional indicators 209b, 309b are only located at the trailing edges 207, 307 of the adhesive sheets 204, 304. There are no indicators in the central portions of the adhesive sheets 204, 304 between the leading edge end portions and the trailing edge end portions of the adhesive sheets 204, 304. The indicators 209a, 309a form indicator lines extending in a direction parallel to the leading edges 206, 306. The indicator lines 209a, 309a are directly adjacent to the leading edges 206, 306. Similarly, the second optional indicator 209b forms an indicator line extending in a direction parallel to the trailing edge 207. The indicator line 209b is directly adjacent to the trailing edge 207. An optional indicator identical to the indicator 209b in Figure 2 may also be provided at the trailing edge 307 of the adhesive sheet 304. The indicators 209a, 309a allow the optical detector 116 ( Figure 1 shown therein) to accurately detect the rotational position of the leading edges 206, 306.

[0130] Now referring to Figures 4A to 4G , a process of the adhesive sheet removal device 110 of the contact cleaning system 100 removing the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104 is shown.

[0131] Turning to Figure 4A , a contact cleaning system 100 is shown cleaning a substrate surface 132 during use. The contact cleaning roller 130 actively removes debris from the substrate surface 132, and the adhesive roller 102 is in contact engagement with the contact cleaning roller 130 to remove debris from the contact cleaning roller 130. The adhesive roller 102 is in a contact position relative to the contact cleaning roller 130. The adhesive sheet removal device 110 is not in use.

[0132] The contact cleaning roller 130 continues to remove debris from the substrate surface 132 until the performance of the adhesive roller 102 drops below a required adhesion threshold. Once the performance drops below the threshold, the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104 on the adhesive roller 102 is exhausted and must be removed from the adhesive roller 102.

[0133] Turning to Figure 4B , a contact cleaning system 100 is shown in an initial stage for removing the outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104. By moving the adhesive roller axis away from the contact cleaning roller 130, the adhesive roller 102 is disengaged from the contact cleaning roller 130. The adhesive roller 102 is thus moved to a retracted position for operable engagement with the adhesive sheet removal device 110.

[0134] Inside the adhesive sheet removal device 110, the optical detector 116 is activated to detect the position of the leading edge 106 of the outermost adhesive sheet 104. The pick-up element 112 is positioned in a retracted position.

[0135] The sticky roller 102 continues to rotate until the optical detector 116 detects that the leading edge 106 is in the optimal position for transfer. The sticky roller 102 stops at this optimal position.

[0136] Go to Figure 4C , showing the contact cleaning system 100, where the sticky sheet removal device 110 engages the sticky roller 102 at the optimal position. The pickup element 112 pivots to the pickup position such that the hollow element 114 points towards the leading edge 106.

[0137] Once in the pickup position, the pickup element 112 applies a vacuum to the leading edge 106, thereby lifting the leading edge 106 of the outermost sticky sheet 104 (i.e., the used sticky sheet 104) from the sticky roller 102.

[0138] Go to Figure 4D , the pickup element 112 is shown pivoted to the transfer position. The pickup element 112 is oriented towards the waste roller 120. The waste roller 120 is stationary.

[0139] As the pickup element 112 pivots from the pickup position to the transfer position, the leading edge 106 is held against the hollow element 114 by the applied vacuum. In this way, the leading edge 106 is transferred from the sticky roller 102 to the waste roller 120. Consequently, the subsequent portion of the exhausted sticky sheet 104 is also lifted from 102 and pushed towards the waste roller 120.

[0140] The leading edge 106 engages the waste roller 120, and the waste roller 120 starts to rotate. As the waste roller 120 rotates, the pickup element 112 stops applying the vacuum, thereby releasing the leading edge 106 from the hollow element 114. The rotating waste roller 120 engages the leading edge 106 such that the leading edge 106 rotates with the waste roller 120. The rotation of the waste roller 120 starts to transfer the outermost layer of the sticky sheet 104 to the waste roller 120.

[0141] Go to Figure 4E , showing the waste roller 120 shortly after starting to rotate. The leading edge 106 portion of the exhausted sticky sheet 104 is partially wound around the waste roller 120 and extends beyond the pressure element 122. Consequently, the pressure element 122 has applied pressure to the received sticky sheet 104, causing the sticky sheet 104 to adhere to the waste roller 120.

[0142] Thereafter, the waste roller 120 continues to rotate, thereby further winding the leading edge 106 around the waste roller 120. The rotation of the waste roller 120 unwinds the exhausted sticky sheet 104 from the sticky roller 102 and winds the same layer of the sticky sheet onto the waste roller 120.

[0143] In the example shown, the adhesive roller 102 is an adhesive roller 102 having a plurality of adhesive sheets, such as the adhesive roller 202 described with reference to Figure 2 The adhesive sheet 104 is unwound from the adhesive roller 102 until its trailing edge 107 is lifted from the adhesive roller 102. The waste roller 120 continues to rotate until the trailing edge 107 is received on the waste roller 120.

[0144] Go to Figure 4F , a contact cleaning system 100 is shown, in which the received adhesive sheet 104' is wound around the waste roller 120. The adhesive roller 102 has a new outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104, where the new adhesive layer can be used to engage the contact cleaning roller 130 and restart removing debris. The adhesive roller 102 is replenished.

[0145] The pick-up element 112 returns to its stowed position in the adhesive sheet removal device 110.

[0146] Go to Figure 4G , a contact cleaning system 100 is shown, in which the adhesive roller 102 is moved back to the contact position, at which the adhesive roller 102 is in contact engagement with the contact cleaning roller 130 and removes debris from the contact cleaning roller 130 during use.

[0147] The adhesive sheet removal device 110 remains operative to process the received adhesive sheet 104'. Accordingly, the waste roller 120 continues to rotate such that the pressure element 122 applies pressure to the received adhesive sheet 104'. In addition, the heating element 124 is energized to apply heat to the received adhesive sheet 104 in addition to the pressure applied by the pressure element 122.

[0148] After an appropriate period of time (such as a period in the range of 5 seconds to 10 seconds), the received adhesive sheet 104' adheres sufficiently to the waste roller 120. The pressure element 122 and the heating element 124 are deactivated, and the rotation of the waste roller 120 stops. Accordingly, the adhesive sheet removal device 110 is in a standby state to remove the next adhesive sheet 104 from the adhesive roller 102 when the cleaning performance of the adhesive roller drops below a predetermined threshold.

[0149] Optionally, Figures 4A to 4G the process of the contact cleaning system 100 shown in Figure 3is carried out as described). To accommodate this, the adhesive sheet removal device can include a cutting element and an applicator as described herein. In this way, the adhesive sheet removal device is configured to cut a continuous adhesive sheet after transferring a length of the adhesive sheet sufficient to expose a new outermost layer of the adhesive sheet onto a waste roll. The transfer length of the adhesive sheet 104 is sufficient to expose a new outermost layer of the adhesive sheet 104. The adhesive roller is replenished.

[0150] The adhesive sheet removal device is also configured to apply an indicator to the leading edge of the new outermost layer for detection by a detector.

[0151] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above detailed examples have been described by way of example only and without any limiting sense, and that various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Various modifications to the above detailed examples are possible.

[0152] In the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprising" and "containing" and their variants mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other parts, additives, components, wholes or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the singular encompasses the plural. In particular, in the case of using an indefinite article, unless the context requires otherwise, this specification should be understood to contemplate both the plural and the singular forms.

[0153] Features, wholes, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in connection with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention should be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein, unless incompatible therewith. All features disclosed in this specification (including any appended claims, abstract and drawings) and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, except combinations in which at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not limited to the details of any of the foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed in this specification (including any appended claims, abstract or drawings), or to any novel step or any novel combination of steps in any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A sticky roller for use in a contact cleaning system, the sticky roller comprising: Roller core, and at least one adhesive sheet, the at least one adhesive sheet being wound on the roll core, wherein the or each adhesive sheet comprises a leading edge, and wherein: The leading edge of one or more of the at least one adhesive sheet comprises an indicator, and / or The roller core includes an indicator.

2. The adhesive roller according to claim 1, wherein: The indicator is a fluorescent indicator, for example a fluorescent indicator comprising fluorescent ink.

3. The adhesive roller according to claim 1, wherein The indicator is a phosphorescent indicator, for example a phosphorescent indicator comprising phosphorescent ink.

4. The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The at least one adhesive sheet is a continuous adhesive sheet.

5. The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The at least one adhesive sheet is a plurality of adhesive sheets, and wherein each adhesive sheet of the plurality of adhesive sheets comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge.

6. The adhesive roller according to claim 5, wherein: Each of the plurality of adhesive sheets has a length that substantially covers a circumference of the roller core and / or a length of an inwardly adjacent adhesive sheet.

7. The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The at least one adhesive sheet includes a thermoplastic release layer.

8. The adhesive roller according to claim 6, wherein: The length of each of the plurality of adhesive sheets is greater than the circumference of the roller core and / or the length of the adjacent adhesive sheets, so that there is an overlapping area where the leading edge of each adhesive sheet overlaps the trailing edge of the adhesive sheet.

9. The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein The trailing edge includes an indicator.

10. The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The or each adhesive sheet of the at least one adhesive sheet has a width, the roller core has a width, and wherein the width of the or each adhesive sheet is substantially the same as the width of the roller core.

11. A contact cleaning system comprising: The adhesive roller according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a detector configured to detect a position of the indicator at a leading edge of the at least one adhesive sheet; as well as An adhesive sheet removing device is configured to contact a leading edge of an outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet and remove the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roller.

12. The contact cleaning system according to claim 11, wherein: The detector comprises: an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the adhesive roller to induce a response in the indicator such that the indicator emits light; and An optical sensor is configured to detect light emitted from the indicator.

13. A contact cleaning system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein: The adhesive sheet removal device is configured to apply a vacuum to the leading edge of the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet so as to lift the leading edge of the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from one of the adjacent layers of the at least one adhesive sheet or the roller core and remove the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roller.

14. The contact cleaning system of claim 13, wherein: The adhesive sheet removal device comprises: a blade configured to cut the outermost layer of the at least one adhesive sheet from the adhesive roller at a cut line, and An applicator is configured to apply an indicator to the at least one adhesive sheet at the cut line.

15. A method of manufacturing a sticky roller for a contact cleaning system, the method comprising: providing an adhesive backing material; cutting the adhesive backing material at a cut line to provide an adhesive sheet; marking the cut line of the adhesive sheet with an indicator; as well as The adhesive sheet is wrapped around a roll core.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The indicator is a fluorescent indicator, for example a fluorescent indicator comprising fluorescent ink.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The indicator is a phosphorescent indicator, for example a phosphorescent indicator comprising phosphorescent ink.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein: The cut line is marked before, during or after cutting the adhesive backing material.

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