Device for wiping removal of surface contamination

Abstract

Device for the wiping removal of surface contamination from smooth, at least in one dimension flat surfaces, in which at least one wiping or cleaning element (4) formed from a textile material or a polymeric foam is fastened to at least one end edge surface of at least one plate-shaped element (3) or at least one plate in such a way that it partially projects beyond the end edge surface of the at least one plate-shaped element (3) or the at least one plate and / or a wiping or cleaning element (4) formed by folding a textile material encloses the front edge surface and the respective front edge surface is inserted into a slot in the folded textile material formed during the folding and textile material or polymer foam of the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is attached to the plate-shaped element (3) or the plate, wherein the projecting and / or enclosing part of the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) can be brought into contact with a surface (1) in order to pick up substances or organisms located on the respective surface with the textile material in the course of a relative movement between the object surface (1) and the wiping or cleaning element (4) while simultaneously exerting a force acting perpendicular to the surface (1).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a device for the wiping removal of surface contaminants. The device can also be used for the wiping removal of analytical samples. It is intended for use on smooth surfaces that are flat in at least one dimension.

[0002] Many technical devices and components require occasional cleaning of their optically active surfaces to achieve, maintain, or restore their full functionality, such as the image sensors of digital cameras. Although the present invention is explained below using examples relating to the cleaning of digital camera sensors, it broadly relates to the fine and precision cleaning of smooth, technical surfaces in general. State of the art

[0003] To date, this cleaning task has mostly been solved by wiping with the aid of cleaning swabs, so-called "swabs," such as those sold by Photographic Solutions Inc., Orem, Utah, USA, or by Visible Dust Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The latter are described in more detail below as an example of the state of the art: Visible Dust's cleaning swabs consist of a molded plastic part with a triangular, flat head section, approximately 16 mm wide at its widest point, approximately 0.7 mm thick, and a 92 mm long handle suitable for manual guidance of the swab. The head section and handle are designed as a monolithic molded plastic part. The flat head section is made of a single layer of enveloping knitted fabric made of a staple yarn approximately 0.2 mm thick and with a stitch density of approximately 480 stitches per cm 2To enhance the intended cleaning effect of the part, the textile covering of the cleaning head should be soaked in a liquid solvent as directed, the presence of which must be ensured in a separate container before carrying out the cleaning work. Once prepared in this way, the cleaning swab is manually moved over the object surface to be cleaned, applying light pressure. In the process, some of the contaminants on the object surface are absorbed by the textile covering and remain there. If the desired degree of surface cleanliness cannot be achieved within a single cleaning procedure, the procedure can be repeated.

[0004] For example, DE 201 06 432 U1 and JP 2000-229 666 A disclose cleaning devices in which a floor cloth or a flexible sheet is placed around a plate-shaped element with which the actual cleaning process is to be achieved and is thereby fixed securely and non-slip to the plate-shaped element.

[0005] This also applies to the content of DE 10 2012 012 402 A1 and DE 74 04 617 U.

[0006] DE 20 2008 001507 U1 discloses textile materials suitable for cleaning purposes.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of creating a device that, compared to the prior art, offers higher cleaning efficiency, improved uptake of samples to be analyzed, and minimizes the release of particles and fiber fragments. Furthermore, it should be possible to manufacture it cost-effectively and flexibly to suit cleaning tasks. Furthermore, it should be possible to dispense with the need for additional elements, especially liquid cleaning agents such as flammable solvents.

[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are described in the subclaims.

[0009] The improvement of the state of the art by the present invention results from the following design features according to the invention: While in principle all embodiments of the device described therein can be provided with only a single wiping or cleaning element, the use with more than one wiping or cleaning element can be advantageous.

[0010] In a device according to the invention, at least one wiping or cleaning element is fastened to at least one end edge surface of at least one plate-shaped element or at least one plate in such a way that it partially projects beyond the end edge surface of the at least one plate-shaped element or of the at least one plate. The projecting part of the wiping or cleaning element(s) can thus be brought into contact with a surface in order to cause, in the course of a relative movement between the object surface and the wiping or cleaning element while simultaneously exerting a force acting perpendicular to the surface, the sustained deposition of organic or inorganic substances, microorganisms, endotoxins located on the surface intended for analysis or to the wiping or cleaning element(s) and thus to remain there.

[0011] Wiping or cleaning elements can be made of a polymeric microporous foam or, preferably, of a textile material.

[0012] At least one wiping or cleaning element can be designed to absorb and release a cleaning agent. It can, for example, be impregnated with a cleaning agent. A cleaning agent can be a solvent, a liquid, or a gel. However, an adhesive substance can also be applied to or incorporated into at least one wiping or cleaning element. An adhesive substance can merely wet the surface. However, it can also be absorbed by the material of a wiping or cleaning element, or this material can be impregnated with it, or be impregnated or wetted before use.

[0013] With a pre-soaked wiping or cleaning element, there is no need to carry additional cleaning agents or other designated substances in an external container.

[0014] Plate-shaped elements or plates can be used with various edge geometries. These can, for example, be polygonal in the shape of triangles, squares, hexagons, and polygons. Depending on the number of end edges, several wiping or cleaning elements can be arranged and attached to the respective end edges. Four end edges are advantageous for simple and cost-effective manufacturing.

[0015] Plate-shaped elements or plates should be several times longer than the length of a wiping or cleaning element, perpendicular to the direction of the front edge on which a respective wiping or cleaning element is arranged. This allows the device to be held securely between the user's fingers. They can have an effective width suitable for use in the range 2 mm to 120 mm. This width corresponds to the width that can be used to accommodate a wiping or cleaning element. A corresponding wiping or cleaning element attached to a plate-shaped element or plate should have the same width or a width that does not exceed a lateral overhang of a maximum of 2 mm on each side. Plate-shaped elements or plates should have a thickness in the range 0.5 mm to 6 mm. They can preferably be made of polypropylene.

[0016] Advantageously, front edge surfaces can also be adapted to the surface contour of the surfaces to be cleaned. For flat, planar surfaces, front edge surfaces should also form a flat, planar surface. However, adaptation to a surface contour, for example, a curved or arched surface contour of the surfaces to be cleaned, can also be considered.

[0017] On a plate-shaped element or a plate which is used for fixing at least one wiping or cleaning element, there can also be at least one recessed grip or an opening suitable for easier operation, into which, for example, the fingers of an operator's hand can be inserted, arranged on the edge or on the surface.

[0018] A plate-shaped element or plate should be made of plastic, metal, fiber, or another material with sufficient flexural rigidity to withstand the forces normally exerted during wiping cleaning operations or sample collection while maintaining the necessary dimensional stability of the device. The material should scatter or generate a low level of particles during use of the device, thus avoiding contamination of the surfaces to be cleaned with particles originating from the device.

[0019] The wiping or cleaning element(s) should be attached to a plate-shaped element or plate in such a way that both parts resting on the side surfaces of the respective plate-shaped element or plate have folded edges at their ends rather than cut edges. This can be achieved by appropriately folding the material in this area. This can prevent or hinder the scattering of particles from this area of ​​the material during use of the device.

[0020] The device should be decontaminated, gamma-irradiated, steam-sterilized, anti-endotoxin treated, or packaged in a foil package that is evaporation-proof or has a high barrier effect against the surrounding atmosphere, as appropriate.

[0021] A rectangular plate shape of the present invention, in comparison to an approximately semicircular or triangular shape of the cleaning head, enables the attachment of two to a maximum of four wiping or cleaning elements to a plate or a plate-shaped element, wherein at least one of the wiping or cleaning elements can already be impregnated with a solvent and a wiping or cleaning element can be arranged in a dry state on the opposite side. This makes it possible to use the side with the solvent-impregnated wiping or cleaning element to apply the solvent to the object surface in order to carry out a cleaning dry wipe with the wiping or cleaning element attached to the opposite side of the device after an appropriate contact time.

[0022] Multi-layer textile covers on a plate-shaped element or a plate can improve the adaptation of the wiping or cleaning element(s) to the micro-topography of the object surfaces and thus increase cleaning efficiency.

[0023] Wiping or cleaning elements made of knitted fabric with a density of more than 500, preferably more than 800 stitches per cm 2 , preferably more than 850 stitches per cm 2 Experience has shown that fibers formed from woven or microfiber nonwoven fabrics of a higher or higher fineness can achieve significantly higher cleaning efficiency with a favorable fiber or fibril arrangement. A microfiber nonwoven fabric or a microfilament nonwoven fabric should have a surface weight in the range of 30 g / m², whether woven or knitted. 2 up to 480 g / m 2 , preferably in the range 120 g / m 2 up to 200 g / m 2and have a linear density of 0.5 dTex to 1 dTex with a splitting ratio of at least 80% and be made of continuous microfilaments. Polyethylene terephthalate (60%) and polyamide (40%) are preferred for the filaments. Such a textile material is commercially available as a knitted fabric under the trade name "Microweb" from Clear & Clean Werk für Reintechnik GmbH.

[0024] With the mentioned or similar materials for plate-shaped elements or plates and wiping or cleaning elements, appropriately designed devices can be autoclaved, sterilized with gamma or beta radiation or washed at a sufficiently high temperature (> 90 °C) several times without adversely affecting their properties.

[0025] In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the front edge surface of a plate, which is arranged approximately plane-parallel to the object surface, can be used to exert homogeneous pressure on the multi-layered wiping or cleaning element. Here, the double- or multi-layered design of the wiping or cleaning element(s) improves the conformability of the wiping or cleaning element(s) to the microtopography of the object surfaces, thus increasing cleaning efficiency. Furthermore, the double- or multi-layered wiping or cleaning element, arranged between two plate-shaped elements or plates, can be used efficiently in both wiping directions.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wiping or cleaning element, or several wiping or cleaning elements, can consist of a microfiber needle felt block with a central slot approximately halfway along its length, a cleaning-effective foam block, optionally also made of PVA foam or a cleaning-effective flocked foam block, which is placed with the slotted opening over a plate-shaped element or a plate and secured in this position. This design allows for particularly time-saving assembly of the wiping or cleaning elements.

[0027] Packaging for the device in a solvent-soaked or partially soaked state makes it possible to avoid the need to carry additional solvent in vials when using the device.

[0028] Multi-layer folded textile materials used to form wiping or cleaning elements achieve a higher degree of suspension, which in turn enables greater adaptation of the respective wiping or cleaning element to the microtopography of the surface during the wiping or cleaning process and improved positioning of two of the four edges of the device. This also prevents potential particle scattering from an edge area of ​​a surface to be cleaned.

[0029] With a device according to the invention, particulate, microbial, amicrobial, and film-like contaminants can be removed from surfaces down to the nanometric size range. Surface deposits can also be collected for analytical purposes. These effects can be achieved in particular with the materials and material combinations mentioned. By designing the wiping or cleaning elements, particle and microbial scattering from the edge area toward the surface can be reduced by designing two of the four possible "scattering edges" of the cleaning element as folded edges.

[0030] Furthermore, the combination of textile material for wiping or cleaning elements made of a polymer with a polymer material for plate-shaped elements or plates enables continuous, endless production of the devices. For this purpose, the materials for the plate-shaped elements and the wiping or cleaning elements are each used as long strips, the length of which can be several hundred meters (100 m to 500 mm). Roll-to-roll processing of the two materials is particularly preferred for a preferably material-to-material bond.

[0031] The material connection can be particularly preferably produced by ultrasonic welding.

[0032] It is also preferred to feed the textile material in multiple layers by folding, and to insert the strip-like material, with which plate-like elements or plates are formed, with an end edge surface into a slot formed by the folding between the folds before the material-to-material connection is formed. The textile material thereby encompasses the respective end edge surface.

[0033] Subsequently, the devices according to the invention are separated from the long strip using a separation process. Individual devices can be provided in the desired, predefined width.

[0034] for the plate-shaped ones in such a way that a nonwoven fabric or a cleaning knit which is particularly suitable for cleaning.

[0035] Individual devices can preferably be separated into the desired, predefined width by oscillating punching, thus enabling continuous production even during separation. Advantageously, the punching blades can have a temperature that causes a locally defined melting of the material from which the wiping or cleaning elements are formed in the outer edge region, i.e., at the cut edge of the textile material. This can melt particles located on the edge surface of the device, thus reducing or preventing particle scattering from the remaining two side edges. The side edges of the wiping or cleaning element(s) can therefore be melted by heat input in such a way that particle escape into the environment can be prevented.

[0036] The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example: Showing: Fig. 1 shows an example of a device according to the invention in use; Fig. 2 shows an example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 3 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 4 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 5 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 6 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 7 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 8 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 9 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 10 and Fig. 10' the example after Fig. 9 in use; Fig. 11 shows a further example of a device according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 12 another example of a device according to the invention in a side view and Fig. 13 another example of a device according to the invention in a side view.

[0037] For the sake of simplicity, the device, in its basic form and its various embodiments according to the invention, is shown in several figures with only a single wiping or cleaning element. However, all embodiments of the invention can be provided with at least two wiping or cleaning elements, even of different types.

[0038] The Fig. Figure 1 shows how a wiping or cleaning element 4 can be attached to at least one end edge surface 2 of one or more rectangular plate-shaped elements or plates 3. During a relative movement between an object surface 1 and a wiping or cleaning element 4, with the simultaneous application of a force acting perpendicular to the object surface 1, contaminants 5 located on the surface 1 can be transferred to the wiping or cleaning element 4 and remain there.

[0039] Fig. Figure 2 shows a wiping or cleaning element 4 in which the wiping or cleaning element 4 is attached to a plate-shaped element 3, and a portion of the wiping or cleaning element 4 protrudes beyond a front edge surface of the plate-shaped element 3 while maintaining a projection beyond the edge. The wiping or cleaning element 4 can be attached to the plate-shaped element 3 on one side by means of a positive-locking stitch, a plastic weld, or an adhesive joining method, e.g., bonding. Attachment with an ultrasonic weld is preferred.

[0040] The Fig. 2' shows a wiping or cleaning element 4. It is folded longitudinally in the center to approximately half its height, forming a slit, while maintaining a projection beyond the edge of the plate-shaped element 3. A plate-shaped element 3 is inserted into the slit, so that the plate-shaped element 3 is encompassed by the wiping or cleaning element material in the region of the front edge. It can also be attached to the plate by sewing, welding, ultrasonic welding, or adhesive.

[0041] In the Fig. 3 to 5 also show multi-layered wiping or cleaning elements 4 with different numbers of layers.

[0042] A five-layer wiping or cleaning element 4 with a centrally offset arrangement, which is attached to a plate-shaped element 3.

[0043] The Fig. Figure 7 shows two-layer wiping or cleaning elements 4, which, when covering a large area, are fixed between two plate-shaped elements 3 and partially protrude beyond the outer end edges of the two plate-shaped elements 3. The layers of textile material are held between the two plate-shaped elements 3. A spacer for the plate-shaped elements 3 connects them to each other. The wiping or cleaning elements 4 can be attached to the plate-shaped elements 3 and / or the spacer 8, as already described.

[0044] With Fig. 8 illustrates a possibility with two-layered wiping or cleaning elements 4 with large-area coverage of plate-shaped elements 3 and insertion of central plates 7 to enlarge the active cleaning surfaces of the wiping or cleaning elements 4.

[0045] The Fig. Figure 9 shows a two-layered wiping or cleaning element 4, which is clamped between two plate-shaped elements 3, during use. A two-layered portion of the wiping or cleaning element 4 protrudes beyond the end edges of the plate-shaped elements 3 and is deformed for cleaning purposes. This deformation allows the material of the wiping or cleaning element 4 to adapt to the surface to be treated. Furthermore, the surface area in contact with the surface is thereby increased.

[0046] The Fig. 10 and Fig. 10' is the deformation of the outer part of a wiping or cleaning element 4 projecting beyond the front edge surfaces of plate-shaped elements 3 according to Fig. 9 when wiping in a certain direction and in the opposite direction.

[0047] The Fig. 11 shows a four-layer wiping or cleaning element 4 with a lateral arrangement of a slot to ensure a two-layer edge enclosure of a front edge surface of a plate-shaped element 3.

[0048] A four-layer wiping or cleaning element 4 with a single-layer end edge surface enclosure. However, the folding and fixing are carried out in such a way that the end edges of the inner layers extend beyond the end edge of the plate-shaped element 3, which is wrapped by the textile material of one layer of the wiping or cleaning element 4. This allows for increased cushioning in the edge area.

[0049] In Fig. 13 shows a two-layer wiping or cleaning element 4 with a single-layer front edge surface enclosure.

[0050] The following are examples of materials that can be used in the invention. However, these do not represent a definitive list of suitable materials.

[0051] Plate-shaped elements: Type: Priplak 0.7 mm thick, cut to size, manufacturer: Priplak SAS, Avenue de l'Europe, 60530 Neuilly en Thelle, France, textile wiping or cleaning elements (knitted fabric and fleece): raw material: type Microweb UD-G (EC), manufacturer Clear & Clean Werk für Reintechnik GmbH, Niels-Bohr-Ring 36, 23568 Lübeck, Germany. Textile wiping or cleaning elements (felt): Raw material: Needle felt - section of densely needled polyester microfibers, BWF Tec GmbH & Co KG, Wilhelm-Maybach-Str. 5, 95028 Hof-Gattendorf Flat bags made of aluminum composite film: large selection from “Long Life for Art” - Christoph Waller, Hauptstraße 47, D-79356 Eichstetten. Packaging seal seam: (Sealing temperature: 150 °C, sealing pressure: 5 bar, sealing time: 1 s) Sealing device 1: Wusing Type 300 AL, available from Christoph Waller, Hauptstraße 47, D-79356 Eichstetten. Sealing device 2: Type SGPE 20 with cold and hot track, Willy Kopp eK, Verpackungssysteme, Ulmer Strasse 51-53, D-73262 Reichenbach. Solvent: Methanol - chemical formula CH3OH - type "EMPARTA" Merck Darmstadt, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Thread (white) for creating the connecting seam between the plate and the wiping or cleaning element(s): 0.4 mm polyester sewing machine thread from the relevant sewing accessories trade.

Claims

[1] Device for wiping away surface contaminants from smooth surfaces that are flat in at least one dimension, wherein at least one wiping or cleaning element (4) made of a textile material or a polymeric foam is attached to at least one end face of at least one plate-shaped element (3) or at least one plate in such a way that it partially projects beyond the end face of the at least one plate-shaped element (3) or the at least one plate and / or a wiping or cleaning element (4) formed by folding a textile material encloses the end-edge surface and the respective end-edge surface is inserted into a slit formed in the folded textile material during folding and textile material or polymeric foam of the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is attached to the plate-shaped element (3) or the plate, wherein the protruding and / or enclosing part of the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) can be brought into contact with a surface (1) in order to pick up substances or organisms located on the respective surface with the textile material in the course of a relative movement between the object surface (1) and the wiping or cleaning element (4) while simultaneously exerting a force perpendicular to the surface (1). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one wiping or cleaning element (4) is designed to receive and release a cleaning agent, a solvent, a liquid, an adhesive substance or a gel. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that a plate-shaped element (3) or a plate consists of a plastic, a metal, a fibrous material or another material that scatters or generates particles to a small extent, the flexural stiffness of which is sufficiently dimensioned to withstand the forces normally exerted during wiping cleaning operations while maintaining the necessary dimensional stability of the device. [4] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is / are attached to a plate-shaped element (3) or a plate in such a way that both parts of it resting on the side surfaces of the respective plate-shaped element (3) or the respective plate have no cut edges but folded edges at their ends, so that a scattering of particles from this material area is prevented or hindered when the device is used. [5] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is made of a textile structure, for example a knitted or crocheted fabric, with a higher stitch count than 500 stitches per cm 2 , is formed from a fabric of comparable fineness or from a two-component microfiber nonwoven or microfilament nonwoven with a titer of 0.05 dTex to 1 dTex and a splitting degree greater than 80%. [6] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is / are attached to a plate-shaped element (3) or a plate in such a way that a small part of a wiping or cleaning element (4), approximately up to four times the thickness of a single plate-shaped element (3) or a single plate, extends beyond the edge of the plate. [7] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is / are arranged between two plate-shaped elements (3) or plates such that a further plate-shaped element (7) or a spacer (8) is arranged between the two plate-shaped elements (3) or plates such that an increase in the active usable area of ​​a respective wiping or cleaning element (4) and a projection of part of the respective wiping or cleaning element (4) beyond the edge of the front edge of the two plate-shaped elements (3) or plates is given. [8] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) is / are attached to at least one plate-shaped element (3) or plate by one or more stitched seams, plastic welds, ultrasonic welds or by adhesive joining. [9] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the device has been decontaminated, gamma-irradiated, steam-sterilized, subjected to anti-endotoxin treatment as required, and is packaged in a foil package that is evaporation-proof or has a high barrier effect against the surrounding atmosphere. [10] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a plate-shaped element (3) or a plate has a polygonal geometry. [11] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that an end face surface has a flat planar contour or a contour adapted to the surface to be cleaned, at least in the area in which a wiping or cleaning element (4) is arranged. [12] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the lateral edges of the wiping or cleaning element(s) (4) are melted by the input of heat in such a way that particle release into the environment is avoided or reduced.

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