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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of disc cleaning machines, and
more specifically, to a machine adapted for removing undesirable material
from a magnetic disc surface without the need to remove the disc from its
associated cartridge.
2. Prior Art
The need for regular disc maintenance is widely recognized by data
processing users. One particular reason for such need relates to the fact
that the information stored on a typical magnetic disc is often times much
more valuable than the disc itself. For example, the loss of a single bit
of information can lead to a lengthy and expensive data reconstruction
process. Accordingly, in order to insure that no information is lost from
the disc, users of such discs have taken various measures such as air
filtration systems, sealed disc cartridge assemblies and the like in an
attempt to prevent contamination from accumulating on the magnetic disc
surfaces. Even with such measures, it has been found that there is still a
need to clean the disc as small particles of undesirable materials find
their way to the surface of the disc.
With this as a background, cleaning of the disc must be done in such a
manner that no possible damage occurs to the disc and thus to the
information disposed thereon. Prior art cleaning methods have been
somewhat at odds with maintaining the information on the disc. For
example, if too much force is applied to the disc, it could be scratched.
If a liquid is used, the disc may have to be removed from the cartridge
thus increasing the likelihood of damage to the disc. Of course, on the
other hand, unless the disc is properly cleaned, dust, dirt and other
undesirable material can build up on the disc which may prevent such disc
from functioning properly, and may in fact lead ultimately to the
destruction of the information on the disc.
While the need to maintain magnetic discs is recognized throughout the
industry, another major drawback has been the lack of a machine that is
truly cost effective. In the past, such machines were extremely complex,
and even those machines that were effective in the removal of undesirable
material such as dust, cigarette smoke, microscopic oil particles, oxide
redeposits, paper bits and the like, such machines were so expensive that
they were only used in specific situations.
It is also recognized in the art that after using the disc approximately 20
times, the disc should be cleaned in order to remove the build up of
undesirable material. The present invention enables the disc to be
repeatedly cleaned without damage to the magnetic disc. This is especially
important in view of the new advances associated with use of magnetic
discs. In the newer machines, the disc travels at an extremely high rate
of speed, 2400-2600 RPMs. The head moves at a distance of approximately 50
micro-inches from the surface of the disc. Under these conditions, a
particle of cigarette smoke which ranges in size of up to 200 micro-inches
can cause a crash as the head moves over the disc. Thus, there is a need
for a machine which is capable of removing such extremely fine particles.
Another problem associated with the failure of prior art machines to
properly clean the magnetic disc is the fact that a user may often run
long periods of time without experiencing a failure due to a contaminated
disc. As the disc begins to deteriorate, it experiences "track
reassignments"; a hardware and software method of bypassing bad spots. The
user whose disc has run out of alternate recording tracks, or where debris
build-up actually causes a head crash, risks the possibility of destroying
the disc and thus forever losing the information disposed thereon. The
present invention overcomes this problem by providing a machine which
substantially cleans the disc and prevents the above-identified
deterioration problems.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems associated
with the prior art magnetic disc cleaning machines, and provides a
magnetic disc cleaner which is cost effective and which is further capable
of removal of even microscopic particles from the disc. The present
invention also performs such cleaning in a manner so as to prevent any
possible damage to the disc and thus preserves the information disposed
thereon. Finally, the present invention, because of its specific
configuration, is adapted to clean the magnetic disc without removal of
the disc from the disc cartridge.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a machine used to clean magnetic discs,
and more specifically, to a machine which is adapted to clean a magnetic
disc without removal of the disc from its protective cartridge. To further
emphasize the value of such magnetic disc, a separate field of art has
been evolved which contemplates the construction of various magnetic disc
cartridge assemblies which are used to specifically position the magnetic
disc and which allow the information to be obtained from the disc without
removal of the disc from the cartridge. The present invention is thus
directed to a machine which enables the disc to be cleaned while in the
cartridge, but which effectively cleans the disc by removing various
contaminants therefrom.
The machine comprises a housing having a first reference surface for
receiving the magnetic disc cartridge and a turntable positioned adjacent
the first reference surface of the housing. The turntable is adapted to
selectively rotate the magnetic disc while in the magnetic disc cartridge.
A cleaning assembly is also disposed in the housing and includes at least
one arm member having an associated cleaning pad. Means for selectively
moving the arm member and associated cleaning pad across the disc are
disposed in the housing and are coupled to the assembly such that as the
cleaning assembly is moved across the disc, the cleaning pad engages the
surface of the disc and removes dirt, dust and other undesirable materials
therefrom.
It has been found that in order to fully and completely remove various
undesirable materials from the magnetic disc, it is beneficial if the pads
contain a cleaning liquid. Accordingly, a liquid supply system is also
disposed in the housing and is coupled to the cleaning assembly. The
liquid supply system supplies a predetermined amount of a cleaning liquid
to each of the cleaning pads whereby the cleaning action is substantially
increased.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the
invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together
with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood
from the following description considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the
invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration
and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the cleaning machine of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of FIG. 1, taken along lines 2--2 and showing the
interior of the cleaning machine;
FIG. 3 is a second cut-away view of FIG. 1 showing the cleaning pad
assembly engaging an associated magnetic disc;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the driving means used to
activate the cleaning pad assembly;
FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view showing the fine detail of the
cleaning pad assembly;
FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the cleaning pad assembly and liquid supply
system;
FIG. 7 is a cut-away view of the liquid reservoir which is coupled to the
liquid supply system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to FIG. 1, the magnetic disc cleaning machine is clearly
shown. The machine has a plastic housing 10 which has a first generally
flat surface 12 for receiving an associated magnetic disc cartridge 14.
The specific configuration of the magnetic cartridge 14 is not considered
within the scope of the present invention, and a variety of configurations
are well known in the art. In the particular embodiment shown, the
magnetic disc cartridge 14 has a generally cylindrical configuration with
the magnetic disc axially disposed therein. It should be noted that in a
typical magnetic disc cartridge 14, the magnetic disc is positioned in
such a manner that it is rotatable in the cartridge 14, but it is only
through a time consuming procedure that one could remove the magnetic disc
from the cartridge 14. Moreover, because the information on the disc is
usually extremely valuable, and further because handling of the disc is
likely to cause oils and other contaminants to be more readily disposed on
the disc, removal of the disc from the cartridge 14 is contraindicated.
Housing 10 has a generally inclined top panel 16 which surrounds the disc
receiving surface 12. Disposed adjacent one end of the top panel 16 is a
control panel 18. Control panel 18 is adapted to selectively activate the
cleaning action of the machine as hereinbelow described. In the same
general area as the control panel 18, is a liquid tank cap 20 which can be
removed such that a cleaning liquid can be disposed into an associated
supply reservoir in the housing 10.
Disposed adjacent the front of the housing 10 and extending into the
receiving surface 12 is a slot 22 which permits the user to easily insert
and remove the associated magnetic disc cartridge 14 from the machine.
Posts 24 and 24A are also disposed on the surface 12 which further help
position the magnetic disc cartridge 14. Finally, flexible arm members 28
extend out of an opening 26 located adjacent the rear of the surface 12.
Arm members 28 extend outwardly across the surface 12 and are configured
so as to locate the magnetic disc cartridge 14 and retain the same in a
secure position. As discussed hereinabove, because of the need to protect
the magnetic disc, the machine has the above referenced plurality of
positioning means which are very useful in order to insure that the machne
does not damage the magnetic disc. This manner of positioning the magnetic
disc cartridge 14, and thus the magnetic disc, represents a significant
improvement over prior art cleaning machines.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, one can see the general interior appearance
of the housing 10. FIG. 2 shows the magnetic disc 30 as being axially
rotatable and disposed within the magnetic disc cartridge 14. Such
magnetic disc 30 typically has a spool member 32 which is rotatably
positioned in the housing 10 such that an associated turntable 34 may
enter the cartridge 14 and engage the spool 32. In this manner, the disc
30 may be selectively rotated while the magnetic disc cartridge 14 remains
securely in position. This enables the disc 30 to be cleaned without the
need for removal of the same from the disc cartridge 14.
One can see in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the turntable 34 is positioned on a
rotatable spindle 36 which is coupled to shaft 37. Also shown in these
figures is a cleaning assembly generally referred to by numeral 38. In the
presently preferred embodiment, cleaning pad assembly 38 is comprised of
first and second arm members 40 which are positioned in a substantially
horizontal and in a face-to-face configuration. The cleaning pad assembly
38 further includes a support member 50 for positioning each of the arm
members 40 and, upon activation of the machine, moves the arm members 40
from a point generally within the housing to a point exterior thereof as
shown in FIG. 3. When in this latter configuration, the arm members 40
engage the disc 30 thereinbetween.
A further review of FIGS. 2 and 3 shows that the housing 10 has a mounting
panel 92 disposed therein which divides the housing 10 into a top section
94 and a bottom section 96. The above referenced cleaning pad assembly 38
is generally disposed in the top section 94 while the various means used
to drive the turntable 34 as well as the cleaning assembly 38 are disposed
in the bottom section 96.
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the cleaning pad assembly 38 is shown in
more detail. As discussed hereinabove, the cleaning pad assembly 38 is
comprised of first and second outwardly extending arm members 40 each of
which has a foam cleaning pad 42 coupled thereto. Foam pad 42 operates as
the scrubbing head or wiping head of the cleaning pad assembly 38. In the
preferred embodiment, pads 42 are manufactured of a sponge-like synthetic
material, such as polyurethane, which is sufficiently porous such that a
liquid is readily absorbed, and then released when squeezed. The foam pads
42 are coupled to a mounting plate 44 which has a plurality of holes 46
disposed along the length thereof. Holes 46 are arranged and configured
such that a liquid can readily flow through such holes 46 and be absorbed
by the foam pads 42. As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting plate 44 is
slideably inserted into the associated arm member 40 along slot 48. Slot
48 permits the mounting plate 44 and associated foam pad 42 to be easily
removable therefrom such that changing the foam pad 42 is easily achieved.
The arm members 40 are coupled to upright support member 50, and more
specifically are coupled to a cantilevered section 52 via pin members 54.
Pin Members 54 extend through the cantilevered section 52 and thereby join
the upper and lower arm members 40 together so to be in a substantially
parallel but spaced apart configuration.
Referring to FIG. 6, one can see that the foam pads 42 are of sufficient
thickness such that when the arm members 40 are coupled to the
cantilevered section 52, the foam pads 42 are in a touching relationship.
However, flexibility of the foam pad is selected such that the magnetic
disc 30 readily passes thereinbetween. The friction, however, created
during such action is sufficient to while not damage the disc 38, permits
the foam pads 42 to pick up dirt, dust and other undesirable materials.
Referring again to FIG. 5, one can see that the support 50 is disposed on a
first moveable plate 56 which is slideably disposed along a second
moveable plate 58. Plate 58 in turn is slideably disposed in a stationary
slotted plate 62. To encourage the movement of the first moveable plate 56
and the second moveable plate 58, the second moveable plate 58 has two
sets of bearings 60 along the each side thereof. Bearing 60 engage
opposite sides of first moveable plate 56.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, one can see that the support member 50 is
coupled to a pin member 64 which pin member 64 extends through an opening
84 in the mounting plate 92. Pin member 64 extends upward through a slot
66 which is disposed along the length of stationary plate 62. In this
manner, pin member 64 is selectively moveable along the length of plate
62. As shown specifically in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, a cover
plate 63 is coupled to the mounting plate 92 and has an opening 65 through
which the cleaning pad assembly 38 selectively enters and exits.
While it has been found that the cleaning pad assembly 38 and more
specifically, the foam pads 42, exhibit desirable cleaning action on an
associated magnetic disc 30 when the magnetic disc is selectively rotated
so as to pass between such foam pads 42, it has also been found that this
action alone can be significantly improved upon in terms of removing dirt,
dust and other undesirable material by the use of a cleaning liquid.
Accordingly, a liquid supply system 100 is also disposed in the housing 10
and is shown with respect to FIGS. 4-7. Referring first to FIG. 4, one can
see a mounting bracket 68 disposed generally behind the support member 50.
Such bracket 68 has a valve member 70 disposed therethrough which valve
member 70 is coupled to a reservoir tank 102 via a liquid supply conduit
72. In order to insure the proper feed of the cleaning liquid from the
tank 102 to the tank 70 and further to prevent possible flow problems, an
air conduit 74 is also joined to the valve 70 and to the tank 102.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, one can see that the support member 50
includes a feed opening 76 which is joined to a stem member 126 (see also
FIG. 3) which can be selectively inserted into the valve 70. In this
manner, liquid from within the valve 70 is allowed to flow outwardly
therefrom around stem 126 and through feed opening 76 along channel 77
where it is caused to flow through the various holes 46 disposed on the
mounting plate 44. In this manner, the cleaning liquid is permitted to
flow out to the cleaning pads 42 and hence, as described hereinbelow, is
used to help remove undesirable material from the magnetic disc 30. It is
noted that in the preferred embodiment only one channel 77 is disposed on
the upper arm member 40. While other configurations are of course within
the scope of this invention, it is found that the mere contact of the two
foam pads 42 is sufficient such that when the cleaning liquid is supplied
to the upper foam pad, excess liquid readily flows therethrough and is
absorbed by the lower foam pad.
Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 and 7, the liquid suply system 100 of
the present invention is shown to include reservoir tank 102 which has a
float member 104 disposed therein. Float member 104 is electrically
coupled to the display panel 18 such that the presence or absence of
liquid in the reservoir tank 102 is indicated on the control panel 18.
Axially disposed in the reservoir tank 102 is a liquid receiving and
filter section 108 which includes a port 110 and a screen 112. Further, a
washer 114 is disposed in the filter section 108 and in this manner a
specifically formulated cleaning liquid can be transferred into the
reservoir tank 102 from a sealed shipping bottle while effectively
preventing slight impurities and particulate matter from flowing to the
cleaning assembly 38. The need for this filtration system is recognized
when one considers the degree of care which must be exercised when
cleaning the magnetic disc 30 in view of the possible damage to the disc
and resulting loss of information which could occur. The reservoir tank
102 is coupled to the mounting plate 92 via bracket 106. Liquid supply
conduit 72 is joined to tank 102 by an opening 116 adjacent the bottom
thereof.
As shown in FIG. 6, a supply or metering tank 118 is disposed adjacent the
valve 70 and holds sufficient cleaning liquid such that a predetermined
amount of said cleaning liquid is permitted to flow into the cleaning pad
assembly 38 as hereinbelow described. FIG. 6 also shows the fine detail of
the valve assembly which includes a ball member 120, associated spring 122
and port 124. One can see that as the stem 126 is inserted into port 124,
the ball member 120 is pushed away from the port and liquid enters around
the stem 126 and ultimately flows on through channel 77 to the foam pads
42.
The tank 118 is configured to hold a specific amount of cleaning liquid and
forms part of a uniquely designed liquid metering system. Another part of
such system is valve 72a coupled to conduit 72. Valve 72a permits a slow
feeding of the cleaning liquid into tank 118 until it is full. When stem
126 enters the valve 70, only that liquid in tank 118 is caused to flow to
the foam pad 42. Because the flow rate through the valve 72a is so slow,
only extremely minor amounts of the liquid flows into the tank during the
time in which the stem 126 is in the valve 70. Of course, other liquid
metering systems are within the scope of the invention.
Another important aspect of the present invention is the fact that the
cleaning machine enables a specific rotational driving system to be used
such that the speed of rotation of the magnetic disc 30 governs the speed
the cleaning assembly 38 is advanced across disc 30. It has been found
that in this manner the necessary cleaning action can be achieved. This
unique driving system will now be discussed and reference is specifically
made to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in such figures, the pin member 64, which
is used to move the support 52, is coupled to a pulley 78 via linkage 82.
More specifically, the pin member 64 is coupled to one end of linkage 82
while the pulley 78 is coupled to the other end of linkage 82 via pin
member 80. Pin member 80 has first and second sections with the first
section joining the pulley 78 to the linkage 82 and with the second
section extending upwardly from the pulley 78. Pulley 78, in turn, is
driven by an associated belt 79 which is coupled to a first driving pulley
128. One can see that as pulley 78 is rotated, the linkage 82 causes the
support member 50 to move along stationary member 62.
In the preferred embodiment, a turntable pulley 132 shown in FIG. 4 is
coupled to the shaft 37 of the turntable 34 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Pulley
132 is rotated by belt 134 which is coupled to a second driving pulley
130. In order to maintain an accurate and stable rotation of the turntable
34, a bearing assembly 136 and bracket assembly 138 are coupled to plate
92.
Also shown in FIG. 4 is the fact that the pulley 78 includes an idler shaft
140 which is coupled to plate 92. This helps maintain the pulley 78 in a
predetermined position. A motor 142 having an associated rotatable shaft
is selectively joined to the first driving pulley 128 as well as the
second driving pulley 130. Motor 142, when activated selectively causes
the rotation of both pulley 128 and 130. In the preferred embodiment, such
motor 142 is 1 amp, 110 volt and operates at 60 cycles. Such
turntable-type motors are well known in the art, and will not be discussed
in detail herein. It is understood, however, that other means for moving
the turntable, and cleaning assembly 38 are within the scope of this
invention.
The operation of the above-described device will now be presented. When one
desires to clean a magnetic disc, the generally circular disc is typically
found inside an associated magnetic disc cartridge. Such discs and disc
cartridges are well known in the art and will not be discussed in detail
herein. However, as pointed out hereinabove, while such discs can be
removed from the associated disc cartridge, this would increase the
likelihood of damage to the disc, and would further increase the
probability that dirt, dust and other like matter would come in contact
with the disc. In addition, because of the critical need to preserve the
information on the disc, the disc cartridge is designed such that the disc
is not readily removable therefrom without substantial disassembly of the
cartridge. The present invention overcomes this problem of disassembly as
well as provides a machine which enables a cleaning of substantial amounts
of undesirable material from the disc without the need for touching the
disc with the hands. In fact, the only elements which touches the disc are
foam pads. Even then, the engaging action is specifically regulated and
controlled, and thus the necessary cleaning action is achieved without
damage to the disc.
As shown in FIG. 1, when one desires to clean the disc 30, the associated
magnetic disc cartridge 14 is merely slid into position on surface 12
which is configured to receive a plurality of different sized and shaped
magnetic disc cartridges. The cartridge 14 is positioned such that an
opening in the magnetic disc cartridge 14 is adjacent opening 26 in the
housing 10. Proper positioning of the magnetic disc cartridge 14 is
encouraged in view of mounting posts 24 and 24A as well as slot 22 which
enables one to grasp the otherwise clumsy magnetic disc cartridge 14. In
this manner, the disc cartridge 14 is positioned such that the arm members
28 extend over the cartridge 14 and hold it in a predetermined
configuration with the opening of the magnetic disc cartridge 14 adjacent
the opening 26 of the housing 10.
Reference is now directed to FIGS. 2 and 4 which show the means for
activating the machine. It should be noted that another desirable feature
of the present invention is that the machine is not activated until a disc
cartridge 14 is placed in the housing 10 and even then, further activation
is required by means of depressing one of the buttons on the control panel
18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, insertion of the cartridge 14 causes such
cartridge to engage moveable bracket 86. As bracket 86 is disposed in a
generally upward direction a first switch 88 is selectively activated.
Switch 88 is electrically coupled, in the preferred embodiment, to the
control panel 18 in such a manner that when cartridge 14 is inserted into
the housing 10 so as to cause bracket 86 to move upward, the control panel
18 is activated. In the preferred embodiment, such activation is indicated
on the panel by a light disposed within one or more of the button members.
It should be noted that even after the magnetic disc cartridge 14 is
inserted into the housing 10, the machine is not activated. Activation
only comes about when one of the buttons on the control panel 18 is
depressed. Such selective activation system thus enables a checking of the
proper insertion of the magnetic disc cartridge 14 so as to insure that
the magnetic disc 30, and more specifically, the spool 32 is axially
disposed on the spindle 36 of the turntable 34. When proper insertion and
alignment is achieved, a button on the control panel 18 may be depressed
thus activating the motor 142. Motor 142 drives working pulleys 128 and
130. Rotation of pulley 128 causes belt 79 to drive cleaning assembly
pulley 78.
Reference is now made to FIG. 2. In the initial or rest position, the
cleaning pad assembly 38 is disposed generally within the housing 10, and
more specifically within the top section 94 thereof. The support 50 of the
cleaning pad assembly 38 is joined to the pulley 78 via pin member 64 and
associated linkage 82. However, from the initial or rest position as shown
in FIG. 2, the support 50 is first caused to move towards the rear of the
housing 10 upon actuation of the motor 142 such that the stem 126 is
disposed into the valve 70 as shown in FIG. 6. In this manner, the
predetermined amount of cleaning liquid in the tank 118 is caused to flow
around the stem 126, through feed opening 76, along channel 77 and
ultimately through holes 46 to the foam pads 42.
As pulley 78 continues to rotate, the stem 126 will ultimately disengage
the valve 70 permitting ball member 120 to close off the port 124 in the
valve 70. During the rest of the cycle, cleaning liquid from reservoir
tank 103 flows into tank 118. Continued rotation of the pulley 78 causes
the cleaning pad assembly 38 to begin to exit out through opening 65 and
across plate 63. Ultimately, the cleaning pad assembly 38 begins to enter
into the magnetic disc cartridge 14 and engages the magnetic disc 30 as is
shown in FIG. 3. As the disc 30 continues to rotate, the cleaning action
of the foam pads 42 which are proceeding radially inward from a point
adjacent the rim of the disc 30, pick up particles of dust, dirt and even
microscopic particles of cigarette smoke and the like thus achieving a
complete cleaning action. In the preferred embodiment, the pads 42 travel
in a straight path from a point adjacent the rim of disc 30 inwardly.
Other methods of movements, such as a circular action, and the like are
also within the scope of this invention. The cleaning action of the pads
42 is due partially to the friction between the pads 42 and the magnetic
disc 30, and also because of the cleaning liquid which encourages the dirt
to be retained on the pads 42. Continued rotation of the pulley 78
eventially causes the cleaning pad assembly 38 to be moved back towards
the rear of the housing 10.
As shown in FIG. 5, movement of the assembly 38 in and out of the housing
10 is achieved by coupling the assembly 38 to pulley 78 by means of pin
member 64 and linkage 82. To help insure that the necessary smooth sliding
action of the pad assembly 38 is achieved, the assembly 38 is coupled to a
first moveable plate 56 on which support 50 is mounted. As the linkage 82
begins to rotate about pulley 78, pin 64 moves in a substantially linear
path along slot 66. Because pin 64 is coupled to support 50 and to plate
56, as pin 64 moves, so does support 50 and plate 56. Plate 56 is
encouraged to slide along second moveable plate 58 by means of bearings
60. As the pin member 64 proceeds along slot 66 in plate 62, both the
first moveable plate 56 as well as the second moveable plate 58 slide
along the length of stationary plate 62. This increased slideability of
the cleaning pad assembly 38 has been found to be particularly useful and
helps prevent sticking or other undesirable action which would impede the
necessary uniform motion of the assembly 38. In this manner, accurate
cleaning of the disc 30 is achieved.
Ultimately, the cleaning pad assembly 38 will again be moved towards the
rear of the housing 10 until it occupies its original position as shown in
FIG. 2. When moved into this position, the pin 80 on the pulley 78 has
rotated one complete rotation (360.degree.) and engages a second switch 90
which turns motor 142 into the off position. Movement of the cleaning pad
assembly 38 as well as the turntable 34 therefore stop. It shoud be noted
that in the first rest position, the stem 126 has not yet engaged the
valve 70 and thus no cleaning fluid is caused to flow into the pad 42
until the machine is fully activated.
While the disc cleaning machine of the present invention can work without
any cleaning fluid, it has been found that the use of a cleaning liquid
achieves superior cleaning in most cases. The present invention therefore
couples liquid supply system 100 to the cleaning pad assembly 38.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, one can see that when the stem 126 enters into
valve 70, the cleaning fluid flows from supply tank 118 to pads 42. In the
preferred embodiment, reservoir tank 102 holds sufficient cleaning liquid
for up to about 100 cleaning cycles. To insure a continuous flow of liquid
from reservoir tank 102 to supply tank 118, an air conduit 74 also joins
these two tanks together. It has also been found, given the need for
extremely clean conditions so as to minimize damage to the disc 30, that a
filter system in the tank 102 is beneficial. In the preferred embodiment,
a screen 112 of a small mesh size is disposed over the orifice of tank 102
so as to prevent small impurities from either clogging liquid conduit 72
or from finding their way to pads 42. Another desirable feature associated
with liquid supply system 100 is that it is electrically coupled to the
control panel 18. When float 104 goes below a predetermined level, such
information is transmitted to panel 18. The user can then easily remove
cap 20 and add more cleaning liquid to reservoir tank 102.
Finally, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the second driving pulley 130, which
is in axial alignment with the first driving pulley 128, is coupled to the
turntable pulley 132 via belt 134. In this manner, the rotation of the
turntable 34 is rendered directly related to the speed with which the
cleaning assembly 38 engages the magnetic disc 30. It has been found that
a preferred speed of three revolutions per minute of the disc 30 causes
the pad assembly 38 to move with sufficient speed but with the necessary
cleaning action to take place. Under this type of an arrangement, the
entire cleaning operation can be completed unattended in approximately
three minutes.
As shown with respect to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, the control
panel 18 includes three buttons, a first being a lighted "power" button
which would indicate that the cartridge 14 had caused bracket 86 to
activate switch 88, a second "add fluid" light which is electrically
coupled to the float 104 in the liquid supply system 100, and third
"process" button which can be selectively depressed so as to activate the
motor 142.
It should be understood that while the preferred example described
hereinabove deal with specific shapes, other configurations can be used,
using the same principals. It will therefore be apparent to one skilled in
the art that other changes and modifications can be made without departing
from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the claims
herein. For example, while in the preferred embodiment foam-type cleaning
pads 42 are used to engage the magnetic disc 30, other similarly shaped or
brustled type cleaning brushes can also be used. Moreover, while the
preferred embodiment shows the use of upper and lower arm members 40 each
having an associated foam pad 42, when it is desirable only to clean one
side of the disc 30, one of the arm members 40 can be easily removable
from the assembly 38. It is thus within the scope of the invention to use
the machine with only one such arm member. Finally, while the liquid
supply system as disclosed hereinabove is shown to be particularly adapted
for the use in this invention, other liquid supply systems for supplying
liquid to the cleaning pad assembly 38 are also within the scope of this
invention. Such liquid supply system could include the application of the
cleaning liquid directly to the assembly 38 by means of a detached system,
i.e. a bottle or the like.
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