Apparatus and method for cleaning a probe tip
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cleaning a part, comprising:
- a housing defining a cleaning chamber;
at least one nozzle adapted to direct a cleaning fluid onto at least a portion of the part disposed within said cleaning chamber;
a sensor adapted to detect a presence of the part and to generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a valve adapted to open in response to said control signal to deliver said cleaning fluid to said at least one nozzle and to dispense said cleaning fluid onto said at least a portion of the part.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from the probe tip of a coordinate measurement machine. The apparatus includes a cleaning chamber and a number of spray nozzles arranged to direct a cleaning solution onto the probe tip from multiple directions. The spray nozzles are adjustable to vary the distance between the head of each nozzle and the probe tip. A photoelectric sensor is provided to detect the presence of the probe tip within the cleaning chamber. A control valve is opened in response to detection of the probe tip to selectively deliver a cleaning fluid to the spray nozzles. A timer selectively controls the commencement and/or the duration of the spray cycle. The cleaning solution preferably comprises a mixture of compressed air and isopropyl alcohol, intermixed by a fluidic mixer. The mixer is preferably adjustable to regulate the amount of isopropyl alcohol intermixed with the compressed air.
22 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cleaning a part, comprising:
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a housing defining a cleaning chamber;
at least one nozzle adapted to direct a cleaning fluid onto at least a portion of the part disposed within said cleaning chamber;
a sensor adapted to detect a presence of the part and to generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a valve adapted to open in response to said control signal to deliver said cleaning fluid to said at least one nozzle and to dispense said cleaning fluid onto said at least a portion of the part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for cleaning a part, comprising:
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a housing defining a cleaning chamber;
a mixer adapted to intermix a cleaning agent with a compressed fluid to form a cleaning solution;
at least one nozzle arranged to direct said cleaning solution onto at least a portion of the part disposed within said cleaning chamber; and
a valve adapted to selectively deliver said cleaning solution to said at least one nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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26. An apparatus for cleaning a part, comprising:
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a housing defining cleaning chamber;
means for mixing a compressed fluid and a cleaning agent to form a cleaning solution;
means for sensing a presence of the part; and
means for spraying said cleaning solution onto at least a portion of the part disposed within said cleaning chamber, said means for spraying being activated in response to said presence of the part within said cleaning chamber.
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31. A method of cleaning the probe tip of a coordinate measuring machine, comprising:
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providing a housing defining cleaning chamber and at least one nozzle arranged to dispense a cleaning solution into said cleaning chamber;
positioning the probe tip within the cleaning chamber;
mixing a compressed fluid with a cleaning agent to form the cleaning solution;
detecting a presence of the probe tip within the cleaning chamber; and
dispensing the cleaning solution from the at least one nozzle and onto the probe tip in response to the detecting. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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36. A method of cleaning the probe tip of a coordinate measuring machine, comprising:
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providing a housing defining cleaning chamber, a cleaning agent contained within the cleaning chamber, and at least one nozzle adapted to dispense a fluid;
submerging the probe tip in the cleaning agent;
positioning the probe tip adjacent the at least one nozzle; and
dispensing the fluid from the at least one nozzle and onto the probe tip.
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Specification