APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING DEBRIS FROM A TARGET SURFACE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a roller, said roller having an exterior periphery, a hollow space defining an interior volume, and a slot between said interior volume and said exterior surface;
said roller having a longitudinal axis and at least one end cap generally orthogonal thereto;
said roller being able to receive a supply of sheet material disposed in said interior volume of said roller, said sheet material extending through said first slot to overlie said exterior periphery of said roller and wrap around said periphery to subtend at least 180°
thereof; and
reenter said interior volume through said slot to a collection;
whereby said sheet material can travel from said supply, around said subtended portion of said periphery and into said interior volume to said collection;
a partition juxtaposed with said slot and disposed within said interior volume, said partition being longitudinally oriented and dividing said interior volume into two chambers, a first chamber for containing a supply of sheet material and a second chamber for receiving a collection of sheet material, said partition having a width oriented generally radially to said end cap.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for removing debris from a target surface. The apparatus comprises a hollow roller with a supply roll and take-up roll axially rotatably disposed within the volume of the hollow roller. A sheet material, such as adhesive tape, extends from the supply roll through a slot, around the periphery of the roller at least 180°, back into the slot and onto be take-up roll. A partition separates the supply roll and take-up roll, reducing contamination of tape on the supply roll. An index mechanism may be provided to advance the tape one path length from the supply roll to take-up roll, the user does not overuse or underuse fresh tape.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
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a roller, said roller having an exterior periphery, a hollow space defining an interior volume, and a slot between said interior volume and said exterior surface;
said roller having a longitudinal axis and at least one end cap generally orthogonal thereto;said roller being able to receive a supply of sheet material disposed in said interior volume of said roller, said sheet material extending through said first slot to overlie said exterior periphery of said roller and wrap around said periphery to subtend at least 180°
thereof; and
reenter said interior volume through said slot to a collection;
whereby said sheet material can travel from said supply, around said subtended portion of said periphery and into said interior volume to said collection;a partition juxtaposed with said slot and disposed within said interior volume, said partition being longitudinally oriented and dividing said interior volume into two chambers, a first chamber for containing a supply of sheet material and a second chamber for receiving a collection of sheet material, said partition having a width oriented generally radially to said end cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
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a roller, said roller having an exterior surface, a hollow space defining an interior volume, and at least one slot for communication therebetween, said slot having two opposed edges, said edges being generally longitudinally oriented; an axially rotatable supply roll disposed in said interior volume, a take-up roll disposed within said interior volume and parallel to said longitudinal axis, a drive exterior to said roller and disposed longitudinally outboard of said slot and operably coupled to said take-up roll, wherein said take-up roll can receive material within the said internal volume and traveling from the exterior surface of said roller in response to advance of said drive and independently of axial rotation of said supply roll. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification