Triboelectric system

• US 6,550,639 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Iverson, Robert D., Brown, Colin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/729,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 221/135, 221/33, 221/45, 221/63, 221/303, 206/554, 206/494, 206/812, 15/15.1, 15/15.2, 152/08
• US Class Current: 221/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/40 Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/08 for dispensing thin flat articles in succession towel dispensers intended for re-use A47K10/24; dispensers for surgical scalpel blades A61B17/3215
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0817 the articles being automatically urged towards the dispensing aperture, e.g. spring-loaded B65D83/0823 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0894 the articles being positioned relative to one another or to the container in a special way, e.g. for facilitating dispensing, without additional support
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/00 Physical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. ultrasonic, corona discharge, irradiation, electric currents, or magnetic fields; Physical treatment combined with treatment with chemical compounds or elements

Abstract

Methods and systems for inducing an electric charge in a cleaning sheet for cleaning and removing particles from a surface are disclosed. The systems include a cleaning sheet for collecting and retaining the particles and a charging surface configured to frictionally engage the sheet. The cleaning sheets typically have a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m². The system may include a container for housing and dispensing the cleaning sheet. When the sheet is passed across the charging surface, the electrical charge in the sheet is generally increased by at least about 500 V. Methods of and kits for cleaning surfaces and collecting and retaining debris are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning and removing particles from a surface comprising:

a cleaning sheet for collecting and retaining the particles having a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m²;

a container for housing and dispensing the cleaning sheet, the container comprising at least one charging surface configured to frictionally engage the cleaning sheet;

wherein the cleaning sheet has a charge that is increased by at least about 500 V when the cleaning sheet is passed across the charging surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet comprises no more than about 5 weight % oil.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein a charge of at least about 1500 V is induced in the sheet when the cleaning sheet is dispensed through an outlet.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein a charge of at least about 1.0×

10<sup>−

11</sup> C/cm² is imparted to the cleaning sheet when the cleaning sheet is passed across the charging surface.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the cleaning sheet is capable of retaining a charge of at least about 1500 V for at least about 5 minutes at 10% relative humidity.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the cleaning sheet is capable of retaining a charge of at least about 1500 V for at least about 1 hour at 10% relative humidity.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet has a breaking strength of at least about 500 g/30 cm.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the charge in the cleaning sheet is increased by at least about 1000 V when the cleaning sheet is passed along the charging surface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet has an elongation of no more than about 25% at a load of about 500 g/30 mm.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet is configured to attract particles having a size less than about 10 microns in diameter.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet has a particle retention capacity of at least about 20 g/m².

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet comprises a plurality of fibers selected from the group comprising polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, polyolefin fibers, polystyrene fibers, polycarbonate fibers, rayon fibers, acrylic fibers, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the cleaning sheet further comprises a reinforcing scrim structure.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein at least two of the plurality of fibers are coupled to each other by at least one of hydroentanglement or air punching.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning sheet comprises an electret wax.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the first charging surface is selected from the group comprising wood, amber, sealing wax, hard rubber, sulfur, acetate, rayon, polyester, styrene, styrofoam, orlon, saran, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, PVC, silicon, Teflon and combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first charging surface is selected from the group comprising steel, nickel, copper, brass, silver, gold, platinum and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the container comprises a generally non-conducting material.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the container comprises a cardboard.

20. A system for inducing an electric charge in a cleaning sheet for cleaning and removing particles from a surface comprising:

a container having an interior receptacle configured for housing a plurality of cleaning sheets;

an outlet for dispensing at least one of the plurality of cleaning sheets, wherein the outlet includes a first charging surface and a second charging surface;

wherein the first and second charging surfaces are each configured to frictionally engage at least one of the plurality of the cleaning sheets as the cleaning sheet is dispensed through the outlet, thereby inducing an electrostatic charge in the cleaning sheet.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first charging surface is generally coplanar with the second charging surface.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the first charging surface includes a sheet of material generally parallel to a base of the container and the second charging surface includes a sheet of material generally parallel to the base of the container.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first charging surface further comprises a sheet of material generally perpendicular to the base of the container and the second charging surface includes a sheet of material generally perpendicular to the base of the container.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein at least one of the first and second charging surfaces are configured to induce a negative charge on the cleaning sheet.

25. A method of inducing an electric charge in a cleaning sheet for cleaning and removing particles from a surface comprising:

dispensing the cleaning sheet from a generally nonconductive container comprising a first charging surface such that frictionally engaging the cleaning sheet against the first charging surface induces an electrostatic charge of at least about 1000 V in the sheet;

wherein the cleaning sheet has a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m².

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the charge on the sheet is retained for at least about 5 minutes at a humidity of no more than 10% relative humidity.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the generally nonconductive container further comprises a second charging surface.

28. The method of claim 25 comprising engaging the cleaning sheet against the first charging surface and the second charging surface.

29. The method of claim 28 comprising sequentially engaging the cleaning sheet against the first and second charging surfaces.

30. The method of claim 28 comprising simultaneously engaging the cleaning sheet against the first and second charging surfaces.

31. A method of cleaning a surface comprising:

dispensing a cleaning sheet from a generally nonconductive container comprising at least one charging surface such that frictionally engaging the cleaning sheet against the first charging surface increases an electrostatic charge of the cleaning sheet by at least about 500 V; and

contacting the surface with the cleaning sheet;

wherein the cleaning sheet has a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m².

32. A kit for cleaning surfaces and collecting and retaining debris comprising:

a cleaning head;

a cleaning sheet adapted for coupling to the head; and

a container for housing and dispensing the cleaning sheet and having at least one charging surface configured to frictionally engage the cleaning sheet as the cleaning sheet is dispensed from the container;

wherein the charging surface is configured to induce a charge of at least about 1000 V in the cleaning sheet when the cleaning sheet is dispensed from the container.