Cleaning system and a method of cleaning

• US 6,663,719 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Maruyama, Tohru, Shinozaki, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, Gentle E.
• Application Number:
  US09/816,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20010035195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 134/1, 134/6, 134/7, 134/8, 134/9, 134/10, 134/27.1, 152/565.2, 399/343, 399/345
• US Class Current: 134/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/00 Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass

Abstract

A cleaning system and a cleaning method is provided with a cleaning medium comprising a magnetic substance and a magnetic field generating device for applying a magnetic force to the magnetic substance in the cleaning medium so that the magnetic substance and the area to be cleaned are rubbed together. The area to be cleaned is cleaned by the rubbing action of the cleaning medium. The interior of the cleaned object not reachable by hands or instruments can be easily cleaned with this device. The cleaning medium, made of a magnetic substance, is guided into the interior of the cleaned object. The magnetic field generating device generates a magnetic field in the cleaning medium and thereby applies a force to the magnetic substance. By rubbing the magnetic substance on the inner wall surface of the area to be clean, the object can be cleaned efficiently.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning an object to be cleaned by use of a cleaning system comprising the steps of:

generating a magnetic field in a cleaning medium having a part thereof composed of magnetic substance and guided onto the area to be cleaned of the object;

applying a magnetic force to said magnetic substance by the action of said generated magnetic field; and

rubbing against each other said magnetic substance and said area to be cleaned in order to clean said area to be cleaned with said cleaning medium,

wherein said area to be cleaned is located in an interior of the object.

2. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein at least a part of said magnetic substance is a magnetic fluid.

3. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein a polishing agent is contained in said cleaning medium in order to further effectively clean said cleaning position by the action of said magnetic force from said magnetic substance is employed.

4. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein said magnetic substance enclosed in an elastic covering material is employed.

5. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein the particle shape of at least a part of said magnetic substance is polygonal.

6. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein the respective particle sizes of said magnetic substance and said polishing agent are different.

7. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in one of claims 1 through 6,

wherein said cleaning operation is performed by successively changing at least either one of the strength and the direction of said magnetic field.

8. The method of cleansing the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 7,

wherein a successive flow of said cleaning medium to be directed in one direction is generated by successively changing at least one of said strength and direction of said magnetic field.

9. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 8,

wherein a rotative magnetic field is generated.

10. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 7,

wherein said magnetic field is an alternate magnetic field.

11. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein, after said cleaning operation, the magnetic field is generated having the intensity to the extent that the dirt stripped from said cleaned object by the operation of said cleaning is caused to float up on the upper surface of said cleaning medium.

12. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein said magnetic field performs said cleaning operation by changing successively said magnetic field mode exerted on the same position of said cleaned object by use of said magnetic field generating device.

13. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein, when at least one of the strength and the direction of said magnetic field generated for performing said cleaning operation is successively changed, the position excluding the position of said cleaned object cleaned with said cleaning medium is abrasively cleaned by said abrasive material which moves by utilizing as the drive source the magnetic force applied to the magnetic pole generating the magnetic field.

14. The method of cleaning the object to be cleaned as defined in claim 1,

wherein, after said cleaning operation, said cleaned object is flushed, and the remaining dirt is removed even after said cleaning operation.