Abstract: There is herein described an improved contact cleaning surface and an improved method for cleaning surfaces. More particularly, there is described a contact cleaning surface comprising a micro-structured surface adapted to collect and/or remove microscopically sized contaminating material from a contaminated surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to surface cleaning apparatus for removing contamination from sheet materials such as phototools and liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. The apparatus comprises a base unit having opposing walls for supporting a removable roller cartridge containing at least one cleaning roller and one adhesive roller. Progressive insertion of the roller cartridge into the base unit causes a camming mechanism provided on the base unit and the roller cartridge to interact so as to move the cleaning and adhesive rollers from a non-operatinig position in which the rollers are separated into an operating position in which the adhesive roller is brought into abutment with the cleaning roller. The apparatus is held in the operating position by a latching mechanism, for example, an electromagnet which may be selectively activated and deactivated simultaneously with activation and deactivation of a driving motor.