Abstract: A cleaning device for removing a deposit adhering to an object to be cleaned is disclosed. The cleaning device includes a cleaning chamber forming a space for housing multiple cleaning media shaped like flakes; a circulating air-flow generating unit configured to generate a circulating air flow to cause the cleaning media to fly and repeatedly collide with the object in the cleaning chamber and thereby to remove the deposit adhering to the object; and a cleaning medium recycling unit configured to suction and remove the deposit adhering to the cleaning media that have collided with the object and thereby to recycle the cleaning media. The pencil hardness of the cleaning media is greater than the pencil hardness of the deposit.

Abstract: A dry type cleaning technology is disclosed. Dust adhering to a cleaning object is removed with a cleaning medium caused to flow by a high-speed airflow. The removed dust is separated from the cleaning medium with a porous member including holes through which air, dust, and granular material can pass but the cleaning medium cannot pass. An area on the porous member where air is received to cause the cleaning medium to flow and an area on the porous member where air is received to suction the dust separated from the cleaning medium are switched.

Abstract: A cleaning medium flies with an air current in a cleaning tank to collide with an object to be cleaned so as to remove an extraneous substance attached to the object. The cleaning medium includes an outer surface that comes into contact with the object and an inner surface that remains out of contact with the object. The cleaning medium is flexible and formed in a shape that allows the air current to flow from the outside onto the inner surface of the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A cleaning device (1) performs a cleaning of an article by blowing a cleaning medium (5) by an air stream onto the article (4). The cleaning device (1) includes a cleaning tank (6) that forms a space for the cleaning medium (5) to be blown, which includes an opening; a holding unit (3) that holds the article (4) at the opening; a pool member (19) that is arranged on an outer edge of the opening with a clearance between the pool member (19) and the article (4); and a cleaning-medium collecting unit (8) that brings the cleaning medium (5) leaked out of the outer edge and accumulated in the clearance back into the cleaning tank (6).

Abstract: A cleaning method for cleaning a powder container by introducing a cleaning medium into the powder container from a first opening part of the powder container for attaching powder in the powder container to the cleaning medium and discharging the cleaning medium together with the powder from a second opening part situated opposite from the first opening part is disclosed. The method includes a step of releasing the cleaning medium from a position higher than the first opening part of the powder container.

Abstract: A dry cleaning apparatus which causes cleaning agent to fly in a gas current to impact an object to be cleaned so as to remove extraneous substance attached to the object includes a cleaning tank defining an interior space for accommodating the cleaning agent and the object with the attached extraneous substance, an inflow unit configured to guide a gas current into the cleaning tank through an inlet, an aspiration unit configured to discharge gas from the cleaning tank through an aspiration opening, and a separation unit disposed between the interior space of the cleaning tank and both the inflow unit and the aspiration unit, the separation unit having openings that allow the gas and the extraneous substance to pass through but do not allow the cleaning agent to pass through, wherein the inlet, the aspiration opening, and the separation unit are configured such that relative motion is created between the separation unit and both the inlet and the aspiration opening.

Abstract: A circulation-air generating unit directly generates circulation air that flows along a surface of a cleaning tank. The circulation air is applied to cleaning medium accumulated on the cleaning tank from a direction orthogonal to a direction of face of the cleaning medium to deliver and flow up the cleaning medium. The cleaning medium is flown up inside the cleaning tank by the force of the circulation air. The cleaning medium flowing inside the cleaning tank collides with a cleaning target object by high-velocity air supplied from a cleaning-medium accelerating unit to remove dust on the cleaning target object.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning an object to be cleaned by allowing a cleaning medium caused to fly by an air flow to collide with the object to be cleaned is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning tank in which the cleaning medium is caused to fly by the air flow and which has an opening to allow the object to be cleaned to pass through; a cleaning medium accelerating part provided at a bottom part of the cleaning tank and to inject the air flow to cause the cleaning medium to fly; a hollow elongated member having substantially the same inner diameter as a diameter of the opening, connected outside the opening, and configured to form a movement path for the object to be cleaned; and a cleaning medium returning part to return the cleaning medium stagnant in the hollow elongated member into the cleaning tank.

Abstract: A cleaning medium flies with an air current in a cleaning tank to collide with an object to be cleaned so as to remove an extraneous substance attached to the object. The cleaning medium includes an outer surface that comes into contact with the object and an inner surface that remains out of contact with the object. The cleaning medium is flexible and formed in a shape that allows the air current to flow from the outside onto the inner surface of the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A circulation-air generating unit directly generates circulation air that flows along a surface of a cleaning tank. The circulation air is applied to cleaning medium accumulated on the cleaning tank from a direction orthogonal to a direction of face of the cleaning medium to deliver and flow up the cleaning medium. The cleaning medium is flown up inside the cleaning tank by the force of the circulation air. The cleaning medium flowing inside the cleaning tank collides with a cleaning target object by high-velocity air supplied from a cleaning-medium accelerating unit to remove dust on the cleaning target object.

Abstract: A cleaning method for cleaning a powder container by introducing a cleaning medium into the powder container from a first opening part of the powder container for attaching powder in the powder container to the cleaning medium and discharging the cleaning medium together with the powder from a second opening part situated opposite from the first opening part is disclosed. The method includes a step of releasing the cleaning medium from a position higher than the first opening part of the powder container.

Abstract: A dry cleaning apparatus which causes cleaning agent to fly in a gas current to impact an object to be cleaned so as to remove extraneous substance attached to the object includes a cleaning tank defining an interior space for accommodating the cleaning agent and the object with the attached extraneous substance, an inflow unit configured to guide a gas current into the cleaning tank through an inlet, an aspiration unit configured to discharge gas from the cleaning tank through an aspiration opening, and a separation unit disposed between the interior space of the cleaning tank and both the inflow unit and the aspiration unit, the separation unit having openings that allow the gas and the extraneous substance to pass through but do not allow the cleaning agent to pass through, wherein the inlet, the aspiration opening, and the separation unit are configured such that relative motion is created between the separation unit and both the inlet and the aspiration opening.

Abstract: A dry type cleaning technology is disclosed. Dust adhering to a cleaning object is removed with a cleaning medium caused to flow by a high-speed airflow. The removed dust is separated from the cleaning medium with a porous member including holes through which air, dust, and granular material can pass but the cleaning medium cannot pass. An area on the porous member where air is received to cause the cleaning medium to flow and an area on the porous member where air is received to suction the dust separated from the cleaning medium are switched.