Abstract: A cleaning system employing a highly viscous cleaning agent. A highly viscous cleaning agent is placed on a strip of cleaning fabric whereby the strip of cleaning fabric is made functional for cleaning cylinders of printing presses. The strip of cleaning fabric is wrapped around the center piece. The strip of cleaning fabric may then be brought into contact with a cylinder to be cleaned in order to clean the cylinder. The highly viscous cleaning agent may be made by mixing a viscosity adding agent with a low volatility, organic compound solvent. Additionally, water or another additive may be mixed in for improved cleaning properties. The method of making the same is also discussed.

Abstract: Magnetic tape (13) on a supply reel (11) is provided with a trailing end leader (27) which has an abrasive cleaning characteristic. In order to effectively use the leader with the cleaning characteristic, the tape is fully unreeled to expose the abrasive leader (27) only when a requirement to clean the tape head transducers is sensed. During normal operation, the trailing leader (25) which includes the cleaning leader (27) is not exposed to the tape transducer head, but instead remains on the supply reel.

Abstract: A cleaning card has a flat, semirigid base with a first and second material mechanically bonded to the side surfaces thereof. The first material is an abrasive substantially impenetrable material and the second material is a soft spunlaced fabric of high absorptive capacity. The differences in physical qualities of the first and second materials allow for one card to be used both as frequent cleaning card as well as a corrective cleaning card and provides a cleaning card that enables operation of the machine quickly after cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A cleaning card has a flat, semirigid base with a first and second material mechanically bonded to the side surfaces thereof. The first material is an abrasive substantially impenetrable material and the second material is a soft spunlaced fabric of high absorptive capacity. The differences in physical qualities of the first and second materials allow for one card to be used both as frequent cleaning card as well as a corrective cleaning card and provides a cleaning card that enables operation of the machine quickly after cleaning thereof.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates a cleaning strip, preferably at the leading terminus or trailing terminus of roll stock, whereby the contaminated components are cleaned either immediately before or immediately after the roll stock is utilized, but without human intervention. Preferably, the cleaning strip has an automated solvent dispensing portion, and a technical cleaning card follower portion, whereby the feed rollers of the equipment automatically distribute solvent from a pouch, onto the cleaning card, such that, as the cleaning strip passes through the contaminated components, the components are initially dampened with solvent, scrubbed, and dried, all within the period of time defined by the passage of the cleaning strip through the contaminated components.

Abstract: Automatic head cleaning apparatus and method for checking insensitivity of a VCR video head and for performing a head cleaning operation for a predetermined period. When the insensitivity of the video head is not corrected even after the head cleaning operation for the predetermined period, the VCR tape is ejected. Simultaneously, an alarm notifying a failure of the VCR is activated. A VCR head cleaner is also provided that is in close contact with a VCR drum head due to a magnetic reluctance force during the head cleaning operation. The VCR head cleaner prevents the video head from being subjected to adverse impact and frictional force, and is easily installed requiring no additional space within the VCR. Furthermore, the cleaning operation is automatically completed.

Abstract: A cleaning tape structure is provided for removing dust from a magnetic head tip, The dust on the head tip is collected by the membranes installed on the tape surface. A laser beam is used to make vertical cuts on the tape surface in several oblique arrays of grooves. The dust is removed by the cutting edges formed by the peripheral edges of the grooves and then collected by the membranes installed at the end of each of four tape sections. The four sections also function to indicate the remaining life of the head tip, based on the number of sections which must pass the head tip before a picture prerecorded on the cleaning tape can be clearly viewed.

Abstract: A discrete card or sheet of substantially homogeneous spun-bonded polyester material having a thickness in the range of 0.009-0.015 inch, and a length-to-width ratio in the range of 1.00-14.0, provides high absorption of cleaning solvent, including petroleum-based solvents, for cleaning rollers and read or print heads. A pouch, preferably made of barrier film and having two compartments, encapsulates a plurality of fresh cards with solvent in one compartment and at least one used card in the other compartment.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for cleaning the heads of streamer tape drives has a wiper arm (14) carrying a foam wiping pad (40) at one end and pivoted in the casing (12) at the other. A pick-up wheel (60) engages the capstan of the drive and reciprocates the wiper arm, through gear wheels (62,26) and a crank arm (30), to cause arcuate movement of the pad across the head. The pad has a thicker central portion (44) and thinner wings (46), and a metal base strip (42) is compressed over the wings. Effective head cleaning is achieved in a simple and practical structure without excessive head wear.

Abstract: A tape head cleaner cartridge for receipt in a tape machine having a magnetic tape head and comprising a cartridge housing for supporting a cleaning pad that is supported by and operated from a lever. The lever may be manually operated to cause the cleaning pad to transition across the tape head in direction of tape travel. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the cartridge supports both a magnetic head cleaning pad and a capstan cleaning pad. A dispenser is provided for a plurality of cleaning pads. A kit is provided for containing the cartridge, dispenser and cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A magnetic head cleaner (2, 42) includes a strip of homogeneous (non-layered) plastic material having one or both of the following cleaning attributes: a matte finish (8) with a particular surface roughness and a series of transverse and longitudinal grooves (12, 14) of a chosen size. The average surface roughness of the matte finish and the size of the grooves are choosen to both remove contaminants and hold the removed contaminants on the cleaning surface. The head cleaner cleans magnetic heads well without the problems associated with layered cleaning tapes, including the high abrasive qualities of magnetic coatings or the drawbacks found with fabric type cleaning tapes. The cleaner can be used wet or dry, that is with or without a cleaning liquid (30).

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing debris from the tape of a reel to reel magnetic data tape cartridge includes a cleaning material mounted adjacent the tape path to constantly contact and remove debris from the tape. Preferably, the cleaning material both wipes debris from the tape and retains the debris. The cleaning material may be mounted to rotate in response to the movement of the tape past the cleaning material. An alternate emebodiment which permits both sides of the magnetic tape to be cleaned includes mounting the cleaning material on a arm which is pivotably mounted to the cartridge. The arm pivots to maintain contact with the tape and is shaped to provide a plurality of contact portions between the cleaning material and the tape.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette capable of accomplishing a safe and positive cleaning operation while ensuring smooth and stable running of a cleaning tape. The cleaning cassette includes a tape passing mechanism arranged at a front portion of a casing for ensuring satisfactory traveling of the cleaning tape while reducing contact between the cleaning tape and a head cylinder of a cassette tape deck. The mechanism includes a pair of rollers through which the cleaning tape is passed, a support member for supporting each of the rollers at each of its respective ends such that each roller can rotate and a pair of partitions provided between insertion recesses of the casing.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes a loading section in which a disk cartridge enclosing an information recording medium therein and a cleaning cartridge enclosing a cleaning member are selectively loaded. When the cleaning cartridge is loaded in the apparatus, the cleaning member contacts the objective of an optical head of the apparatus. In response to a detection signal from a sensor for detecting that the cleaning cartridge is loaded in the loading section, a drive mechanism of the apparatus moves the optical head and cleaning member relative to each other while keeping the objective and cleaning member in sliding contact.

Abstract: A cleaning method for removing unnecessary matter accumulated on a surface on the bottom of a recess so as to clean the surface. An adhesive surface on a projection projected from an elongated base member is brought into contact with the unnecessary matter on the surface to be cleaned and is separated forcibly from the surface to be cleaned by application of tension to the elongated base member, whereby the unnecessary matter is lifted off the recessed surface to be cleaned. Disclosed also is a cleaning cassette for cleaning the bottom surface of a recess by removing unnecessary matter from the surface, having an elongated tape-like base member carrying a plurality of projections each having an adhesive end surface which is adapted to be pressed onto the unnecessary matter accumulated on the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a pick-up lens of a compact disc player using a front loading base having a similar shape and size to the compact disc record and a cleaner brush fixed in a "lead in" position when it is put in the player body. The cleaning apparatus on the loading base is put in the player body with the cleaner brush being positioned over the pick up lens.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for a tape drive machine wherein a capstan of the machine drives a cleaning portion of the cassette across the magnetic head of the machine. The cassette includes a carriage having two ends which extends across the cassette in the length direction, which is pivotally mounted on one end, and which includes a slot around the pivot pin to allow back and fourth motion across the head. The other end of the carriage holds the cleaning portion and is allowed to move toward and away from the head by virtue of the pivotal mounting. A drive gear system in the cassette moves the carriage across the head.

Abstract: Floating small boat cleaning facility formed from a floating dock assembly having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending side walls, a front entrance end wall, a rear exit end wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall spaced downwardly from the top edge of the side walls, to form a buoyancy chamber. The outside surface of the side walls have brackets to receive anchor pilings that have their bottom ends secured to the sea bottom. The front end wall and the rear end wall have a cutout portion formed adjacent their top edge and a plurality of vertically oriented strips of flexible material have their bottom ends attached to this top edge to form an entrance curtain and an exit curtain through which boats may pass. The curtains have structure for maintaining them in a floating substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A tape cassette for cleaning use supplies a cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supply to the opposite sides of a cleaning tape having a low friction factor and simultaneously achieves the reliable cleaning of a tape running passage and the smooth running of the cleaning tape, when a magnetic head of a tape recorder is inserted from an opening of a cassette housing, by pressing the cleaning tape against the magnetic head through a pad.In addition, the tape cassette is constructed such that a surface of a liquid retaining member provided in the cleaning liquid supply is changeable which surface is in contact with the cleaning tape, so that the good and stable cleaning effect can be obtained over a long period of time.

Abstract: A tape cleaning cartridge is provided which has a take-up reel and a tape supply reel. The cartridge also includes a cleaning solution holding container having a compressible end and a tubing attached to an opposed side wall of the container. The tubing has a free end which pierces a cotton ball, and the cartridge is capable of intermittently supplying uniform amounts of cleaning solution to the cotton ball to be applied to a tape which traverses a path through the cartridge. In this fashion, the tape can then be used to adequately clean the magnetic head of a videotape recorder.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for high speed cassette records has a cassette case dimensioned to correspond to a magnetic tape cassette operative in the particular recorder, a cleaning tape guided in the cassette case, the cleaning tape movable from a supply reel to a take-up reel across an area corresponding to a magnetic head of the cassette recorder. The take-up reel remains accessible when the cleaning cassette is in place, defining a manually-operable drive means for manual transfer of the cleaning tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel during cleaning. The cleaning tape is manually passed over the heads at a slower speed than an operative speed of the magnetic tape cassette for better cleaning and less head damage.

Abstract: A cassette of cleaning tape for cleaning the driving, play-back and recording components of a magnetic tape apparatus. The cleaning cassette has a tape and a roller rotatably supported in the cassette housing having a core of absorbent material adapted to be impregnated with cleaning liquid, and absorbent material exposed on a portion of the surface of the roller for applying liquid to wet a surface of the tape intermittently as the tape is moved in the cassette, the intermittent liquid application preventing the tape from sticking to components as the tape is driven through the magnetic tape apparatus being cleaned.

Abstract: A mechanism for intermittently wetting a cleaning tape contained within a tape cassette housing is located within the housing at a position along the tape path prior to the tape exit in the direction of forward motion of the tape. The mechanism comprises a star wheel rotatably mounted adjacent the inside surface of the cleaning tape whose arms are driven by friction with the tape to rotate the star wheel, and a lever pivotted adjacent the same surface of the tape as the star wheel, the lever being intermittently deflected in a first direction of rotation by engagement with successive arms of the star wheel as the star wheel rotates during forward motion of the tape.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for cassette recorders in which movement of either spindle of the cassette recorder operates a cleaning element within the cassette casing. Transmission of the rotary movement is achieved by a pair of rotatably mounted reel hubs and a pair of exterior toothed wheels, one integral with each hub, with the reel hubs coupled together by a third intermediate exterior toothed wheel to form a permanent gear train. For driving a cleaning element, such as a felt tab, the intermediate wheel drives a cam and lever. By rotating either toothed wheel, the intermediate wheel causes the lever to move the tab alternately back and forth substantially parallel to the front edge of the cassette casing.

Abstract: A capstan cleaner for cassettes is disclosed, comprising a standard cassette casing provided with a cleansing wad located at the front end of the casing opposite the capstan of a cassette player when the cassette casing is in position therein. A pair of upright members are provided in the casing on either side of the wad. A flexible band has a rear end projecting out of the rear side of the casing and a front end portion passing over the front surface of both upright members and behind the wad. The front end of the band is rigidly secured to a peg spaced rearwardly and away from the wad in the casing. Pulling the rear end of the band biases the wad frontwardly into contact with the capstan for efficient cleansing thereof.

Abstract: A rotating brush assembly is disclosed for a vehicle washing apparatus. The brush assembly includes a brush and a flexible plastic brush shaft which permit the brush to swing or tilt in response to the force exerted on the brush by the movement of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing apparatus. The brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which walks the brush along the surfaces of the vehicle. The combined action of the rotary reaction force of the brush against the vehicle and the flex of the flexible plastic brush shaft causes the brush to turn the front and rear corners of the vehicle to wash the front, side and rear surfaces. In addition, a brush assembly pivot mechanism is installed on the brush assembly to permit the brush to pivot in a direction parallel to the path of the vehicle in the event the vehicle is inadvertently driven into the brush while the brush is not rotating. The brush assembly pivot mechanism prevents damage to the vehicle and the brush assembly.