GB2212880A - Cleaning keyboards - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of cleaning a keyboard (e.g. for a computer or word processor) comprises the steps of ultrasonic washing to lift the dirt in a tank 1, brush cleaning to remove the dirt in a tank 3, rinsing in a tank 6, and spin drying in a drum 9. <IMAGE>

Description

Cleaning Keyboards.

This invention relates to a method of cleaning a keyboard, such as a keyboard for a computer or a word processor.

Existing methods of cleaning keyboards are purely manual, and are very labour intensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for cleaning keyboards.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a keyboard comprising the steps: (a) ultrasonic washing, (b) brush cleaning (c) rinsing, and (d) spin drying.

Although each of these steps is individually known for cleaning of articles, the combination of these steps has been found to be particularly advantageous and effective for the cleaning of keyboards.

Preferably, the ultrasonic washing step uses a washing fluid comprising a solution of solvents and detergents.

Preferably, the brush cleaning step uses one or more rotating brushes.

Brief description of the drawings.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows apparatus for carrying out a cleaning method in accordance with the invention.

Description of an embodiment of the invention Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a washing tank 1, of sufficient size to receive a keyboard. In use the tank is filled with a washing fluid. In this particular example, the washing fluid is a solution of a heavy duty cleaner, sold under the trade name SUPAR, and consisting of a mixture of solvents and detergents.

The washing tank 1 includes an ultrasonic transducer plate 2, for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the keyboard, by way of the washing fluid. The tank 1 also has electrically operated heater plates (not shown) mounted on both sides of the tank. These are thermostatically controlled to keep the washing fluid at a constant temperature of 40 C plus or minus 50C.

The ultrasonic washing lifts the dirt from the keyboard and in particular is found to remove dirt from the undersides of the keys, as well as freeing the springs in the keys.

After the ultrasonic washing, the keyboard is placed in a brush tank 3. The brush tank 3 contains a brush assembly consisting of three nylon brushes 4, mounted with their bristles upwards. In operation, the brushes 4 are rotated about their vertical axes, by means of an electric motor 5.

The brushes 4 remove the dirt that has been lifted by the ultrasonic washing, and also have the effect of buffing the keys to a bright finish.

Next, the keyboard is placed in a rinse tank 6, where it is rinsed by immersion in water. The water is continuously recycled, by way of a centrifugal pump 7 and a filter 8, so as to keep it clean.

Finally, the keyboard is placed vertically in a perforated spin drier drum 9, which is rotatable about its vertical axis within an outer cylinder 10. In operation, the drum 9 is rotated at high speed by means of an electric motor 11 which drives the drum 9 through a pulley system 12. At high rotational speed, the centrifugal force causes the water to be displaced from the keyboard on to the wall of the outer cylinder. The water then runs down to be drained into a waste tank 13.

It is found that spin drying is particularly effective for drying keyboards, especially if the keyboard contains sponge materials which retain water and are difficult to dry by other means such as hot air drying.

All the tanks 1,3,6 and the spin drier drums 9,10 are of stainless steel, and are provided with lids 14.

All the apparatus described above is mounted in a cabinet 15. The ultrasonic plate 2, electric heaters, motor 5, pump 7 and motor 11 are all controlled from a control panel 16.

Claims (7)

1. A method of cleaning a keyboard comprising the steps: (a) ultrasonic washing, (b) brush cleaning (c) rinsing, and (d) spin drying.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic washing step uses a washing fluid comprising a solution of solvents and detergent.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the brush cleaning step uses one or more rotating brushes.

4. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the spin drying step comprises rotation about a vertical axis.

5. A method of cleaning a keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. Apparatus for cleaning a keyboard comprising: (a) an ultrasonic washing tank, (b) a brush cleaning tank, (c) a rinsing tank, and (d) a spin drier.

7. Apparatus for cleaning a keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.