Patent ID: 8303201
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A card cleaning apparatus comprising: a first card cleaning member adapted to clean a surface of a card by contacting the card while being conveyed along a card conveyance path; a second card cleaning member for cleaning a surface of the first card cleaning member, the second card cleaning member being fixed at a position away from the card conveyance path and surface-contacting the first card cleaning member only at a predetermined time; a drive unit attached to the first card cleaning member, the drive unit moving the first card cleaning member between a retreated position spaced from the card conveyance path and located away from the second card cleaning member without contacting the second card cleaning member, and an operating position where the first card cleaning member touches the surface of the card being conveyed and contacts the second card cleaning member by advancing into the card conveyance path so that the second card cleaning member immediately removes material transferred to the first card cleaning member from the card; and a conveyance roller disposed at a position facing the first card cleaning member when the first card cleaning member is located at the operating position so that the card is sandwiched between the conveyance roller and the first card cleaning member and transferred while being cleaned by the first card cleaning member, wherein the first card cleaning member, the second card cleaning member and the drive unit are arranged at a side opposite to the conveyance roller relative to the card conveyance path, wherein the second card cleaning member is disposed in a position away from the card conveyance path where the first card cleaning member is allowed to move between the retreated position and the operating position, and wherein the first card cleaning member is moved in a direction away from the card conveyance path, the conveyance roller and the second card cleaning member when the first card cleaning member moves from the operating position to the retreated position after cleaning the card.