Belt cleaning systems and methods

Systems and methods for cleaning belts used to move fiber optics are disclosed. In general, the system includes wheels that can be arranged to receive a fiber optic belt. The belt can be arranged between a contact plate and a brush. Movement is provided to both the belt and brush and a frictional force is created between the surface of the belt to be cleaned and the brush. This contact and friction cleans the residue from the belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates generally to the field of belts used to wind, rewind and move fiber optics, and in particular to a system and method of cleaning fiber optic belts.

II. Description of the Related Art.

Belts are commonly used to wind, rewind and otherwise move fiber optics such as fiber optic wire. This belts are used to guide the wire onto spools, for example. The belts typically include a surface that is highly durable and provides a frictional surface for the fiber optics. After short use, the surface often becomes coated with residue from the exterior of the fiber optics, typically residue from the outer cladding. This build up of residue can often damage subsequent fiber optics wound over the belt or otherwise misguide the wire on the belt. Although the belts are highly durable, the belts are typically removed and discarded from the wind/rewind machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention features a system and method for cleaning the belts used to move fiber optics. Systems and methods for cleaning belts used to move fiber optics are disclosed. In general, the system includes wheels that can be arranged to receive a fiber optic belt. The belt can be arranged between a contact plate and a brush. Movement is provided to both the belt and brush and a frictional force is created between the surface of the belt to be cleaned and the brush. This contact and friction cleans the residue from the belt.

In general, in one aspect, the invention features a belt cleaning system, including a first wheel arranged in a mount in a plane of rotation, a second wheel arranged in the mount in the plane of rotation, the wheels defining a path of movement, a circular brush connected to the mount, the brush being generally located in the plane of rotation and so that a portion of a perimeter of the brush is in the path of movement and a contact plate connected to the mount in opposition to the perimeter of the circular brush.

In one implementation, the path of movement is adapted to receive a fiber optic belt.

In another implementation, the system further includes an additional wheel connected to the mount in the plane of motion, the additional wheel defining at least one additional path of movement adapted to receive a fiber optic cleaning belt.

In another implementation, the system further includes a motor connected to the mount.

In another implementation, the motor is connected to the brush and to the mount.

In another implementation, the system further includes a lever connected to the motor.

In another implementation, the lever is connected to a motor mount, the motor is connected to the motor mount and the motor mount is connected to the mount.

In another implementation, a portion of the fiber optic belt is located between the contact plate and the outer perimeter of the brush.

In another implementation, the system includes one or more swivel arms connected to the wheels and to the mount.

In another implementation, the system further includes a counter weight connected to an arm connected to the motor.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of cleaning fiber optic belts, including arranging a fiber optic belt on a fiber optic cleaning system having a brush, putting the brush into contact with a surface of the belt that is to be cleaned, moving the belt with respect to the brush so that a frictional force is created between the surface to be cleaned and the brush and continuing the contact and motion until desired cleaned is attained.

In one implementation, the belt is driven between the brush and a contact plate connected to the machine.

In another implementation, the method includes removing the belt when the belt has been cleaned as desired.

In another implementation, the method further includes optionally cleaning the belt with a suitable solvent.

In still another aspect, the invention features a belt cleaning machine, including a mount, at least two wheels connected to a mount, the wheels being adapted to receive a belt having fiber optic residue on the surface of the belt, wherein a path is defined in a plane of rotation, a brush connected to the mount and adapted to come into contact with the surface of the fiber optic belt, the brush being adapted to remove the residue from the belt, a contact plate connected to the mount and oriented in opposition to the brush so that the brush and contact plate can be moved toward each other to pinch the fiber optic belt between the brush and the contact plate, a motor connected to the mount and to a shaft connected to the brush and a lever to engage the brush and the contact plate.

In one implementation, the lever is connected to the motor.

One advantage of the invention is that it allows the reuse of the belts without having to discard the belts.

Another advantage is that it allows a single belt to be used for several orders of magnitude more times than if the belt were discarded.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cleaning Systems

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is made first toFIG. 1that illustrates an embodiment of a fiber optic belt cleaning machine100.

The machine100includes a mount105. Two wheels110,115are connected to the mount105in a planar arrangement, so that a belt140can be placed onto the wheels110,115for cleaning. The wheels110,115are generally defined in a common plane of rotation. The wheels rotate about shafts111,116respectively. The mount105is typically used to provide a surface to connect the wheels110,115. The mount105can be connected to a larger apparatus for ease of management of the belt cleaning machine100. Such an apparatus can be a dolly to move the belt cleaning machine100around locations as needed. The machine100further includes circular brush120connected to a motor125. The bristles of the brush are typically a very hard material so that they can withstand repeated use and clean fiber optic residue from the belts. Typically the bristles are metallic or some other hard material. The motor typically drives a shaft122that is coupled to the motor125and connected to the brush. The motor125is used to provide power to the circular brush120by providing a rotational force to the shaft122. The motor can be multi directional and have a variable speed to rotate the brush120in either direction as indicated by arrow123. The motor125can also be coupled to one or both of the shafts111,116of the wheels110,115to provide drive power to the wheels110,115. In another embodiment, the wheels110,115are not coupled to the motor125. Instead, a manual lever150is connected to one of the wheels110,115and can be manually rotated. One or both of the wheels can be connected to a swivel arm145that can move the wheels110,115in order to tighten a belt140onto the wheels110,115to provide a suitable tension for movement about the wheels110,115and cleaning. The swivel arms145can be pivoted in a variety of ways. The can be connected to a lever and lock. The lever can be engaged to move the wheels110,115into a desired location and then be locked. In another embodiment, the swivel arms145can be spring loaded with a bias in the direction away from each other so that a belt is automatically tightened when it is placed on the wheels110,115and the swivel arms145are released. It is understood that other embodiments contemplate other ways for the swivel arms145to pivot and move.

The machine100further includes an contact plate130connected to the mount105. The contact plate130is typically connected to a lever135. The contact plate130is typically a flat planar body made from a hard material. The contact plate130is typically in an opposed orientation compared to the brush120so that the belt140can be sufficiently pressed between the contact plate130and the brush120. The lever135can be manually engaged to move the contact plate130toward the brush120. In another embodiment, the lever135can be connected to the brush120, motor125or a motor mount (described below) to move the brush120toward the contact plate130. Since the brush120is typically connected to the motor125, the motor125can be connected to a counter weight (described below) to provide more even balance when the brush120is moved. In another embodiment, the lever135can be coupled to a switch that controls the power of the motor. Therefore, when the lever is engaged, the switch is engaged providing power to the motor.

The belt140, which is to be cleaned, is wrapped around the wheels110,115, using the swivel arms145as necessary to allow sufficient slack in the belt140so that it can be wrapped, or threaded about the wheels110,115. Typically the belt140cannot be easily stretched. Therefore, one or both of the wheels110,115can be shifted to allow the belt to be wrapped around the wheels110,115, such as by using the swivel arms145.

In an alternate embodiment, the machine100can further include a cover170that covers the wheels110,115, the brush120, the contact plate130and the other pertinent components of the machine100. The cover170generally keeps debris from flying away as it is removed from the belt140so as to keep the debris contained.

FIG. 2illustrates a close up view of an embodiment of a brush120and a motor125for an embodiment of a belt cleaning machine100. As described above the brush120is connected to the motor125by a shaft122.FIG. 2further illustrates one of the wheels110,115connected to the mount by its shaft111,116.FIG. 2further illustrates that the motor125is mounted on a motor mount126. The lever135is connected to the motor mount126.

FIG. 3illustrates a view of an embodiment of a motor125having a counter-weight165for an embodiment of a belt cleaning machine100. The counter weight165is generally connected to an arm160so as to provide a greater torque on the motor125to provide ease of engagement and disengagement of the brush120to the belt140.

Systems Operation and Cleaning Methods

The operation of the machine100is now discussed. The lever135can be engaged to distance the brush120from the path of the belt140that is to be cleaned. The path of the belt is typically located around the outer circumferences of the wheels110,115through the space between the opposing brush120and contact plate130. As described above, one or both of the wheels110,115can be shifted from its position so that the belt140can be wrapped around the wheels110,115, typically by pivoting the swivel arms145. Once the belt140is secured around the wheels110,115, the wheels110,15can be shifted back in order to put a tension on the belt. Drive power is provided to the shaft122and the circular brush120by the motor125or by other mechanisms. Drive power is typically also provided to the wheels110,115to provide a linear motion, tangential to the belt140, as indicated by arrows155with respect to the brush120. It is contemplated in other embodiments that the path of the belt140can be different. For example, in one embodiment the wheels110,115can have two different diameters so that the path of the belt140is generally angled. Therefore, the contact plate130and brush120have to be angled appropriately to compensate for the change in the angle of the belt140path. The user can then engage the lever135to move the contact plate130toward the surface of the belt140, that is the side of the belt140that is not to be cleaned. When the contact plate130contacts the belt140, the belt that is moving linearly with respect to the brush120is pushed toward the now rotating brush120. In another implementation, the lever135can be coupled to the brush and the contact plate130remains fixed, so that when the lever135is engaged, the brush moves toward the belt that is subsequently rested against the contact plate130.

In either implementation, as the brush120contacts the surface of the belt140there is a frictional force created that chips away at the residue that has built up on the belt140. Typically the residue is in a singular thin path around the entire belt140. Therefore, the brush can be kept in one position during the cleaning process. The belt lining that comes into contact with the fiber optic material is typically very durable. Therefore, as the brush cleans the residue, the belt lining is typically not damaged from the rotating brush120. As a result, once the belt140is cleaned it can be used and cleaned repeatedly for an indefinite period. It has been determined that the repeated use and cleaning of the belt does not create any damage or irregularities on the belt140that can damage the fiber optics that are subsequently put into contact with the belt140.

In another implementation, no drive power is provided to the wheels110,115. Instead, as the belt is engaged between the rotating brush120and the contact plate130, the user can manually turn the wheels110,115with the manual lever150. In this way, the user can move the belt as the user sees fit to clean the fiber optic material from the belt.

The embodiments described above have disclosed two wheels. It is understood that additional wheels can be added so that the belt can move across the outer circumferences of the additional wheels.

Once the belts have been cleaned using the cleaning machine100, additional methods can be used to remove any additional residue. For example, suitable solvents can be wiped on the belts in order to remove any additional residue.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the appended claims.