Patent ID: 7017226

Claim:
A dust removal apparatus comprising: a rotary brush adapted to be disposed substantially parallel to a workpiece surface from which dust particles are to be removed, rotation of said rotary brush producing a first wind velocity that moves along said workpiece surface in the direction of rotation of said rotary brush; a hood of a generally semi-cylindrical shape covering an upper half portion of said rotary brush, said hood having linear front and rear end edges, and a pair of opposed side surfaces each having a substantially semicircular shape; at least one exhaust duct connected to said hood, said rotary brush being moveable, along with said hood, relative to the workpiece surface to thereby remove dust particles from the workpiece surface in such a manner that the removed dust particles are directed to said exhaust duct; a front air nozzle unit disposed outside said hood and located along the front end edge of said hood for emitting air jets downward at an angle toward said rotary brush and onto a region of the workpiece surface near said rotary brush and substantially along the linear front end edge of said hood such that an air curtain is formed in front of said rotary brush; and a rear air nozzle unit disposed outside said hood and located along the rear end edge of said hood for emitting air jets downward at an angle toward said rotary brush and onto another region of the workpiece surface near said rotary brush and substantially along the linear rear end edge of said hood said air jets producing a second wind velocity that causes another air curtain to be formed in back of said rotary brush; wherein the vector sum of said first wind velocity and said second wind velocity produces a third wind velocity that is directed substantially vertically downward, thereby enhancing the ability of said dust removal apparatus to trap and collect dust particles.