Optical sensor cleaner

Abstract

A paper path optical sensor cleaner is provided having a substrate sheet with strips of open cell foam adhered across the width of the sheet. The optical sensors to be cleaned are non-contact sensors that are located below the plane of the paper path. The strips of open cell foam have a height greater than the distance from the paper path to the top of the sensor and a width that is sufficiently narrow to allow the cleaning strips to expand to clean a sensor located in close proximity to a paper path roller. As the substrate is fed through the paper path, the strips of open cell foam are vertically compressed when passing through the paper path feeder rollers. As the strips begin to pass each roller, the leading edge of the open cell foam partially expands downward to contact the sensor followed by the rest of the strip.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning optical sensors comprising: 
 a substrate sheet having a first surface and a lower surface, wherein the first surface has a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge;    a first strip of material attached to the first surface of the substrate sheet, wherein the first strip will vertically compress when drawn through a roller nip;    a second strip of material attached to the first surface of the substrate sheet, wherein the second strip will vertically compress when drawn through a roller nip; and, wherein,    the first strip is separated from the second strip by a first distance.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the first surface is an upper surface and the second surface is a lower surface.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein, 
 the first strip of material comprises open cell foam.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, 
 the first strip of material is closer to the front edge of the substrate sheet than the second strip of material; and    the second strip of material comprises open cell foam and brush bristles.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, 
 the first strip of material comprises lint-free, lead-free, non-abrasive, open cell foam.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the substrate sheet has approximately the planar dimensions of a number 10 envelope.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising, 
 a leading edge handle on the substrate sheet.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the substrate sheet has approximately the planar dimensions of a letter sized sheet of paper.