Cleaning device and cleaning method

Abstract

A cleaning device for removing a deposit adhering to an object to be cleaned is disclosed. The cleaning device includes a cleaning chamber forming a space for housing multiple cleaning media shaped like flakes; a circulating air-flow generating unit configured to generate a circulating air flow to cause the cleaning media to fly and repeatedly collide with the object in the cleaning chamber and thereby to remove the deposit adhering to the object; and a cleaning medium recycling unit configured to suction and remove the deposit adhering to the cleaning media that have collided with the object and thereby to recycle the cleaning media. The pencil hardness of the cleaning media is greater than the pencil hardness of the deposit.

1 . A cleaning device for removing a deposit adhering to an object to be cleaned, comprising:
 a cleaning chamber forming a space for housing multiple cleaning media shaped like flakes;   a circulating air-flow generating unit configured to generate a circulating air flow to cause the cleaning media to fly and repeatedly collide with the object in the cleaning chamber and thereby to remove the deposit adhering to the object; and   a cleaning medium recycling unit configured to suction and remove the deposit adhering to the cleaning media that have collided with the object and thereby to recycle the cleaning media,   wherein a pencil hardness of the cleaning media is greater than a pencil hardness of the deposit.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a folding endurance of the cleaning media is greater than or equal to 0 and less than 65. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a groove is formed on at least one side of each of the cleaning media, the groove extending from one end to another end of the each of the cleaning media. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media include cleaning media of different thicknesses. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media include cleaning media of different shapes. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media include cleaning media of different sizes. 
     
     
         7 . A method of removing a deposit adhering to an object to be cleaned, comprising the steps of:
 causing multiple cleaning media shaped like flakes to fly and repeatedly collide with the object in a cleaning chamber by using a circulating air flow to remove the deposit adhering to the object; and   suctioning and removing the deposit adhering to the cleaning media that have collided with the object to recycle the cleaning media,   wherein a pencil hardness of the cleaning media is greater than a pencil hardness of the deposit.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a folding endurance of the cleaning media is greater than or equal to 0 and less than 65. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a groove is formed on at least one side of each of the cleaning media, the groove extending from one end to another end of the each of the cleaning media. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning medium shaped like a flake and used in a cleaning device for removing a deposit adhering to an object to be cleaned, the cleaning device being configured to cause the cleaning medium to fly and repeatedly collide with the object in a cleaning chamber by using a circulating air flow to remove the deposit adhering to the object and configured to suction and remove the deposit adhering to the cleaning medium that has collided with the object to recycle the cleaning medium,
 wherein a pencil hardness of the cleaning medium is greater than a pencil hardness of the deposit.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a folding endurance of the cleaning medium is greater than or equal to 0 and less than 65.