US-12623476-B2 - Printer roller cleaning sheets and method of use thereof

US12623476B2US 12623476 B2US12623476 B2US 12623476B2US-12623476-B2

Abstract

In some implementations, printer roller cleaning sheets may include a nonwoven fabric having a blend of polyester fibers and cellulose fibers, the nonwoven fabric being in the form of a continuous sheet wound around a core, the nonwoven fabric designed and configured to effectively remove debris from printer rollers, the roll of polyester cellulose material configured to replace a roll of paper in the printer in order to perform a cleaning function of the one or more printer rollers.

Inventors

Janry Amada
Jayzel Carcedo
Ralph Waldo Tampus Pino
John Nicko Villacencio

Assignees

NCR VOYIX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230630

Claims (1)

1 . A cleaning roll for cleaning one or more printer rollers in a thermal printer, comprising: a roll comprising a nonwoven fabric consisting of a blend of polyester fibers and cellulose fibers, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a continuous sheet wound around a core of the roll, wherein the roll is configured to replace a roll of paper in the thermal printer such that the thermal printer advances the continuous sheet through a paper path via a printer feed mechanism, and wherein the continuous sheet contacts the one or more printer rollers to remove debris adhered to the one or more printer rollers.

Description

FIELD This disclosure relates generally to printer roller cleaning sheets and a method of use thereof, and more particularly to printer roller cleaning sheets adapted for use in different ways to clean thermal printer rollers. BACKGROUND One of the most common causes of paper feed problems in a printer (e.g., a thermal printer) is a dirty roller. The roller is responsible for pulling the paper through the printer, and when not clean, the roller may not be able to grip the paper correctly, causing the paper to slip, bunch up, or feed at an angle, which can lead to paper jams. Silicon cleaning pens are often used to clean a print roller in a thermal printer, but this must be done on a regular basis (e.g., monthly). For printers mounted in remote locations, such as within a self-service terminal, this necessitates regular service calls for cleaning. When the printer is remotely installed, such as in a self-service terminal, it becomes even more important to regularly clean the printer roller, because a paper jam can cause the self-service terminal to go out of service until an expedited (and potentially costly) service call is arranged to clear the paper jam. Thermal printers of the type used in self-service terminals can be more likely to experience paper jams caused by dirty rollers because the paper is typically fed from a roll of paper and cut with an internal cutter to generate a transaction receipt, for example. The process of cutting the paper can generate internal dust and other paper residue that can accumulate on the printer roller, which over time can reduce the effectiveness of the printer roller. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved way to clean the roller of the printer, particularly a remotely-located printer, in order to preclude paper jams that could require costly service calls to resolve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present disclosure solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is diagram showing the operation of a printer roller in a clean condition; FIG. 2, is a diagram showing the operation of a printer roller in a clean condition; FIG. 3 is a diagram of a roll of paper with a cleaning sheet for use in cleaning a printer roller according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a diagram of a ream of paper with a cleaning sheet for use in cleaning a printer roller according to another aspect of the present disclosure; and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of cleaning a printer roller according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the present disclosure, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the drawings, which illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring now to FIG. 1, when paper 120 (either in sheet form or from a roll of paper not shown) is fed to a printer roller 100 which rotates in the direction shown by arrow 140, the paper 120 typically adheres to the outer surface of the printer roller 100, allowing the roller to pull the paper 120 along. For some printers, such as thermal printers used in self-service terminals, a cutter 110 is typically positioned adjacent to the printer roller 100 in order to cut the paper 120 at an appropriate position. This is typically done in a self-service terminal to provide a user thereof with a paper receipt recording the results of a transaction at the self-service terminal. The printer roller 100 must be relatively clear of dust, paper debris, ink residue, and/or other contaminants (collectively “debris”) in order for the paper 120 to properly adhere to the roller 100, particularly in and around the area of contact 130 between the paper 120 and the roller 100. Referring now to FIG. 2, when paper 220 (either in sheet form or from a roll of paper not shown) is fed to the printer roller 100 when dust and paper debris are present on the printer roller 100 in and around the area of contact 230 between the paper 220 and the roller 100, the paper 220 may not adhere to the roller 100 and may instead strike cutter 110 (or other structures within the associated printer that are located adjacent to the printer roller 100), thereby causing a jam. When printer roller 100 is part of a printer incorporated into a self-service terminal, this type of printer jam can result in the need to schedule a potentially costly service call and may cause the self-service terminal to go off-line until the jam is resolved. Polyester cellulose wipes, also known as polyester/cellulose nonwoven wipes, are a type of cleaning wipe or cloth that is commonly used in various industries, including healthcare, electronics, and manufacturing. These wipes can be provided in sheet form and are composed of a blend of polyester fibers and cellulose fibers. Polyester is a synthetic fiber known for its durability, strength, and resistance to chemicals. It provide