Method of cleaning a probe

Abstract

A probe having a tip is cleaned with a cleaning sheet having a base sheet, a foamed layer of a porous material including non-fibrous abrading particles and air bubbles on the base sheet and a polishing layer formed on the foamed layer by causing a surface of the polishing layer to be pressed against the tip of the probe and the tip of the probe to penetrate the polishing layer and further to be inserted into the foamed layer having abrading particles dispersed inside. Such a cleaning sheet may be produced by preparing a paint having air bubbles dispersed inside by mechanically foaming a foaming material containing a foaming resin material and abrading particles, forming on the base sheet a foamed layer having abrading particles dispersed inside by coating a surface of the base sheet with this paint and drying it, and forming a polishing layer on the foamed layer.

1 . A method of cleaning a probe, said probe having a tip, said method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a cleaning sheet comprising a base sheet, a foamed layer formed on said base sheet, said foamed layer having non-fibrous abrading particles dispersed therein, and a polishing layer formed on said foamed layer;    causing a surface of said polishing layer to be pressed against said tip of said probe; and    causing said tip to penetrate said polishing layer and to be thereby inserted into said foamed layer having said abrading particles dispersed therein.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of preparing said cleaning sheet comprises the steps of: 
 producing a paint having air bubbles dispersed therein by mechanically foaming a foaming material comprising a foaming resin material and abrading particles;    forming on a base sheet a foamed layer having abrading particles dispersed therein by coating a surface of said base sheet with said paint and drying said paint; and    forming a polishing layer on a surface of said foamed layer.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of producing said paint comprises the step of sending air into said foaming material while stirring said foaming material and thereby dispersing said air bubbles and said abrading particles inside said paint.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of forming said polishing layer comprises the steps of: 
 applying a paint including a resin binder and said abrading particles on a surface of said foamed layer; and    drying said applied paint whereby said polishing layer is formed on the surface of said formed layer having said abrading particles dispersed therein.