Apparatus for collecting debris from a target surface

Abstract

An apparatus for removing debris from a target surface. The apparatus comprises a hollow roller with a supply roll and take-up roll axially rotatably disposed within the volume of the hollow roller. A sheet material, such as adhesive tape, extends from the supply roll through a slot, around the periphery of the roller at least 180°, back into the slot and onto be take-up roll. A partition separates the supply roll and take-up roll, reducing contamination of tape on the supply roll. An index mechanism may be provided to advance the tape one path length from the supply roll to take-up roll, the user does not overuse or underuse fresh tape.

1 . An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a roller, said roller having an exterior periphery, a hollow space defining an interior volume, and a slot between said interior volume and said exterior surface; said roller having a longitudinal axis and at least one end cap generally orthogonal thereto;   said roller being able to receive a supply of sheet material disposed in said interior volume of said roller, said sheet material extending through said first slot to overlie said exterior periphery of said roller and wrap around said periphery to subtend at least 180° thereof; and reenter said interior volume through said slot to a collection; whereby said sheet material can travel from said supply, around said subtended portion of said periphery and into said interior volume to said collection;   a partition juxtaposed with said slot and disposed within said interior volume, said partition being longitudinally oriented and dividing said interior volume into two chambers, a first chamber for containing a supply of sheet material and a second chamber for receiving a collection of sheet material, said partition having a width oriented generally radially to said end cap.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said slot subtends less than 30 degrees of said periphery. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said slot and said partition are generally longitudinally oriented and said sheet material subtends at least about 270° of said exterior surface of said roller when provided thereon. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said sheet material subtends at least about 340° of said exterior surface of said roller when provided thereon. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said supply comprises a supply roll disposed axially parallel to said longitudinal axis in said first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said collection comprises a take-up roll disposed axially parallel to said longitudinal axis in said second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6  comprising a bistable partition, wherein said partition is initially oriented concave towards said take-up roll and inflects to become concave towards said supply roll in response to accumulation of material on said take-up roll. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said axes of said supply roll and said take-up roll lie on a common diameter of said right-circular cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said roller has two axially opposed end caps and further comprising an index mechanism, said index mechanism being disposed external to said end caps and operably coupled to one of said supply roll and said take up roll whereby activation of said index mechanism advances sheet material from said supply roll, across said subtended exterior surface of said roller, and onto said take up roll. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said index mechanism comprises a ring manually and axially rotatable about said longitudinal axis, said ring driving a pinion lying on a common axis with and driving said take-up roll in response to manual rotational of said ring. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said index mechanism comprises a toothed ring gear, and said pinion comprises a pinion gear in rotatable engagement therewith, said apparatus further comprising an axially rotatable crank, wherein an integer rotation of said crank advances sheet material one path length from said supply roll to said take-up roll. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a roller, said roller having an exterior surface, a hollow space defining an interior volume, and at least one slot for communication therebetween, said slot having two opposed edges, said edges being generally longitudinally oriented;   an axially rotatable supply roll disposed in said interior volume,   a take-up roll disposed within said interior volume and parallel to said longitudinal axis, a drive exterior to said roller and disposed longitudinally outboard of said slot and operably coupled to said take-up roll, wherein said take-up roll can receive material within the said internal volume and traveling from the exterior surface of said roller in response to advance of said drive and independently of axial rotation of said supply roll.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein, said supply roll and said take-up roll are axially parallel and have a fixed distance therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said roller is shaped like a right-circular cylinder and the said axes of said supply roll and the said take-up roll lie on a common diameter of said right-circular cylinder, said axis of said supply roll and said axis of said take-up roll being equally spaced from said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a partition dividing said interior volume into two chambers to minimize contamination therebetween, said partition comprising a substantially flat plate bisecting and generally perpendicular to said common diameter. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said flat plate has a distal edge, said distal edge being radially disposed outward from said longitudinal axis at a position juxtaposed with said exterior surface of said roller. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a handle joined to said roller. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  further comprising a longitudinally oriented, axially rotatable idler roll juxtaposed with one edge of said slot. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  further comprising an axially rotatable crank, wherein an integer rotation of said crank advances sheet material one path length from said supply roll to said take-up roll. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said integer is one.