Terra Universal's new Sole Cleanerâ„¢ minimizes the hassle, expense and uncertainty of cleanroom contamination control.
Like other mats, it features an adhesive surface that seizes particles from the bottoms of shoes and carts as they pass into a changing room or cleanroom.
Unlike other mats, it incorporates a PLC-Controlled transport mechanism that automatically replaces the sticky film surface as it becomes soiled. Instead of individual mats, which must be cleaned or peeled off, the Sole Cleaner uses a continuous sheet of adhesive mat material mounted on a cartridge roll. An infrared beam monitors passing feet, and a counter displays total passes. When the total count exceeds the threshold you select, the transport system automatically unrolls a new sheet of sticky surface and resets the counter.
This automatic take-up system both reduces operating expenses and improves contamination control.
By automating mat replacement, it ensures that the mat surface remains as sticky as you need it. Rather than relying on subjective decisions about when a surface is too dirty, you can determine the number of passes acceptable for your application and leave the rest to the Sole Cleaner. In less critical environments (such as changing rooms), this threshold might run in the hundreds; for a Class 10 cleanroom it might be several dozen. In either case, the Sole Cleaner replaces the surface when (and only when!) it needs to.
During mat regeneration, a red warning light glows and audible alarm is activated. The mat will not move, however, as long as the sole cleaner is occupied.
As it replaces a length of soiled mat, the machine draws it onto a take-up roller, where embedded particles are trapped and contained in a closed housing. Rather than accumulating hundreds of crumpled sheets day by day in a cleanroom waste receptacle (which always needs to be emptied!), you replace a single cartridge that is easy to recycle.
Each 180-foot (54.8 m) roll typically yields about 50 surface changes. Considering the related handling and maintenance costs associated with other contamination mats, these rolls offer convenience and value. Cartridge replacement is a 30-second operation that requires no tools.
The Sole Cleaner is designed to stand up to high-volume foot traffic without compromising either safety or cleanliness.
Made of 304 stainless steel, it features safety handrails and a low, sloped profile that won't pose a tripping hazard. Its wide passageway allows 36" (914 mm) of side-to-side clearance for easy passage of carts and other large equipment. The sticky film rests on a vacuum pad that protects against rips, eliminates slippage, and enhances particle pickup.
The side housings swing up to permit access to the mat cartridges and the transport mechanism, which uses a minimal number of moving parts to enhance system reliability. The PLC Controls include an LCD readout of the number of passes, the selected count limit and the number of passes since the last roll change. Multiple preset limits can be stored to allow simple system updating if the Sole Cleaner is moved from one location to another. A touch panel allows easy programming. The UL-listed take-up motor includes a safety overload shutoff that halts mat replacement as long as an object (or person) is on the Sole Cleaner.
The Sole Cleaner requires no special installation—simply place it directly on the floor, plug it in, enter the desired number of passes, and it's ready for operation. It can be moved from one location to another, and requires no maintenance other than occasional cartridge replacement.