DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A BOARD CLEANER USING AN IN-LINE SLIDER-CRANK MECHANISM

Abstract

Board cleaning mechanisms are systems used to automatically clean boards (black or white) with the help of dusters mounted on frames. This work aimed at designing a completely mechanical, simple and affordable board cleaner using an in-line slider-crank mechanism. Revolving the crank engages the coupler in a reciprocating motion and sets the slider, in this case the duster in a translational motion. The translational motion of the slider wipes the board in a clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the crank. Drudgery, time lost, the inconveniences of walking up and down the board to clean, and the likes of those using chalk and getting dirty or inhaling the dust generated when erasing blackboards by hand are few challenges to both teachers and students during lesson times. The in-line slider-crank board cleaner designed takes approximately 8s to erase a board expanse of 0.5m2 in two revolutions of the crank. The process of erasing with a slider-crank mechanism is fast and requires minimal assistance. Thus the in-line slider-crank board cleaner takes less time to erase boards compared to board erasure by hand.