How to Clean the Contact Probes in a Sorting Machine?

A sorting machine is an integral part of the equipment for any battery manufacture and test, but particularly so with a lithium-ion cell. As well as these machines do their job, those contact probes going to and fro via the machine will gather in a very short space of time a shovel load of dirt, debris and residues which in no short order will begin to influence performance, and hence, the sorting results.
Cleaning of contact probes on a sorting machine is a prerequisite of good performance of the machine and the rehabilitation of this most essential of kit is covered by the following article on cleaning contact probes in a sorting machine.
Why You Should Clean the Contact Probes
The contact probes on a sorting machine serve to effect electrical contact with the cell to determine capacity, voltage etc; Dirty probes will give a spurious measuring and as such an untrue sorting and grading of the battery cells. Dirty contacts tend to be more resisitve and as such a longer time taken to “get time the sorting operation”, leading to a faster rates of wear on the machine, and a shorter machine life overall if a suitable cleaning isn’t scheduled for regularly. What You Need to Clean the Contact Probes
In preparation for cleaning, you will want a few items to hand;
Soft cloth preferably a micro fibre cloth: You want a lint free cloth so as not to leave residue on the probe.Iso Propyl Alcohol (IPA): This solvent can dissolve oils and the components of oils, dust, and other residues on the probe. Does not leave behind any residue of its own.
Cotton swabs/brush: To scour areas on the probe which can be difficult to get at and may require fairly vigorous scrubbing.
Can of compressed air to blow out the debris/dust out of the probe area.
Gloves: It’s extremely easy for you to inadvertently touch the probe with your dirty/oily hands as you are cleaning.
The Steps to Cleaning the Contact Probes
Always start from powering down and isolating the machine from power so that someone does not accidentally get shocked, or bang the machine and its electronic components.
Step : Clean the Contact Probes with Compressed Air
Pop the top of a can of compressed air and hold it a few inches from contact probes so that the escaping air pushes sideways enough to move the dust that’s settled on it, not push it further into the machine. In this way it saves you work in hand cleaning the dirt off.
Step : Dampen a Soft Cloth with Isopropyl Alcohol
Having done the compressed air good, dampen a soft cloth or other micro-fibre fluffy cleaning cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Don’t soak it or the excess drops of alcohol could spread, and drip on your sensitive components. Carefully wipe the surface of the contact probes with this cloth, making sure not to leave oil and grime behind.Step : Use Cotton Swab If Needed
If the contact probes have narrow suds and hard to reach places, use a cotton swab to scrub that area gently. Don’t rub too hard as it could be a fragile material.
Step : Clean Probes Dry
When you’ve done over the alcohol on Step that wipe down, clean that area again with the dry area of the microfiber cloth to make sure, you’ve dried the probes properly. Leaving moisture working its way inside the machine itself could short out an electric wire too, so don’t reconnect again until they’re dry.
Step : Final Inspect
Take a last peak at the area and if you have to on purpose, re-repeat steps as there may still be dirt there.
Step : Power Back On and Check in Test Mode
After you’re finally done, power the back machine up and make sure it’s working again now properly. You may want to make a few test runs too to check in on its sorting accuracy again, just make sure that there’d been no hiccup or misreading on the probes as a result of dirt build up.
Other Cleaning Tips
Never use any sort of harsher cleansing detergents. Materials that might frayed, come off on chemical and abrasive effect, might leach dirt and dust particles into the machine on the next cycle.
Have a done schedule, for most usages you’d want to try to have a schedule in changing the contact probes out every two weeks, or adjust from there accordingly.
Need a thorough probe visual inspection too. Keep an eye on that area, and in general, where we say has material, that it may have built up around. Any signs of inside damage, or that the probe is in fact dirty, go re-do that area.