Blackboard Cleaning Aid

IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 3, Mar 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org
International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017
IDL - International Digital Library 1 | P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017
Abstract: This project is about finding a real time solution
for the problems caused by the chalk pieces used in the class
room. To overcome the problems that are faced daily by the
students and faculty, the project entitled „BLACKBOARD
CLEANING AID‟ has been suggested to automatically erase
the blackboard. It is seen that while cleaning the board, faculty
and students often have to cover their mouth with one hand
while cleaning the blackboard. So we decided to implement
our course study and some extra knowledge and with the help
of electrical and mechanical concept our project came into
picture. The project can clean the blackboard automatically
and reduces the time consumed by in hand erasing. As the
name suggests our project basically works on combined
principles of mechanical and brief knowledge of electronics.
The instrument moves forward and backward erasing the
board and collecting the dust automatically from the erasing
material due to the rotation of the roller. This project is
implemented to make human work easier and can reduce the
use of human power because of its potential applications. Thus
the device avoids the dust flow in the environment and thereby
providing good solution for the problems faced by the student,
faculty and other electronic equipments that are used inside
the class room in a cost effective and time efficient way.
Key Terms— Rack and pinion, Black board cleaning aid,
Black board cleaner, black board, Automatic blackboard
1. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays many schools and colleges have different methods
of cleaning writing boards, but these methods are injurious to
many staff and students in the form of skin allergy ,skin
cancer, dust allergy etc.,. The design and usage of a remote
control to motorized the white board cleaner. These researches
consist of four modules the remote control and transmitter
module, the receiver module, pulse generator/ control module
and the cleaner module. The remote control unit is used to
control the speed and direction of the cleaner. The system is
more efficient and flexible. By using a simple circuit than a
micro controller circuit, we are able to make the operation a
little less complex and a more efficient.
The main aim of our project is to save time and
energy. In earlier days writing was done by sand, slate, walls,
and chalkboards. It‟s highly impossible to spend our time
always in cleaning of the white board and absorbing dust.
Instead of this, we can control the D.C motor so that the black
board can be cleaned. This indeed saves valuable time. We
can do by sequential coordination and by the use of forward or
reverse switch control. It is highly useful, as it possess various
advantages. The conventional black board is still largely in use
in many sectors. In the most recent times, processors have
found great applications in the field of electronics engineering
and automation. Dust collection is a major problem with
Chalk boards, and this is a problem essential to be rectified
because of the various health hazards it brings with it. The
best way to do this would be a vacuum collection system
within the cleaner itself. This helps trap the dust within the
dust collection system itself as well as not make the prototype
unnecessarily bulky.
An automatic blackboard duster is a device that is
generally used to clean board automatically with the help of
duster. By the use of this automatic blackboard duster we can
save time and energy. It is a new technology that is generally
used now a day. A device for automatically erasing a
Blackboard Cleaning Aid
Deshant M S 1
, Faizan Jameel2
, Dipendra Sah3
, Dheeraj J Ferrao4
UG Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NMIT Bangalore, Karnataka, India1, 2, 3, 4
Bangalore, Indi

blackboard wherein a duster is mounted for longitudinal
movement on the blackboard and has a motor mounted
thereon that is mechanically interconnected to a drive
assembly for producing the movement of the duster in an
erasing operation. This appertains to new and useful
improvements and more particularly to an apparatus whereby
blackboards can be cleaned in an easy and convenient manner.
The principal object of the present automatic blackboard
duster is to provide an attachment for blackboards in the form
of a power driven erasing apparatus which can be set in
operation by the throw of a switch, thus eliminating the
drudgery of manually cleaning blackboards. Another
important object of the invention is to provide an automatic
apparatus of the character described, which is positive-acting
in operation, and wherein the erasing elements can be
conveniently replaced and the other details of the mechanism
easily repaired in the event of the development of defects. The
utility model relates to teaching aid. The prior blackboard has
no automatic cleaning function, a teacher wastes time in
writing and erasing, and the use is not ideal. The utility model
provides an automatic blackboard cleaning system consisting,
an electric blackboard eraser, and a dust suppression and
collection system. The automatic blackboard cleaning system
and its structure is simple; the use is convenient, clean and
sanitary; and the effect of saving time is good.
1.1 PROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL
CHALKBOARD
 The time consumed in hand erasing is more.
 The problem of dust in hand erasing affect the human
being and creates a hazardous environment for both
teacher and student.
 Hand erasing requires human power thus wastage of
human energy.
1.2 SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
1. In this automatic blackboard duster the time required in
erasing is very less as compare to hand erasing.
2. The problem of dust in automatic blackboard duster is
controlled by the use of vacuum cleaner and dust suppression
and collection system
3. By automation of erasing mechanism, human energy can be
saved.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
This section includes background and various systems for
cleaning the whiteboard and blackboard. Different research
papers are referred to study the different systems and different
mechanisms.
Tiwari Ashutosh has explained through his paper titled,
“Manufacturing and Designing of an Automatic blackboard
Eraser” that the system he proposed was to interface the
mechanical aspects of the mechanical erasing system with
micro controllers so as to enhance it into automation rather
than manually, by using PIC micro controller to interface the
board erasing mechanism. [1]
S.Joshibaamali And K.Geetha Priya has explained that the
machine can operate in three selectable operatable modes. In
the first mode, it cleans the left side of the board.
Fig. 1 Automatic duster machine with three selectable modes
In the second mode it cleans the right side of the board. In the
third mode it cleans the whole area of the board. The machine
uses two stepper motors to move duster in horizontal (x-axis)
and vertical (y-axis) direction. To move the duster in up and
down direction linear motor is used. Infrared transceiver is
used to detect horizontal direction of motor. Four limit
switches are used to detect the boundary of the board. A
dsPIC30F401 microcontroller which was programmed in C
language is used as the main controller in the machine [2].
Mr. Sunil R. Kewate, Mr Inzamam T. Mujawar, Mr. Akash D.
Kewate, Mr.Hitesh R. Pant has explained in their paper that
the design and principles of sliding type wipe mechanism and

also carried out the implementation and experimentation for
motion analysis. The paper puts forward a kind of mechanism
design scheme, the mechanism can automatically detect the
blackboard chalk stains, and erase the font, keep the
blackboard clean. The further research work will be based on
computer processing i.e. on two parts of information
processing unit and motion control unit. This system consists
of two motors, three guide rails, and three sliders. The
construction of mechanical structure is slider 1 and slider 2 are
connected by cross guide rails C and is installed on them, can
be moved in parallel with the slider 3, power driven provided
by two motors A, B. Motor A drives the left and right
movement of cross rail beam C and motor B drives the vertical
movement of slider 3 (wipe system) to rub the blackboard
surface for cleaning by moving the wipe system along the rail
C together. The sensor is fitted at right most of the blackboard
to sense the right end position and signal passed to return the
wipe system along the rail C in original position [3].
Fig. 2 Blackboard erasing mechanism
S.nithyananth, A.Jagatheesh, K.Madan, B.Nirmalkumar has
explained about rack and pinion mechanism with the
application of steering mechanism. This mechanism is used in
automobiles to convert the rotation of steering wheels from
left to right or right to left. A rack and pinion is generally used
to convert the rotational motion into linear motion. Pinion
engages teeth on rack. In the steering mechanism the author is
trying to tell that the rotational motion applied to pinion will
cause rack to slide upto the limit of its travel [4][5].
Fig. 3 Rack-pinion with steering mechanism.
3. OBJECTIVES
There are two main objectives of doing this project.
 First objective is to design a low cost and user friendly
whiteboard or blackboard cleaner machine which can
erase the board with a single key pressed.
 Second objective is to enhance the efficiency and
accuracy of the movement of duster. The purpose is
to make the movement of this machine accurate even
if it has been used multiple times. Another important
purpose is to make the machine work faster and
smoothly.
4. PROBLEM STATEMENT
To Design and develop a black board cleaning system which
can overcome the problems related to wastage of time while
erasing the board, chalk dust, and discomfort for the teacher.
5. METHODOLOGY
System uses the rack and pinion mechanism for cleaning the
blackboard with the help of the synchronous motors.
Synchronous motors will run the pinions linearly on the rack
carrying the connecting strip with duster attached to it by
bearing arrangement. A simple on/off switch and limit switch
are also going to play minor role in this system for stopping
the pinion and rotating one gear clockwise and another anti-
clockwise. A vacuum dust collection system is also going to

be used to collect and trap the dust found on the board which
will save energy, time and eliminate the dust from circulating
in the surrounding air and creating a hazardous environment
for both the teacher as well as the student.
The entire system is designed to reduce the eventual error and
troubleshooting problems. When the controller button is
pressed the circuitget activated and starts the cleaning process.
Then the motor gets activated then drive the cleaner to clean
the board. When the cleaner reaches the end portion the relay
switch
gets
activat
ed and
it
autom
aticall
y
chang
es the polarity of the motors to move in the opposite direction
and reverse the direction of the motor, finally it reaches the
starting point of the board.
5.1 PARTS USED IN THE SYSTEM
 Blackboard
 Rack & pinion mechanism
 Motor
 Bearings
 Steel rod
 Duster
 Frame
 Switch
5.1.1 Motors
A DC motor is a mechanically commutated electric motor
powered from direct current (DC). The stator is stationary in
space by definition and therefore the current in the rotor is
switched by the commutator to also be stationary in space.
This is how the relative angle between the stator and rotor
magnetic flux is maintained near 90 degrees, which generates
the maximum torque.
DC motors have a rotating armature winding (winding in
which a voltage is induced) but non-rotating armature
magnetic field and a static field winding (winding that produce
the main magnetic flux) or permanent magnet. Different
connections of the field and armature winding provide
different inherent speed/torque regulation characteristics. The
speed of a DC motor can be controlled by changing the
voltage applied to the armature or by changing the field
current. The introduction of variable resistance in the armature
circuit or field circuit allowed speed control. Modern DC
motors are often controlled by power electronics systems
called DC drives. The introduction of DC motors to run
machinery eliminated the need for local steam or internal
combustion engines, and line shaft drive systems. DC motors
can operate directly from rechargeable batteries, providing the
motive power for the first electric vehicles. Today DC motors
are still found in applications as small as toys and disk drives,
or in large sizes to operate steel rolling mills and paper
machines.
SPECIFICATION OF COMPONENTS
Table 1. specifiacation of components
5.1.2 RACK AND PINION
Rack and pinion gears are used to convert rotation into linear
motion. The flat, toothed part is the rack and the gear is the
pinion. A piston coaxial to the rack provides hydraulic
assistance force, and an open centered rotary valve controls
the assist level. A rack and pinion gears system is composed
of two gears. The normal round gear is the pinion gear and the
straight or flat gear is the rack. The rack has teeth cut into it
and they mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear.
5.1.2.1 Gear Types
Straight teeth have the tooth axis parallel to the axis of
rotation. Straight teeth that run parallel to the axis of the gear.
Load movement or transfer is manual or walk-behind.
SL No. DESCRIPTION MATERIAL
1. BLACKBOARD WOODEN
2. RACK & PINION PLASTIC
3. DC GEARED MOTOR STANDARD
4. ROLLER BEARING STANDARD
5. BALL CASTER MILD STEEL
6. DUSTER SPONGE MATERIAL

Helical teeth gears provide continuous engagement along the
tooth length and are often quieter and more efficient than
straight tooth gears. Helical tooth gears resemble spur gears in
the plane of rotation, but include teeth that are twisted along a
helical path in the axial direction.
Roller pinion drives use bearing supported rollers that mesh
with the teeth of that rack in order to provide minimal to no
backlash.
Applications- Rack and pinion combinations are often used as
part of a simple linear actuator, where the rotation of a shaft
powered by hand or by a motor is converted to linear motion.
The rack carries the full load of the actuator directly and so the
driving pinion is usually small, so that the gear ratio reduces
the torque required. This force, thus torque, may still be
substantial and so it is common for there to be a reduction gear
immediately before this by either a gear or worm gear
reduction. Rack gears have a higher ratio, thus require a
greater driving torque, than screw actuators.
Fig. 4 Rack and pinion
5.1.3 BLACKBOARD
A blackboard or chalkboard is a reusable writing surface on
which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium
sulphate or calcium carbonate, known, when used for this
purpose, as chalk. Blackboards were originally made of
smooth, thin sheets of black or dark grey slate stone. Modern
versions are often green because the color is considered easier
on the eyes.
Fig. 5 3D View of Blackboard cleaning system
A blackboard can simply be a piece of board painted with
matte dark paint (usually black or dark green). A more modern
variation consists of a coiled sheet of plastic drawn across two
parallel rollers, which can be scrolled to create additional
writing space while saving what has been written. The highest
grade blackboards are made of rougher version porcelain
enameled steel (black, green, blue or sometimes other colors).
Porcelain is very hard wearing and blackboards made of
porcelain usually last 10–20 years in intensive use. Lecture
theatres may contain a number of blackboards in a grid
arrangement. The lecturer then moves boards into reach for
writing and then moves them out of reach, allowing a large
amount of material to be shown simultaneously. The chalk
marks can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth, a sponge or
a special blackboard eraser consisting of a block of wood
covered by a felt pad. However, chalk marks made on some
types of wet blackboard can be difficult to remove.
Blackboard manufacturers often advise that a new or newly
resurfaced blackboard be completely covered using the side of
a stick of chalk and then that chalk brushed off as normal to
prepare it for use.

Fig. 6 3D View of Blackboard cleaning system
5.1.4 VACUUM CLEANER
Vacuum cleaner is used to absorb the chalk dust that flutters in
the environment while erasing the blackboard. These dusts are
collected from the eraser apparatus A conventional vacuum
cleaner as shown in Fig 3.6. is actually made up of only six
essential components: An intake port, which may include a
variety of cleaning accessories
An exhaust port
 An electric motor
 A fan
 A porous bag
 A housing that contains all the other components
When the vacuum cleaner is plugged and turned on the
electric current operates the motor. The motor is attached to
the fan, which has angled blades. As the fan blades turn, they
force air forward, toward the exhaust port. When air particles
are driven forward, the density of particles (and therefore the
air pressure) increases in front of the fan and decreases behind
the fan. This pressure drop behind the fan is just like the
pressure drop in the straw when you sip from your drink. The
pressure level in the area behind the fan drops below the
pressure level outside the vacuum cleaner (the ambient air
pressure). This creates suction, a partial vacuum, inside the
vacuum cleaner. The ambient air pushes itself into the vacuum
cleaner through the intake port because the air pressure inside
the vacuum cleaner is lower than the pressure outside. As long
as the fan is running and the passageway through the vacuum
cleaner remains open, there is a constant stream of air moving
through the intake port and out the exhaust port. The key
principle is friction. Based on this principle the vacuum
cleaners are used to suck the dust from the eraser housing and
collect them in a bag.
Fig 7 Drafting of components
6. CALCULATIONS
Dust suction fan speed is 1300rpm by using tachometer.
Motor speed is 60rpm,
Pinion diameter is 25mm
V=∏DN/60
V=∏*25*10^-3*60/60
V=0.0785m/sec
For 1m, time taken is 1/0.0785sec.
For 3m, it is 3/0.0785 = 38.216sec.
For return it takes another 38.216sec
Total time taken is 76.433sec i.e. 1.27min
7. SCOPE
 Can be used in smart classroom eliminating chalk dust
Pollution.
 Reduces unproductive time in classroom.
 Reduces effort in cleaning the board.
 Providing cleaner board surface

8. CONCLUSION
The following conclusions were drawn from the present
project:
The product is designed to provide a cleaner classroom space
along with the advantage of saving productive type in the
classroom. The dust collected by the system can be stored and
reused to make chalk. This system is designed to reduce the
effort in cleaning the board and provide a cleaner class room
space. The system is energy efficient and maintenance is
simple.
9. REFERENCES
[1] Tiwari Ashutosh “Automatic blackboard eraser”
International Journal of Advanced Research in Electronics and
Communication Engineering (IJARECE)
Volume 4, Issue 4, April 2015
[2] S.Joshibaamali And K.Geetha Priya,‟ “Automatic Duster
Machine”, International Journal Of Emerging Technology In
Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE) ISSN: 0976-1353
Volume 13 Issue 1 –MARCH 2015.
[3] Mr. Sunil R. Kewate , Mr Inzamam T. Mujawar, Mr. Akash D.
Kewate , Mr.Hitesh R. Pant‟, Development of New Smart Design to
Erase the Classroom Blackboard of Schools/Colleges‟, IOSR Journal
of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) eISSN: 2278-
1684, p-ISSN: 2320-334X PP 57-61 .
[4]. S.Nithyananth, A.Jagatheesh, K.Madan, B.Nirmalkumar,‟
Convertable Four Wheels Steering With Three Mode Operation‟,
International Journal Of Research In Aeronautical And Mechanical
Engineering, Issn (Online): 2321-3051.
[5] Sharmila.C1, Ramya.M2, S. “Automatic Chalk Board Cleaner for
Smart Class Rooms” International Journal of Advanced Research in
and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 1, January 2016

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