JP4416600B2 - Article cleaning method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning adhered impurities on the surface of an article, and particularly for cleaning electronic parts or precision parts immediately after manufacture.

  In such electronic parts and precision parts, impurities (dirt) mainly composed of organic substances such as fats and oils, cutting oil, liquid crystal, and flux adhere to the surface of the parts immediately after the manufacturing process. Therefore, such impurities (dirt) must be removed before packaging and shipping as a product. Conventionally, hydrocarbon solvents such as kerosene, benzene and xylene, chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, and chlorofluorocarbon solvents have been used to remove such impurities (dirt). However, such a cleaning solution using a chlorinated solvent or a chlorofluorocarbon solvent is supposed to be abolished from the viewpoint of safety and environmental protection.

A cleaning method using vibration, particularly ultrasonic vibration, is well known. Furthermore, there is a cleaning method using a submerged shower method or a high-pressure shower nozzle method (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-21088

Furthermore, a cleaning method using a supercritical fluid is attracting particular attention with the flow of defluorination. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2.) A supercritical fluid indicates a fluid in a region exceeding the critical temperature inherent to the substance and the supercritical pressure, and has an intermediate viscosity, diffusion coefficient, and density between the gas and the liquid. It has a dissolving power. For example, in the case of carbon dioxide, it becomes a supercritical fluid under conditions of a temperature of 31.06 ° C. or higher and a pressure of 74.8 atm or higher.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-17333

  However, in the shower nozzle method, if the difference between the pressure in the cleaning tank and the shower nozzle pressure is large, the cleaning article may be damaged, and it is effective when there is only one article to be cleaned. When a plurality of articles to be cleaned are set on the tool, it is difficult to efficiently and uniformly clean all the articles to be cleaned.

  Since the supercritical fluid behaves as an inorganic medium, nonpolar organic substances such as oil can be dissolved and removed well. However, the impurities of inorganic substances or inorganic particles are not dissolved in the supercritical fluid. After cleaning with the supercritical fluid is completed, a liquid cleaning medium such as pure water is used separately, and the impurities are different from the supercritical fluid. Since adhering impurities are removed using the property and physical force, the number of processes is large and it takes time. Furthermore, the cleaning device using the supercritical fluid has a drawback that the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high because precise control is performed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to obtain an article cleaning method and apparatus that can be efficiently cleaned in a short time and at a low cost, and the apparatus cost is low.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides an article cleaning method for cleaning adhering impurities on an article surface.
An article to be cleaned is stored and held in a perforated container that can be sealed and rotated in a pressure-resistant cleaning tank,
From the liquid supply port and the gas supply port provided at the lower part of the cleaning tank, the cleaning liquid and the gas are pressurized and supplied to the inside of the cleaning tank, respectively.
The perforated container is rotated in the washing tank by a rotation driving means,
Articles to be cleaned held in the perforated container by generating a large amount of gas bubbles in the cleaning liquid by the turbulent flow generated by the rotation of the perforated container, and the hammering action of the cleaning liquid and a large amount of bubbles contained in the cleaning liquid And the cleaning liquid is discharged after the cleaning.

Further, the present invention provides an article cleaning apparatus for cleaning impurities adhered on the article surface.
A pressure-resistant cleaning tank that can be sealed by a lid means;
A perforated container which is rotatably provided in the cleaning tank and can store and hold an article to be cleaned;
A liquid supply port and a gas supply port provided in the lower part of the cleaning tank;
Cleaning liquid supply means for pumping the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank means to the liquid supply port;
Gas supply means for pumping gas from a gas supply source to a gas supply port;
Rotation driving means for rotating the perforated container in the cleaning tank;
Control means for controlling each of the above-mentioned means for cooperative operation is provided.

  According to the present invention, compared to a method and apparatus using a supercritical fluid, the apparatus cost is low, and due to the high pressure generated by the cleaning liquid and gas pumped into the cleaning tank and the turbulent flow generated by the rotation of the perforated container, Very fine bubbles are generated in the cleaning liquid, and even if there are a plurality of articles to be cleaned held in the perforated container by the hammering action of the cleaning liquid and a large amount of fine bubbles contained in the cleaning liquid, It can be cleaned in a short time, and the impact can be mitigated by the cushion of fine bubbles, so that the article to be cleaned can be cleaned without being damaged.

  In a preferred embodiment of the article cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning liquid supply means includes a heating means for raising the temperature of the cleaning liquid to a temperature of about 40 ° C. to about 60 ° C. According to this configuration, the viscosity of the cleaning liquid is lowered, and the article can be cleaned with high cleaning power.

  Further, in a preferred embodiment of the article cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning liquid supply means is provided between the discharge port provided at the top of the cleaning tank and the liquid supply port, and includes a filter means, a pressure adjusting means, a cleaning liquid tank means, A liquid circulation circuit including a valve unit and a pump unit is configured to maintain a constant internal pressure of the cleaning tank and supply cleaning liquid while purifying the used liquid. According to this configuration, cleaning can be performed efficiently with a small amount of cleaning liquid and at a low running cost.

  Further, in a preferred embodiment of the article cleaning apparatus of the present invention, a rinsing liquid tank means connected in parallel to the cleaning liquid tank means is provided in the liquid circulation circuit, and the rinsing liquid circulation is performed after the cleaning process. And the rinsed article is rinsed with a rinsing liquid that purifies and circulates. Preferably, a rinsing liquid discharge port and a valve means are provided in the lower part of the cleaning tank, and after the rinsing process is completed and the rinsing liquid is discharged, hot air is supplied into the cleaning tank from the hot air supply port provided in the cleaning tank. There is provided hot air generating means for feeding and drying the rinsed articles to be cleaned. According to this configuration, not only the cleaning process but also the rinsing process and the drying process can be performed consistently with a single apparatus.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a fluid circuit diagram of an article cleaning apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The article cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention has a pressure-resistant cleaning tank 3 that can be sealed by a lid means 2 and a rotating tank provided in the cleaning tank 3 so as to accommodate and hold an article to be cleaned. And a hole container. The perforated container 4b is, for example, a container provided with a number of holes (not shown) having a diameter of 5 to 7 mm, and further an article to be cleaned (not shown), for example, an electronic component immediately after the manufacturing process, The edge of the part is structured to be fixed to the container. Rotation driving means for rotating the perforated container 4b in the cleaning tank 3, for example, an electric motor 4a is provided.

  A liquid supply port 5a and a gas supply port 5b are provided in the lower portion of the cleaning tank 3. There is provided cleaning liquid supply means for pumping the cleaning liquid 7 from the cleaning liquid tank means 6 to the liquid supply port 5a. In the article cleaning apparatus 1 of the illustrated embodiment, this cleaning liquid supply means is configured as a liquid circulation circuit provided between the discharge port 8 provided in the upper part of the cleaning tank 3 and the liquid supply port 5a.

  Filter means 9c, pressure adjusting means 10, cleaning liquid tank means 6, valve means 20a, 20b and pump means 11 are provided in this liquid circulation circuit. A check valve 21a is provided between the pump means 11 and the liquid supply port 5a. The cleaning liquid tank means 6 preferably has a filter means 9a. With this configuration, the internal pressure of the cleaning tank 3 is kept constant, and the cleaning liquid 7 is supplied to the cleaning tank 3 while purifying the used liquid.

  The article cleaning apparatus 1 of the present invention is further provided with a gas supply means for pumping the gas from the gas supply source 12 to the gas supply port 5b through the pressure intensifier 13 and the check valve 21b. This gas can be, for example, at least one of air, carbon dioxide gas, and hydrocarbon gas.

  Further, it is preferable that the cleaning liquid supply means has a heating means 14 for raising the temperature of the cleaning liquid to a temperature of about 40 ° C. to about 60 ° C.

  In the illustrated embodiment, a rinsing liquid tank means 15 connected in parallel to the cleaning liquid tank means 6 is provided in the liquid circulation circuit, and the cleaning liquid is switched from the circulation of the cleaning liquid to the circulation of the rinsing liquid 16 after the cleaning process. The article is rinsed by a rinsing liquid 16 that purifies and circulates the article. It is preferable that the rinsing liquid tank means 15 has valve means 20c and 20d, and further has a filter means 9b like the cleaning liquid tank means 6.

  In the cleaning process, the valve means 20a and 20b are opened, the valve means 20c and 20d are closed, and the liquid circulation circuit circulates only the cleaning liquid 7 through the cleaning liquid tank means 6. In the rinsing step, the valve means 20a and 20b are closed, the valve means 20c and 20d are opened, and the liquid circulation circuit circulates only the rinsing liquid 16 through the rinsing liquid tank means 15.

  The rinsing liquid discharge port 17 and the valve means 20e are provided in the lower part of the cleaning tank 3. When the rinsing process is completed, the valve means 20e is opened, and the rinsing liquid 16 is discharged from the cleaning tank 3. After the rinsing liquid 16 is discharged, warm air generating means 19 is provided for supplying warm air into the cleaning tank from a warm air supply port 18 provided in the cleaning tank 3 and drying the rinsed articles to be cleaned. A check valve 21c for preventing the cleaning liquid or the rinsing liquid from flowing backward is provided in the duct for supplying the hot air to the hot air supply port 18.

  The article cleaning apparatus 1 of the present invention controls the valve means 20a to 20e, the pump means 11, the gas supply means (pressure intensifier 13), the rotation drive means (electric motor 4a), and the hot air generation means 19 (not shown). Control means for cooperative operation is provided.

  The article cleaning apparatus 1 of the embodiment of the illustrated embodiment opens the lid means 2 in a state where there is no liquid in the cleaning tank 3, accommodates and fixes the articles to be cleaned in the perforated container 4b, and valve means 20a, 20b. Is opened, the valve means 20c and 20d are closed, and the cleaning process is performed by operating the pump means 11, the gas supply means (pressure intensifier 13), and the rotation drive means (electric motor 4a).

  In this cleaning process, extremely fine bubbles are generated in the cleaning liquid 7 due to the high pressure generated by the cleaning liquid 7 and gas fed into the cleaning tank 3 and the turbulent flow generated by the rotation of the perforated container. Even if there are a plurality of articles to be cleaned held in the perforated container 4 by the hammering action of a large amount of fine bubbles contained in the The impact is alleviated by the cushion, and the article to be cleaned can be cleaned without being damaged.

  Next, the valve means 20a and 20b are closed by switching the valve means, the valve means 20c and 20d are opened, and the rinsing process is performed. Finally, the valve means 20e is opened, and the rinsing liquid 16 is washed inside the cleaning tank 3. Then, a drying process is performed in which warm air is fed into the cleaning tank 3 from the warm air supply port 18. After the drying is completed, the lid means 2 is opened, and the washed, rinsed and dried article is taken out.

  The article cleaning apparatus of the present invention can be used for cleaning manufactured articles in the manufacturing industry, for example, articles such as electronic parts and precision machine parts.

1 is a fluid circuit diagram of an article cleaning apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article washing apparatus 2 Lid means 3 Cleaning tank 4a Rotation drive means (electric motor)
4b Perforated container (container for objects to be cleaned)
5a Liquid supply port 5b Gas supply port 6 Cleaning liquid tank means 7 Cleaning liquid 8 Discharge port 9 Filter means 10 Pressure adjusting means 11 Pump means 12 Gas supply source 13 Intensifier 14 Heating means 15 Rinsing liquid tank means 16 Rinsing liquid 17 Rinsing liquid outlet 18 Hot air supply port 19 Hot air generating means 20a-e Open / close valve (stop valve)
21a-c Check valve

Claims (2)

In the article cleaning apparatus for cleaning impurities adhering to the surface of the article,
A pressure-resistant cleaning tank that can be sealed by a lid means;
A perforated container that is rotatably provided in the cleaning tank and can store and hold an article to be cleaned;
A liquid supply port and a gas supply port provided in a lower portion of the cleaning tank;
Cleaning liquid tank means for storing the cleaning liquid;
Rinsing liquid tank means for containing the rinsing liquid;
A liquid supply means for pumping the rinsing liquid contained in the cleaning liquid or the rinsing liquid tank unit is contained in the cleaning liquid tank means to said liquid supply port,
A gas supply for containing the gas;
And gas supply means for pumping the gas to the gas supply port from the gas supply source,
Rotation driving means for rotating the perforated container in the cleaning tank;
Control means for controlling each means to operate in cooperation with each other;
A cleaning liquid discharge port for discharging the used cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank;
A rinsing liquid outlet that is provided at a lower part of the cleaning tank and discharges the rinsing liquid in the cleaning tank;
Rinsing valve means provided at the bottom of the washing tank;
With
The liquid supply means includes a filter means, a pressure adjusting means, the cleaning liquid tank means, the rinse liquid tank means, a valve means and a pump means between the cleaning liquid discharge port or the rinse liquid discharge port and the liquid supply port. Configured as a liquid circulation circuit,
The rinsing liquid tank means is connected in parallel to the cleaning liquid tank means in the liquid circulation circuit,
While maintaining the internal pressure of the cleaning tank constant, the cleaning liquid used in the cleaning tank is discharged from the discharge port, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the liquid supply port while purifying the cleaning liquid. Is circulated through the washing tank ,
After washing the article, the circulation of the cleaning liquid is switched to circulation of the rinse liquid so that the washed article is rinsed by the circulating rinse liquid, and the rinse liquid valve means is rinsed after the article is rinsed. Is opened, and the rinsing liquid in the cleaning tank is discharged from the rinsing liquid discharge port . A hot air supply port provided in front Symbol cleaning tank,
After discharging the rinsing liquid from the previous SL rinsing liquid discharge ports, feeds feeding hot air into the cleaning tank from said hot air supply port, it comprises a a hot air generating means for drying the articles rinsed The article cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 .

Images