JP2007069052A - Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, ultrasonic cleaning method and method for manufacturing cleaned product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus capable of effectively cleaning the surface of a work. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus is provided with: a holding means for holding the work 100; and an ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 into which a cleaning liquid is supplied and in which ultrasonic waves can be transmitted to the supplied cleaning liquid. The work 100 is moved so as to increase/decrease the part 104 to be immersed in the cleaning liquid W, which is a part of the part 102 to be cleaned of the held work 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to ultrasonic cleaning, and more particularly to an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, an ultrasonic cleaning method, and a method for manufacturing a cleaned product.

  In a glass container such as a glass bottle, fine foreign matters such as oil residue and carbon may adhere to or bind to the surface in the manufacturing process. Such foreign matter itself does not affect the quality of the filling itself filled in the container, but may interfere with the adhesion and smoothness of the coating film applied to the surface of the glass container. . In addition, such fine pieces may be misidentified in the foreign substance inspection after the container is filled with the product.

Conventionally, in order to clean the surface of a glass container or the like, a method of brush cleaning by passing between a pair of brush bodies that rotate a glass bottle on a conveyor is generally known. In addition, it is also known that ultrasonic cleaning is performed by immersing a glass container side by side in a mesh cage and then immersing it in an ultrasonic water tank (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-328050

  However, the degree of adhesion of such foreign matters to the surface varies, and it has been difficult to remove the foreign matters at a high rate regardless of the surface cleaning by the conventional cleaning technique. In addition, according to the method in which workpieces are stored side by side in a mesh basket and immersed in an ultrasonic cleaning tank for cleaning, the surface of the workpiece may be damaged due to contact between the workpieces or contact with the basket, The solution sometimes penetrated.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and an ultrasonic cleaning method that can effectively clean a workpiece surface or remove foreign matters. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and an ultrasonic cleaning method capable of cleaning a workpiece surface or removing foreign matters without damaging the workpiece surface. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and an ultrasonic cleaning method capable of effectively avoiding the penetration of the cleaning liquid into the workpiece. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a cleaned product.

  The present inventors, when cleaning the workpiece surface using ultrasonic waves, effective ultrasonic cleaning by devising the work holding form in the ultrasonic cleaning tank, that is, the posture and movement of the work relative to the cleaning liquid As a result, the inventors have found that at least one of the problems described above can be solved, and have completed the present invention. That is, according to the present invention, the following means are provided.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, a holding means for holding a workpiece, an ultrasonic cleaning tank that is supplied with a cleaning liquid and can oscillate ultrasonic waves with respect to the supplied cleaning liquid, There is provided an apparatus, comprising: a work driving means for moving the work so as to change a portion of the held work to be cleaned that is immersed in the cleaning liquid.

  In this embodiment, the workpiece driving means may be a means for moving the workpiece so as to enlarge and / or reduce the immersion portion of the workpiece or a means for moving the workpiece without changing the area of the immersion portion of the workpiece. Further, the work driving means repeatedly executes the step of immersing the workpiece under the liquid surface of the cleaning liquid and the step of exposing the liquid surface of the cleaning liquid in at least a part of the workpiece to be cleaned. It can also be a means of movement.

  In this embodiment, the work driving means may be a means for rotating, swinging or moving the work up and down. In this aspect, the work driving means may be means for holding the work obliquely with respect to the surface of the cleaning liquid and rotating the work around a rotation axis.

  In this embodiment, the work driving means can be a means for moving the work conveyed in the ultrasonic cleaning tank.

  In this embodiment, the work driving means may be means for driving the work holding means for holding the work to move the work. In this aspect, the work driving means can be a continuous body that can be transferred in the ultrasonic cleaning liquid tank while rotating the work holding means by engaging with a gear provided in the work holding means.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of workpiece holding means may be provided so as to hold a plurality of workpieces. In this aspect, the workpiece holding means may be provided so as to hold the workpieces conveyed from the workpiece manufacturing process one after another.

  In this embodiment, the work holding means holding the work can be further transferred to the ultrasonic cleaning tank and the work holding means can be carried out of the ultrasonic cleaning tank. In this aspect, the conveying means of the workpiece holding means can be a rail body that supports a part of the workpiece holding means.

  In this embodiment, a detection unit that detects the workpiece holding unit that does not hold the workpiece and a guide that supports the workpiece holding unit so as not to be driven by the workpiece driving unit may be provided. Further, brushing means for the workpiece can be provided downstream of the ultrasonic cleaning tank. Furthermore, the work drying means can be provided downstream of the brushing means.

  In this embodiment, the workpiece may be a bottle, and the workpiece holding means may be a means for holding the bottle so as to close the opening of the bottle. The workpiece may be made of glass.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glassware manufacturing apparatus comprising any one of the above ultrasonic manufacturing apparatuses.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic cleaning method, in which cleaning is performed while changing a portion of the workpiece to be cleaned that is immersed in the cleaning liquid in the ultrasonic cleaning tank. A cleaning method comprising the steps is provided.

  In this embodiment, the cleaning step can be a step of rotating, swinging or vertically moving the workpiece. Moreover, the said washing | cleaning process can also be set as the process of ultrasonically cleaning, conveying the said workpiece | work inside the said ultrasonic cleaning tank in a fixed direction. Furthermore, a plurality of workpieces may be supplied individually and continuously to the cleaning step, and the workpieces may be carried out individually and continuously from the cleaning step.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a product having a cleaned surface, wherein the product surface is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning while changing a portion immersed in a cleaning liquid in an ultrasonic cleaning tank. A manufacturing method is provided comprising a cleaning step of cleaning the surface.

  In this embodiment, a surface processing step for processing the surface of the product whose surface has been cleaned can be provided after the cleaning step. In this embodiment, the product can be a glass product.

  The ultrasonic cleaning method of the present invention is characterized by including a cleaning step of ultrasonic cleaning while changing the portion of the workpiece to be cleaned to be cleaned in the cleaning liquid in the ultrasonic cleaning tank. Further, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a holding means for holding a workpiece, an ultrasonic cleaning tank that is supplied with a cleaning liquid and can oscillate ultrasonic waves with respect to the supplied cleaning liquid, and that cleans the held work. And a workpiece driving means for moving the workpiece so as to change a region immersed in the cleaning liquid in a portion to be cleaned.

  According to the cleaning method and the cleaning apparatus, the held work is cleaned while changing the portion immersed in the cleaning liquid in the portion to be cleaned. FIG. 1 shows the cleaning action in the cleaning method of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the workpiece 100 is supported and immersed obliquely with respect to the cleaning liquid W, and the immersion portion 104 in the cleaning liquid W is changed by rotating along the long axis of the workpiece 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the immersion portion 104 immersed in the cleaning liquid W among the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100 is cleaned by an effect of a shock wave (cavitation effect) that ruptures microbubbles in the cleaning liquid. On the other hand, when the immersion portion 104 changes and the immersion portion 104 comes out on the surface of the cleaning liquid W, microbubbles near the workpiece 100 are easily ruptured, and the surface of the workpiece 100 is cleaned by the cavitation effect promoted thereby. Is done. That is, in the state of FIG. 1, the portion 106 near the liquid surface of the cleaning liquid W of the workpiece 100 corresponds to the portion where the immersion portion 104 is exposed on the liquid surface of the cleaning liquid W. Will be cleaned by cavitation. In addition, when the immersion part 104 of the workpiece | work 100 is exposed on the liquid level of the washing | cleaning liquid W, the atomization phenomenon of the washing | cleaning liquid has arisen as a result by burst of a microbubble. In this way, by changing the portion 104 immersed in the cleaning liquid W, the portion 102 to be cleaned of the workpiece 100 is cleaned by the cavitation effect in the cleaning liquid W and the surface of the cleaning liquid W when exposed. Cleaning is performed by two types of cleaning actions, ie, a cleaning action by a cavitation effect. As a result, the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100 is effectively cleaned.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic cleaning method, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, a product manufacturing method, and the like according to the present invention will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS.

(Ultrasonic cleaning method)
(work)
The workpiece 100 in the present invention is not particularly limited, and includes all workpieces 100 that require cleaning. Among them, it is preferable to apply to products in which foreign matter and cleanliness on the inner and outer surfaces such as glass, plastic, ceramics, semiconductors, liquid crystals, and containers may greatly affect the quality of the final product. Examples of the workpiece 100 include glass or plastic containers used for packaging containers for foods and the like. In particular, it is preferable to apply the present invention to a glass product such as a bottle-like container immediately after production in the glass production process because the adhesion strength of surface foreign matter tends to be strong. Also, printed circuit boards, optical components for electronic components, components and intermediate products in electronic component manufacturing processes such as contacts, glass substrates, liquid crystal cells, masks, carrier cassettes, components and intermediate products in liquid crystal manufacturing processes such as alignment films, crystals Examples include parts and intermediate products in the manufacturing process of precision processed products such as vibrators, and parts or intermediate products in the automobile manufacturing process such as brake parts.

(Washed part)
The portion to be cleaned 102 that is a portion to be cleaned of the workpiece 100 differs depending on the type of the workpiece 100, but is usually the surface thereof, that is, the outer surface. In the case of a container-like workpiece 100 having an inner surface, the inner surface may be used as the portion to be cleaned 102. The portion to be cleaned 102 may be a part of the outer surface or the inner surface of the workpiece 100, or the entire surface. The portion to be cleaned 102 differs depending on the type and application of the workpiece.

(Ultrasonic cleaning tank)
The ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 is used for cleaning the workpiece 100. FIG. 2 shows an example of an ultrasonic cleaning tank. The ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 includes a cleaning tank 22 to which a cleaning liquid is supplied, an oscillator 24 that generates ultrasonic power, and a vibrator 26 that generates ultrasonic vibration. As the cleaning tank 22, a conventionally known cleaning tank can be used without being particularly limited, such as a large opening container. The cleaning tank 22 is usually an overflow type in order to quickly remove the removed foreign matters from the cleaning liquid, and adjusts the temperature of the cleaning liquid supply unit including a pump unit that constantly supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank. A temperature control unit can be provided.

  The oscillator 24 is not particularly limited, and various types used for such ultrasonic cleaning can be used. Similarly, various types of vibrators 26 can be used. For example, a throwing mold that is used by being placed in the cleaning tank 22, a diaphragm mold that is attached to the bottom of the cleaning tank 22, and a cleaning tank mold that is integrated with the cleaning tank 22 can be used.

  What is necessary is just to select suitably as an ultrasonic generation system in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 according to the objective of cleaning. For example, a continuous oscillation method, a widening modulation method, a frequency modulation method, a simultaneous multi-frequency method, an alternating multi-frequency method, a horn cleaning method, or the like is selected. The power to the oscillator 24 is controlled by a separately provided controller.

  There may be one ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 or a plurality of ultrasonic cleaning tanks 20 may be provided in series or in parallel. In the case where the ultrasonic cleaning tanks 20 are provided in series, the cleaning tanks 22 to which the cleaning liquid W having gradually decreased cleaning strength is supplied from the cleaning tank 22 to which the cleaning liquid W having high cleaning strength is supplied can be arranged.

(Cleaning solution)
The cleaning liquid W used in the present invention is not particularly limited. Various cleaning agents such as aqueous, semi-aqueous, and non-aqueous can be used. The aqueous cleaning liquid can contain an acid, an alkali, an organic solvent, and a surfactant in addition to water. The semi-aqueous cleaning liquid contains water and an organic solvent, and in addition, an acid, an alkali, and a surfactant can be used. Further, the non-aqueous cleaning liquid is composed of an organic solvent such as a hydrocarbon solvent, an alcohol solvent, a fluorine solvent, or a chlorine solvent. In the present invention, it is preferable to use an aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid from the viewpoint of environment and processing cost, more preferably an aqueous cleaning liquid, and only water is preferable in terms of the environment.

(Washing process)
In the present invention, ultrasonic cleaning is performed while changing the portion 104 to be cleaned of the workpiece 100 that is immersed in the cleaning liquid W. In order to change the immersion portion 104, the workpiece 100 can be moved to enlarge and / or reduce the immersion portion 104 of the workpiece 100, for example. Specifically, the workpiece 100 may be swung, moved up and down, or rotated with respect to the cleaning liquid W. As shown in FIG. 3, the immersion portion 104 of the workpiece 100 can be enlarged or reduced by vertically moving the workpiece 100 while supporting the workpiece 100 vertically with respect to the liquid level W1. In addition, naturally the change of the immersion part 104 accompanies expansion and contraction of the immersion part 104. FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, by swinging the workpiece 100 with respect to the liquid level W <b> 1 of the cleaning liquid W, the area of the immersion portion 104 in the workpiece 100 can be enlarged / reduced. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the area of the immersion part 104 in the workpiece 100 can be enlarged or reduced by rotating the workpiece 100 with respect to the liquid level W1.

  Moreover, the immersion part 104 of the workpiece | work 100 can be changed by moving the workpiece | work 100 so that a different part of the workpiece | work 100 may be immersed without changing the area of the immersion part 104. FIG. Specifically, the workpiece 100 may be rotated around the internal rotation axis. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the workpiece is supported obliquely or parallel to the liquid level W1 so that a part of the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100 is immersed in the liquid level W1. By rotating 100, a different part can be used as the immersion part 104 while keeping the area of the immersion part 104 constant. In particular, the outer peripheral surface can be cleaned without immersing the periphery of the opening in the cleaning liquid W in the case where the workpiece 100 is a bottle-like container by performing such a rotational motion while the workpiece 100 is supported obliquely with respect to the liquid level W1.

  Note that the workpiece 100 may be moved by combining these two types of movements.

  In other words, such a change in the immersion portion 104 is repeatedly performed by a step of immersing at least a part of the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100 under the liquid surface W1 of the cleaning liquid W and a step of exposing the surface of the cleaning liquid W on the liquid surface W1. It can also be said that this is caused by the movement of the workpiece 100 as described above. That is, the two types of cleaning actions of the present invention are effectively performed by allowing the liquid level W1 to pass through the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100.

  In addition, the workpiece | work 100 can make the exercise | movement which combined these various exercise | movements suitably. In order to carry out a continuous cleaning process, it is preferable to perform such movement while conveying the workpiece 100 through the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 as will be described later.

  In such ultrasonic cleaning, in order to change the immersion portion 104 of the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100, it is effective to move the workpiece 100 with respect to the liquid surface W1, but the viewpoint of obtaining an effective cleaning action and the workpiece 100 In order to prevent scratches on the surface, it is preferable to move each workpiece 100 in a state where it is held so as not to come into contact with other workpieces or holding means. Preferably, the workpieces 100 are held individually.

  In order to process a plurality of workpieces 100, it is preferable to transport the workpieces 100 in a certain direction through the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20. In this way, continuous processing is possible while ensuring the necessary cleaning time.

  In addition, it is preferable that a plurality of workpieces 100 are supplied individually and continuously to the cleaning process, and the workpieces 100 are unloaded individually and continuously from the cleaning process. By conveying the workpiece 100 in this manner, the workpiece 100 can be efficiently cleaned. Moreover, it can respond easily to the workpiece manufacturing process in which workpieces are continuously supplied.

  Note that a brushing step can be provided after the cleaning step. When such a contact-type cleaning process can be performed, the brushing process can be provided to remove foreign substances that have reattached in the cleaning process or that cannot be completely removed.

  Further, a rinsing step and a drying step can be provided after the cleaning step or the brushing step. The drying process includes a drying process by heat or a preheating process in addition to a draining process by blowing air. These various processes can be added as needed.

  According to the above embodiment, a method for producing a product having a cleaned surface, wherein the surface is cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning while changing a portion of the product surface immersed in a cleaning liquid in an ultrasonic cleaning tank. A manufacturing method including a process can also be easily implemented as an embodiment of the present invention. In such a manufacturing method, a surface processing step for processing the surface of the product whose surface has been cleaned can be provided after the cleaning step. Here, the surface processing step can be, for example, a coating layer forming step or a printing step. Moreover, such a manufacturing method can be preferably applied particularly to glass products. This is because foreign substances having various fixing strengths adhere to glass products in addition to general dirt, and these foreign substances are effectively removed by the above-described cleaning process.

(Ultrasonic cleaning device)
Hereinafter, a preferable apparatus for carrying out the above-described ultrasonic cleaning method will be described with reference to an embodiment of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 of this embodiment is an apparatus that uses a glass bottle-shaped container as a work 100 and cleans the outer surface thereof. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 is supplied with a cleaning liquid, and an ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 capable of oscillating ultrasonic waves with respect to the supplied cleaning liquid, a work holder 30 that holds a work, and a work 100 that is held. And a workpiece driving device 60 that moves the workpiece 100 so as to change the portion 104 immersed in the cleaning liquid W in the portion to be cleaned 102. In addition, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 generally includes a loading zone A for loading the workpiece 100 onto the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2, an ultrasonic cleaning zone B for performing ultrasonic cleaning using the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20, and a brushing zone C. A draining zone D, a drying zone E, and an unloading zone F are provided.

  The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 includes a rail body 40 as a transport unit that transports a plurality of workpiece holders 30. The rail body 40 has a closed annular structure. By setting it as the closed annular structure, the workpiece holding body 30 can be repeatedly used exclusively for ultrasonic cleaning. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 is provided with the various zones A to F along the rail body 40, and the work holder 30 is conveyed to the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 and is also used in the ultrasonic cleaning tank. Then, the workpiece 100 can be conveyed while being held over the brushing zone, the draining zone, and the drying zone. That is, the workpiece holder 30 holds the workpiece 100 in the loading zone A, cleans the workpiece 100 by immersing the workpiece 100 in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 in the ultrasonic cleaning zone B, and cleans the surface of the workpiece 100 in the brushing zone C. Brush cleaning is performed, and water droplets on the surface of the workpiece 100 are blown off in the draining zone D, dried with hot air in the drying zone E, and finally the holding state of the workpiece 100 is released in the unloading zone F.

  In addition, the rail body 40 is configured with a height so that the workpiece 100 can be held at a required height in various zones A to F. For example, in the ultrasonic cleaning zone B, the rail body 40 is formed at a low position so as to have a height corresponding to the liquid level W1, and the work holding body 30 is configured to be transportable at a low position. Further, accompanying the rail body 40, a guide for regulating the work holding body 30 is provided so that the work holding body 30 can form and hold necessary postures in various zones A to F. For example, in the loading zone A, the work holding structure 30 at the lower end of the work holding body 30 can maintain its posture firmly with respect to the approach and fitting of the opening of the work 100 from below. Two guides are provided along both sides. In the ultrasonic cleaning zone B, a guide for maintaining an oblique posture with respect to the liquid level W1 of the cleaning liquid W is provided. Further, in the ultrasonic cleaning zone B and the brushing zone C, an avoidance guide for avoiding the passage of the work holder 30 that does not hold the workpiece 100 through the ultrasonic cleaning zone B and the brushing zone C is provided.

  The work holding bodies 30 are suspended and supported by the rail body 40 so as to be swingable and rotatable and arranged in a row so as to be slidable. The workpiece holding means 30 holds the workpiece 100 individually in consideration of suppression of scratches on the surface of the workpiece 100, movement of the workpiece 100, cleaning efficiency, and the like. Therefore, the work holding means 30 is individually provided for the plurality of works 100 supplied to the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2. In addition, as long as the contact and washing | cleaning of the workpiece | work 100 are not prevented, it is good also as a structure where the one workpiece holding body 30 hold | maintains the some workpiece | work 100 collectively.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the work holding body 30 includes a member that can be engaged with the rail body 40 at one end and a sealing member 32 that is inserted into the opening of the work 100 at the other end and blocks the opening. And a chuck member 34 for gripping the vicinity of the opening sealed by the sealing member from the outside. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent only the cleaning liquid and the like from entering from the opening of the workpiece 100 and clean only the outer surface. The sealing member 32 can be made of a resin such as silicone resin. In addition, the workpiece holder 30 includes a gear 36 above the chuck member 34 so that the workpiece holder 30 can be driven by the workpiece holder driving device 60 in the ultrasonic cleaning zone B.

  An example of the mounting state of the work holder 30 to the rail body 40 is also shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, a roller 38 on the back surface side of a block chain 37 to which a work holding body 30 is attached so as to be swingable and rotatable slides on a rail body 40. The work holder 30 is supported so as to be swingable with respect to the bracket 39 fixed to the block chain 37.

  The form of the work holding means 30 is selected according to the form of the work 100. It is preferable that the workpiece holding means 30 holds the workpiece 100 with as little contact as possible with the portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100. For example, a holding member that holds both surfaces of the workpiece 100 or sucks one surface of the workpiece 100 can be used. Further, with respect to a long workpiece 100 such as a rod shape, a cylinder shape, or a bottle shape, a holding body in which one end of the workpiece 100 is held by a chuck member, a suction member, and a clamping member may be used.

  The loading zone A includes a loading device 50 for holding the individual workpieces 100 individually and sequentially by the workpiece holder 30. By individually and sequentially holding the workpieces 100 conveyed from the manufacturing process of the workpiece 100 that is the previous stage of the cleaning process by the ultrasonic cleaning device 2, the workpiece 100 can be efficiently cleaned and the workpiece 100 can be efficiently produced. .

  The loading device 50 includes a loader 54 that rotates a plurality of mounting tables 52 on which the workpieces 100 are respectively mounted with a constant trajectory while changing the height position, and a transfer that transfers the workpieces 100 on the conveyor to the mounting table 52. A mounting device 56 is provided. In the loading device 50, for example, the mounting table 52 in the loader 54 is at the same height as the conveyor that conveys the workpiece 100 at the lowest position of the trajectory, and the workpiece 100 on the conveyor is transferred to the loading device at a predetermined position. It is pushed out by 56 and transferred to the mounting table 52. Thereafter, the mounting table 52 approaches the work holding body 30 suspended at a certain height while gradually rising, and presses the opening of the work 100 against the sealing member 32 of the work holding body 30 at almost the highest position. 100 is held by the work holder 30. The workpiece holder 30 is controlled such that when the contact of the workpiece 100 is detected, the chuck member 34 grips the vicinity of the opening of the workpiece 100. Thereafter, the mounting table 52 gradually decreases, returns to the transfer position of the workpiece 100 again, and mounts a new workpiece 100. In this manner, the plurality of mounting tables 52 are driven so that the workpieces 100 that are successively carried on the conveyor are sequentially loaded and held by the workpiece holder 30. Note that the height of the movement path of the mounting table 52 in the loader 54 is appropriately adjusted according to the height of the workpiece 100. For example, when the height of the workpiece 100 is high, the mounting table 52 does not necessarily transfer the workpiece 100 at the lowest position and hold the workpiece 100 on the workpiece holder 30 at the highest position as described above. The reverse is also possible.

  Note that the trajectory with the height change of the mounting table 52 in the loader 54 is such that a rail body with a predetermined height change is provided along the trajectory, and the support shaft that supports the mounting table 52 is engaged with the rail body. And can be easily formed by extending and contracting in accordance with the engagement height. Further, the transfer device 56 can include an extruding member that supports the vicinity of the bottom of the workpiece 100 on the conveyor and pushes it to the mounting table 52. In order to securely hold the workpiece 100 on the workpiece holder 30 in the loading zone A, the interval (pitch) of the workpieces 100 on the conveyor is adjusted to be constant before reaching the transfer device 56. An aligning device for aligning may be provided.

  The ultrasonic cleaning zone B includes an ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 and a work driving device 60. Although the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 is as described above, in this embodiment, a diaphragm type vibrator 26 attached to the bottom of the cleaning tank 22 is used, and an ultrasonic generation method is continuous oscillation. The method is adopted. In this embodiment, two ultrasonic cleaning tanks 20 are arranged in series. By doing so, even when the workpiece 100 is transported and cleaned in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20, the necessary cleaning time can be ensured without greatly reducing the speed in the ultrasonic cleaning zone B. .

  The workpiece driving device 60 is a device that moves the workpiece 100 so as to change the portion 104 immersed in the cleaning liquid W in the portion to be cleaned 102 of the held workpiece 100. Various aspects of moving the workpiece 100 so as to change the immersion portion 104 of the workpiece 100 are as already described in the ultrasonic cleaning method. In the present embodiment, the workpiece 100 is driven by driving the workpiece holder 30 so as to make a predetermined movement.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the workpiece driving device 60 of the present embodiment is provided with an endless chain 62 that engages with a gear 36 provided in a part of the workpiece holding means 30 along the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20. The workpiece holding means 30 is rotated along with the conveyance by carrying the workpiece holding means 30 in the engaged state. As a result, the workpiece 100 is held obliquely with respect to the liquid level W1 of the cleaning liquid W and is rotated about the center line of the workpiece 100 as a rotation axis.

  Note that a work detection device 64 that detects whether or not the work holder 30 transported to the ultrasonic cleaning zone B is holding a work is provided in front of the ultrasonic cleaning zone B. The workpiece detection device 64 is configured by a photoelectric sensor or the like, and detects the presence or absence of the workpiece 100 by projecting light to a portion where the workpiece 100 held by the workpiece holder 30 should be present and detecting reflected light. It is supposed to be. The work holder 30 that is not holding the work 100 is flipped up by a jumping device (not shown) and supported by the avoidance guide before reaching the ultrasonic cleaning zone B. The avoidance guide is configured to pass the ultrasonic cleaning zone B while holding the work holder 30 at such a height that the cleaning liquid in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 does not adhere. As such a sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like can be used.

  The brushing zone C includes a brushing device 70 that brushes the outer surface of the workpiece 100 pulled up from the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the brushing device 70 includes a brush row in which roll brush bodies 72 are arranged in two rows, and a water injection nozzle 74. Each roll brush body 72 is horizontally mounted with a rotation axis along the conveying direction of the workpiece 100. Further, the water injection nozzle 74 is provided so as to pass through the brush body 72 and reach the workpiece 100. When the work 100 supported by suspension passes between the roll brush bodies 72, the outer surface of the work 100 is brushed by pouring water into the work 100 while rotating the roll brush bodies 72.

  Further, above the brush bodies 72 and the water injection nozzles 74, there are provided shielding members 76 that extend obliquely downward from the upper sides of the brush bodies 72 toward the central portion between the two roll brush bodies 72. ing. The shielding member 76 shields the space between the roll brush body 72 and the vicinity of the opening of the work 100, and water droplets scattered by cleaning by the brush body 72 adhere to the vicinity of the opening of the work 100 and the chuck member 34 of the work holding body 30. Is to prevent. The shielding member 76 is formed over substantially the entire length of the roll brush body 72.

  Further, in the brushing zone C, an avoidance guide for supporting the workpiece holder 30 that is detected not to hold the workpiece 100 by the workpiece detector 64 before the ultrasonic zone B is continuously formed as it is. In addition, the workpiece holder 30 in an empty state is prevented from entering the brushing zone C by the avoidance guide subsequently from the ultrasonic cleaning zone B. The avoidance guide is then provided so as to avoid the empty work holder 30 from entering the draining zone D and the drying zone E, and is continuously formed until the drying zone E is exceeded. For this reason, the empty workpiece holder 30 is conveyed in the same row as the other workpiece holders 30 in the unloading zone F.

  The draining zone D is provided with a blower 80 for drying water adhering to the surface of the workpiece 100. The blower 80 includes a plurality of blow nozzles in the hood, and the surface of the workpiece 100 can be quickly dried by blowing air from the blow nozzle at a wind speed of about 50 m / s to 100 m / s. ing.

  The drying zone E includes a hood 82 having a heater inside. The drying zone E can be used not only for drying the workpiece 100 but also as a preheating zone necessary for the workpiece 100 to perform coating or printing at a later stage.

  The unloading zone F includes an unloading device 90 for separating individual workpieces 100 from the workpiece holder 30 individually and sequentially. By carrying out like this, each workpiece | work 100 can be efficiently conveyed to a subsequent apparatus, for example, a coating apparatus and a packaging apparatus sequentially.

  The unloading device 90 basically has a configuration corresponding to the loading device 50. That is, a plurality of mounting tables 92 on which the workpieces 100 are respectively mounted are arranged side by side and rotated with a constant trajectory and changing the height position, and the workpiece 100 detached from the workpiece holder 30 is transferred from the mounting table 92 to the conveyor. And a transfer device 96 for transferring to the camera. In the unloading device 90, for example, the mounting table 92 of the unloader 94 mounts the workpiece 100 separated from the workpiece holder 30 at the highest position of the trajectory, and is a conveyor that gradually lowers and conveys the workpiece 100. The movement direction is regulated by the transfer device 96 at a predetermined position at the same height position, and the transfer device 96 is transferred onto the conveyor. In this embodiment, the transfer device 96 is a fixed direction restricting bar, and when the workpiece 100 on the mounting table 92 comes close to the conveyor as the unloader 94 rotates, it comes into contact with the direction restricting bar. Extruded on a regulated conveyor. Similar to the loader, the height of the movement path of the mounting table 92 in the unloader 94 is appropriately adjusted according to the height of the workpiece 100. For example, when the height of the workpiece 100 is high, the mounting table 92 does not necessarily have to place the workpiece 100 at the highest position and gradually lower it to transfer it to the conveyor. It can be the case.

  Next, the cleaning operation of the workpiece 100 by the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 will be described. First, when the workpiece 100 is placed on the conveyor and conveyed to the loading zone A and reaches a predetermined position, the workpiece 100 is sequentially rotated by the loader 54 near the bottom of the workpiece 100 by the pushing member to the transfer device 56. It is pushed out to the mounting table 52 and mounted on the mounting table 52. When the mounting table 52 rises gradually and presses the opening of the work 100 against the sealing member 32 of the work holding body 30 that is suspended and supported by the rail body 40, the chuck member 34 grips the vicinity of the opening of the work 100 from the outside. Hold the workpiece 100 firmly.

  When the work holding body 30 suspended from the rail body 40 comes before the ultrasonic cleaning zone B, the work detecting device 64 sequentially checks the presence / absence of a work. Is actuated to jump up the workpiece holder 30 to be supported by the avoidance guide and pass over the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20. On the other hand, when the workpiece holder 30 holds the workpiece 100, the workpiece holder 30 is conveyed to the ultrasonic cleaning zone B as it is.

  In the ultrasonic cleaning zone B, the rail body 40 determines the trajectory, and the guide attached to the rail body 40 is so immersed that the work 100 is obliquely immersed in the cleaning liquid W, and almost half of the work is below the liquid level W1. The posture of the holding body 30 is controlled. Simultaneously with such posture control, the gear 36 provided on the workpiece holder 30 is engaged with the chain 62, whereby the gear 36 is rotated as the workpiece holder 30 is conveyed. As a result, the workpiece holder 30 and the workpiece holder 30 are rotated. The workpiece 100 held by the head rotates along its own central axis. The immersion posture of the workpiece 100 in the cleaning liquid W is set so that the entire portion to be cleaned 102 of the workpiece 100 comes into contact with the cleaning liquid W when the workpiece 100 rotates.

  As described above, when the workpiece 100 is driven and conveyed, when the portion 102 to be cleaned on the outer surface of the workpiece 100 is immersed in the cleaning liquid W, a cleaning action due to a cavityation effect or the like in the cleaning liquid W acts. When the liquid surface W1 is in the vicinity of the liquid surface W1, the cleaning action by the cavitation effect promoted in the vicinity of the surface of the workpiece 100 acts, and almost all of the portion to be cleaned 102 has these two types of cleaning actions. Will be washed by. Therefore, the portion to be cleaned 102 can be cleaned uniformly and the surface can be effectively cleaned by different cleaning actions. Furthermore, re-adhesion of foreign matter to the surface of the workpiece 100 is suppressed by repeating immersion under the liquid surface W1 and exposure onto the liquid surface W1.

  In the present embodiment, two ultrasonic cleaning tanks 20 are arranged in series along the rail body 40. Therefore, the work holder 30 is supported by being pulled upward between the first ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 and the second ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 by the guide attached to the rail body 40. It has become.

  In the brushing zone C, the rail body 40 conveys the work 100 held by the work holding body 30 so as to pass through the two roll brush bodies 72 of the brushing device 70. The surface of the workpiece 100 is washed with water that is ejected from the rotating roll brush body 72 and the water injection nozzle 74. The surface of the workpiece 100 is effectively cleaned by the rotation of the roll brush body 72 and water injection. In the brushing zone, the foreign matter reattached to the surface of the workpiece 100 in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 can be removed.

  In addition, many water droplets are scattered during brush cleaning in the brushing zone C. However, since the shielding member 76 that shields the vicinity of the opening of the work 100 from the roll brush body 72 and the like is provided, the opening of the work 100 is caused by such water drops. It is avoided that the vicinity is contaminated or the chuck member 34 of the work holder 30 is contaminated.

  In the brushing zone C, the workpiece holder 30 that does not hold the workpiece 100 is conveyed above the brushing device 70 while being supported by the avoidance guide.

  In the draining zone D, water droplets adhering to the surface of the brushed workpiece 100 can be removed by blowing air from the blower 80. Further, in the drying zone E, the surface is dried and preheated to an appropriate temperature as necessary. Thus, it is possible to prepare for surface processing in the subsequent stage.

  In this manner, the workpiece 100 from which the outer surface has been cleaned and foreign matter has been removed is unloaded in the unloading zone F onto the mounting table 92 of the unloading device 90, transferred to the conveyor by the rotation of the loader 94, and moved by the regulating bar of the transfer device 96. Furthermore, it transfers to a conveyor. The workpiece 100 having a cleaned surface can be subjected to surface processing such as coating or printing at a later stage. Since the surface of the workpiece 100 is cleaned and foreign matters are removed, the coating agent can be uniformly attached to form a coating layer having a uniform and excellent adhesion and a good appearance. Further, even when printing is performed on the surface of the workpiece 100, it is possible to form a printed layer with excellent ink layer adhesion and good appearance.

  In the above embodiment, although the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 was demonstrated, this invention can be implemented also as a manufacturing apparatus of various products, such as a glass product provided with such an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 2 includes the loading zone A, the brushing zone C, the draining zone D, the drying zone E, and the unloading zone F. However, the present invention is not limited to these. These various zones are provided as necessary. In order to perform ultrasonic cleaning in association with the workpiece transfer process, it is preferable to provide a loading zone A and an unloading zone F, and a brushing zone C is preferably provided for the purpose of removing foreign matter. . Furthermore, it is preferable to prepare the drying zone E when preheating is required in the subsequent steps.

  In the present embodiment, only the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 is provided. However, when a surfactant or the like is added to the cleaning liquid W in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20, a rinse tank or the like can be provided. Similarly to the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20, the tank can oscillate ultrasonic waves, and the work 100 can be driven in the same manner.

  In this embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 is a diaphragm type, but is not limited to this, and various types of vibrators can be used. Further, in this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave is oscillated by the continuous oscillation method, but other oscillation methods can also be used.

  In the present embodiment, the workpiece holding body 30 that is the workpiece holding means of the present invention seals the opening of the workpiece 100 that is a bottle and chucks the vicinity of the opening. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the form and the portion 102 to be cleaned, a conventionally known holding means such as a suction method can be adopted.

  In the present embodiment, the workpiece holder 30 is conveyed across various zones using the rail body 40 as the workpiece holder conveying means of the present invention, but such a conveying means is not necessarily required. For example, when the ultrasonic cleaning is performed in a batch manner, such a conveying means is not necessary.

  In the present embodiment, the rail body 40 is used as the work holding body conveying means of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a chain or a belt can be used.

  In the present embodiment, the workpiece 100 is cleaned while being transported in the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 using the rail body 40 which is the transport means of the present invention, and the ultrasonic cleaning process is continuously performed. The workpiece 100 may be driven and cleaned in a fixed position without conveying the 100. Moreover, you may wash | clean by immersing and driving the fixed quantity of workpiece | work 100 to the ultrasonic cleaning tank 20 at once in a batch type. In addition, the driving | running | working form of the workpiece | work 100 can be employ | adopted combining 1 type (s) or 2 or more types from various aspects as already described with the washing | cleaning method of this invention.

  In this embodiment, in order to give the workpiece 100 the necessary height in various zones, the height of the trajectory of the rail body 40, which is the conveying means of the present invention, is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. Various zones may be provided in accordance with the height of the work holding body 30 suspended and supported by the conveying means having a certain height. Further, the work holder 30 can be supported by a conveying means having a fixed height, and the work holder 30 can be provided to be extendable and contractible.

  In the present embodiment, various guides are provided in association with the rail body 40 which is the conveying means of the present invention to hold the posture of the work holding body 30, but these guides may be provided as necessary. Well, not always necessary.

  In the present embodiment, in order to suppress contamination of the inner surface of the bottle-shaped workpiece 100 by a cleaning liquid or the like, the workpiece holder 30 that does not hold the workpiece 100 is detected, and the empty workpiece holder 30 is moved to the original zone. In order to avoid this, it is supported and conveyed by an avoidance guide, but such avoidance means is not necessarily required. When the workpiece 100 is a substrate or a component having no inner surface, it is not necessary to provide such avoidance means. In the present embodiment, a flip-up device or the like is used to hold the work holding body 30 in the avoidance guide. However, an apparatus for supporting the empty work holding body 30 in the avoidance guide is such a device. Not only the apparatus but also a bar or the like that regulates the direction may be used and can be appropriately selected without any particular limitation.

  According to the present embodiment, the brushing device 70 in which the roll brush bodies 72 are arranged is used, but the brushing device 70 is not limited to this. A brush body according to the form of the workpiece 100 can be used. Further, the brush body is not necessarily limited to the rotating body. Furthermore, although the water injection nozzle 74 and the shielding member 76 are used in the brushing apparatus 70, the presence or absence and form of these can be changed as appropriate. Further, the loading device 50 and the unloading device 90 in the loading zone A and the unloading zone F are not limited to these, and can be appropriately selected from conventionally known forms. The blower 80 in the draining zone D and the hood 82 in the drying zone E are not limited to these, and can be appropriately selected from conventionally known forms.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. is there.

The figure which shows the cleaning effect | action in the cleaning method of this invention. The figure which shows an example of an ultrasonic cleaning tank. The figure which shows the aspect which moves a workpiece | work up and down and expands and / or shrinks the area of an immersion part. The figure which shows the aspect which carries out rocking | fluctuation motion and expands and / or reduces the area of an immersion part. The figure which shows the aspect which expands and / or shrinks | reduces the area of an immersion part by rotating a workpiece | work. The figure which shows the aspect which immerses a different part, without rotating the workpiece | work and changing the area of an immersion part. The figure which shows an example of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus. The figure which shows an example of a workpiece holding body. The figure which shows an example of a workpiece drive device. The figure which shows an example of a brushing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ultrasonic cleaning device, 20 ultrasonic cleaning bath, 22 cleaning bath, 24 oscillator, 26 vibrator, 30 work holder, 32 sealing member, 34 chuck member, 36 gear, 40 rail body, 50 loading device, 52 mounting table , 54 Loader, 56 Transfer device, 60 Work drive device, 62 Chain, 64 Work detection device, 70 Brushing device, 72 Roll brush body, 74 Water injection nozzle, 76 Shield member, 80 Blower, 82 Hood, 90 Unloading device, 92 mounting table, 94 unloader, 96 transfer device, 100 workpiece, 102 part to be cleaned, 104 immersion part, A loading zone, B ultrasonic cleaning zone, C brushing zone, D draining zone, E drying zone, F unloading Zone, W cleaning liquid, W1 cleaning Liquid level.

Claims (25)

An ultrasonic cleaning device,
Holding means for holding the workpiece;
An ultrasonic cleaning tank to which a cleaning liquid is supplied and capable of oscillating ultrasonic waves with respect to the supplied cleaning liquid;
A workpiece driving means for moving the workpiece so as to change a portion immersed in the cleaning liquid in a portion to be cleaned of the held workpiece;
An apparatus comprising:   2. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the work driving means is means for moving the work so as to enlarge and / or reduce the immersion part of the work or means for moving the work without changing the area of the immersion part of the work. Cleaning device.   The work drive means moves the work so that at least a part of the workpiece to be cleaned is repeatedly immersed in the surface of the cleaning liquid and exposed on the surface of the cleaning liquid. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece driving unit is a unit that causes the workpiece to rotate, swing, or move up and down.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the work driving means is means for holding the work obliquely with respect to a surface of the cleaning liquid and rotating the work around a rotation axis inside the work.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the work driving means is means for moving a work conveyed in the ultrasonic cleaning tank.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece driving unit is a unit that drives the workpiece holding unit that holds the workpiece to move the workpiece.   The ultrasonic wave according to claim 7, wherein the work driving means is a continuous body that can be transferred to the ultrasonic cleaning tank while rotating the work holding means by engaging with a gear included in the work holding means. Cleaning device.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the workpiece holding means are provided so as to hold a plurality of workpieces.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the workpiece holding unit is provided to sequentially hold workpieces conveyed from a workpiece manufacturing process.   The ultrasonic wave according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: a work holding means for carrying the work holding means for holding the work to the ultrasonic cleaning tank and carrying the work holding means to be unloaded from the ultrasonic cleaning tank. Cleaning device.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the conveying unit of the workpiece holding unit is a rail body that supports a part of the workpiece holding unit. Detecting means for detecting the work holding means not holding the work;
A guide for supporting the work holding means so as not to be driven by the work driving means;
The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:   Furthermore, the washing | cleaning apparatus in any one of Claims 1-13 provided with the brushing means of the said workpiece | work in the back | latter stage of an ultrasonic cleaning tank.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a drying unit for the workpiece downstream of the brushing unit.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work is a bottle, and the work holding means is means for holding the bottle so as to close an opening of the bottle.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is made of glass. An apparatus for manufacturing glass products,
A manufacturing apparatus provided with the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus in any one of Claims 1-16. An ultrasonic cleaning method,
A cleaning method comprising a cleaning step of performing ultrasonic cleaning while changing a portion of the workpiece to be cleaned that is immersed in a cleaning liquid in an ultrasonic cleaning tank.   The cleaning method according to claim 19, wherein the cleaning step is a step of rotating, swinging, or vertically moving the workpiece.   The cleaning method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the cleaning step is a step of ultrasonically cleaning the workpiece while transporting the workpiece in the ultrasonic cleaning tank in a certain direction.   The cleaning method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein a plurality of workpieces are supplied individually and continuously to the cleaning step, and the workpieces are unloaded individually and continuously from the cleaning step. A method for producing a product having a cleaned surface,
A manufacturing method comprising a cleaning step of cleaning the surface by ultrasonic cleaning while changing a portion of the product surface immersed in a cleaning liquid in an ultrasonic cleaning tank.   The manufacturing method according to claim 23, further comprising a surface processing step of processing a surface of the product whose surface has been cleaned, subsequent to the cleaning step.   The manufacturing method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the product is a glass product.