EP0123630A1 - Cleaning apparatus using a solvent for at least one longitudinal object, and its use - Google Patents

Cleaning apparatus using a solvent for at least one longitudinal object, and its use Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0123630A1
EP0123630A1 EP84420040A EP84420040A EP0123630A1 EP 0123630 A1 EP0123630 A1 EP 0123630A1 EP 84420040 A EP84420040 A EP 84420040A EP 84420040 A EP84420040 A EP 84420040A EP 0123630 A1 EP0123630 A1 EP 0123630A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
solvent medium
tubular guide
cleaning
medium
solvent
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP84420040A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mario Dallot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ultrasons Annemasse SA
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Ultrasons Annemasse SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ultrasons Annemasse SA filed Critical Ultrasons Annemasse SA
Publication of EP0123630A1 publication Critical patent/EP0123630A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • B08B3/10—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
    • B08B3/12—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
    • B08B3/123—Cleaning travelling work, e.g. webs, articles on a conveyor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one continuous elongate object as well as the use of this apparatus for cleaning at least one continuous elongate object.
  • continuous elongated object an object of generally elongated appearance, the longitudinal dimension of which is important with respect to the dimensions of the object in a section by a plane substantially perpendicular to the dimension longitudinal.
  • the continuous elongated objects in question are not rigid, they are appreciably flexible and can be put in the form of coils or rolls.
  • continuous elongated object designates both a filiform elongated object, an elongated object in the form of a ribbon or an elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together by suitable means to form a strip.
  • a continuous elongated object capable of being cleaned mention may be made, as filiform elongated object of filaments, wires, cables, for example of metal, from which all traces of soiling must be removed; as elongated object in the form of a ribbon, mention may be made of metallic ribbons, magnetic tapes, photographic films; and as an elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together, there may be mentioned electronic components soldered on printed circuits (from which all traces of solder flux must be eliminated) which are placed side by side and connected for example by a support. to form a slender object having the appearance of a band.
  • solvent medium means a liquid which contains at least one substance capable of putting at least one other in solution.
  • the solvent medium can for example contain at least one organic and / or inorganic solvent or else be an alkaline or acid solution.
  • Apparatuses for cleaning such objects proceed generally by soaking the object in the solvent medium.
  • These devices most often consist of a tank, open at its upper part, provided in the vicinity of its opening with an inlet ramp and an outlet ramp.
  • the tank contains a liquid solvent medium chosen for its ability to dissolve the dirt present on the object.
  • the solvent medium is generally heated, sometimes to boiling point, and often subjected to the action of ultrasound until cavitation, which promotes the removal of non-soluble dirt in the solvent medium.
  • the liquid solvent medium is sometimes surmounted by a zone of hot saturated vapor of the solvent medium and means of condensation are provided at the upper part of the tank to prevent the exit of the vapor out of the tank.
  • the elongated object to be cleaned is moved in the tank in such a way that it successively crosses the vapor zone, the solvent medium, and again, the steam zone.
  • the object undergoes a preheating, by condensation of the vapor on its surface, which avoids a thermal shock during its immersion in the hot solvent medium, and by trickling of oondensate there occurs a pre-cleaning of the object.
  • the displacement of the object in the tank is generally ensured by the exercise of a traction force on the object by means. which can be means for winding the object.
  • the object moves in the tank according to a trajectory and at a speed such that the object's residence time in the solvent medium is sufficient to ensure proper cleaning of the object.
  • the object moves along a free path between the access ramp and the exit ramp and nothing prevents, in the event of the object moving speed too high, this that it follows too short a path in the solvent medium or even emerges from it.
  • Such an apparatus avoids any untimely emergence of the elongated object from the solvent medium, however the rollers significantly increase the risks of deterioration of the elongated object. These deteriorations even go, in the case of cleaning electronic circuits, to the tearing of the components.
  • An object of the invention is an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium of a continuous slender object, which avoids any untimely emersion of the object out of the solvent medium while preventing any deterioration of the object.
  • an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one continuous elongated object characterized in that it comprises ramps for entering and leaving said object, means for guiding the elongated object constituted by a tubular guide open at its ends, said object moving inside said tubular guide along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve, said tubular guide being provided in the vicinity of one end of means for entering its own solvent medium and in the vicinity of the other end of means for removing dirty solvent medium in such a way that the solvent medium circulates in the tubular guide in contact with the elongated object in the opposite direction to the movement of the object in the tubular guide and the means to subject the solvent medium to ultrasound.
  • the continuous curve constituting the trajectory of the object is such that its concavity is turned towards the surface of the solvent medium and it is advantageously plane and preferably located in a plane perpendicular to said surface.
  • the tubular guides are shaped in such a way that they make it possible to impose on the object a trajectory in the form of a continuous curve whose concavity is turned towards the surface of the solvent medium.
  • the tubular guides are made of a material which is well resistant to corrosion by the solvent medium which may be, for example a fluorinated solvent or an acid solution or an alkaline solution, to wear due to friction of the object, as well as erosion due to cavitation of the solvent medium when it is subjected to the action of ultrasound.
  • the solvent medium which may be, for example a fluorinated solvent or an acid solution or an alkaline solution, to wear due to friction of the object, as well as erosion due to cavitation of the solvent medium when it is subjected to the action of ultrasound.
  • the tubular guides can be produced, for example: plastic, stainless steel, glass, ceramic, porcelain, etc.
  • the tubular guides can have a section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement, of anyone shape, preferably the section is chosen in a shape such that it prevents any lateral movement of the object.
  • Such a tubular guide can be for example of square, rectangular, circular, elliptical section.
  • the dirty solvent medium leaving the tubular guide can be directed to a regeneration device, for example by distillation, and reintroduced clean into the tubular guide by the means of Entrance.
  • the apparatus comprises a tank open at its upper part and containing a liquid medium and the tubular guide is partly immersed in the liquid medium, so that its ends are located above from the surface of the liquid medium in the tank.
  • the liquid medium contained in the tank is solvent medium and the means for entering clean solvent medium into the tubular guide are at an altitude higher than that of the means for leaving dirty solvent medium and located above the surface. middle solvent.
  • the dirty solvent medium can flow directly into the tank.
  • the means for subjecting the solvent medium to ultrasound can be constituted by emitters immersed in the solvent medium itself.
  • the ultrasonic emitters are fixed to the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank according to the method of fixing a piezoelectric transducer on a thin wall which is the subject of French patent 1,526,179.
  • Ultrasound is transmitted to the solvent medium either directly or through the liquid medium.
  • the apparatus according to the invention is such that it includes means for heating the solvent medium.
  • the means for heating the solvent medium can be, for example, electric heating means or means for heating by circulation of a heat transfer fluid.
  • Electric heating means can, for example, be constituted by resistors immersed in the solvent medium or fixed to the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank.
  • Heating means by circulation of a heat transfer fluid may, for example, be constituted by a coil immersed in the solvent medium or a double jacket around a part of the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank.
  • the apparatus is such that it is provided with means for condensing the vapors of said solvent medium.
  • the means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium can be, for example, a coil traversed by a cooling fluid, such as water, placed on the inner face from the wall of the tubular guide in the vicinity of its ends or else a sleeve traversed by a refrigerant fluid fixed on the external face of the wall of the tubular guide in the vicinity of its ends.
  • a cooling fluid such as water
  • the means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium can be, for example, a coil traversed by a fluid refrigerant, such as water, placed on the inner face of the wall of the tank in the vicinity of its opening or a double jacket traversed by a refrigerant fluid fixed externally to the side wall of the tank in the vicinity of its opening.
  • a fluid refrigerant such as water
  • the means for entering the clean solvent medium are connected to means for recovering the condensate of the vapors of said solvent medium.
  • the apparatus according to the invention further comprises, between the means for recovering the condensate from the vapors of the solvent medium and the means for entering the clean solvent medium, a water separator device and a device for heating the condensate.
  • the apparatus In order to have a sufficient quantity of vapor from the solvent medium it is advantageous for the apparatus to be such that the tank containing the solvent medium consists of a cleaning compartment in which the tubular guide is partly immersed in the solvent medium and a solvent medium distillation compartment provided with means for heating the solvent medium, the partition between said cleaning compartment and said distillation compartment comprising an overflow threshold and an opening for supplying the vapors of the solvent medium into said cleaning compartment.
  • An apparatus according to the invention for simultaneously cleaning several objects is also part of the invention.
  • Such an apparatus comprises several entry and exit ramps for objects and several tubular guides placed side by side with no common point or joined together, two neighboring tubular guides having a common wall portion.
  • the apparatus, object of the invention can be used to clean at least one elongated, threadlike object such as a wire, a filament, a cable.
  • It can also be used to clean at least one elongated strip-shaped object.
  • the apparatus according to the invention is more particularly intended to be used for cleaning at least one elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together, for example by a support, to form a band, such unitary elements can be components electronic soldered on printed circuits.
  • the apparatus (10) for cleaning in a solvent medium an elongate object according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises an inlet ramp (6), an outlet ramp (7) and a drive device (8) of the elongated object (11) constituted for example by two rollers driven in rotation to move the object according to the arrow.
  • the guide means consist of a tubular guide (12) open at its two ends inside which the object (11) moves along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve.
  • the tubular guide (12) is held in place by fixing lugs (23) inside a box (24).
  • the tubular guide (12) comprises in the vicinity of one end of the inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium and in the vicinity of the other end of the outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium in such a way that the medium solvent (2) flows in the tubular guide (12) in contact with the elongated object (11) in the opposite direction of the movement of the object (11).
  • the inlet means (15) can be connected to a source of clean solvent medium and the outlet means (16) of dirty solvent medium are then connected to a tank for recovering the dirty solvent medium in view of a subsequent regeneration.
  • the dirty solvent medium is directed directly to a regeneration device (25), for example by distillation or by filtration, and the clean solvent medium leaving this device is reintroduced into the tubular guide (12) by the inlet means. (21). It therefore creates in the tubular guide (12) a circulation of the solvent medium in contact with the elongated object (11) in the opposite direction of the movement of the object in the tubular guide (12).
  • the tubular guide (12) is provided on a part of its outer surface with heating means (4) making it possible to bring the solvent medium (2) to a boil and to create two vapor zones (18, 19).
  • the tubular guide (12) is provided at each of its ends with a sleeve (20) comprising means (5) for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium (2).
  • Ultrasonic emitters (31) are attached to the wall of the tubular guide (12).
  • Figure 2 shows the position of the elongated object (11) in the tubular guide (12), the elongated object (11) which is cleaned is here formed of electronic components (26) soldered on printed circuits (27) which are connected by a support (28) to form a band.
  • the edges (29, 30) of the support (28) abut on the inner surface of the tubular guide (12) when a tensile force is exerted by means of the rollers of the drive device (8).
  • the same solvent medium can circulate, the ends of the tubular guides situated on the side of the inlet and / or outlet ramps can open into the same sleeve comprising condensing means.
  • each tubular guide having its solvent inlet and outlet means connected to different regeneration devices.
  • the heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2) are put into operation until the solvent medium (2) is boiling and two vapor zones (18, 19) of the solvent medium form above the surface (14) of the solvent medium (2).
  • the circulation of refrigerant fluid is established in the coils (5) located in the vicinity of the ends of the tubular guide (12) in order to prevent the vapor of the solvent medium from escaping.
  • the solvent medium (2) is circulated in the tubular guide (12), from the inlet means (21) to the outlet means (22).
  • the ultrasonic transmitters (31) are put into service.
  • the elongate object (11) is introduced successively into the inlet ramp (6), into the tubular guide (12), into the outlet ramp (7) and between the rollers of the drive device (8).
  • the elongated object is successively moved through a first vapor zone (18), in the solvent medium (2), in a second vapor zone (19 ) of the solvent medium, along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve.
  • the elongated object (11) When passing through the first vapor zone (18), the elongated object (11) is preheated and pre-cleaned. When passing through the solvent medium (2) the dirt is dissolved and / or peeled off and the elongated object (11) is rinsed by the solvent medium (2) which moves in the opposite direction. during the crossing of the second vapor zone (19) the elongated object (11) is rinsed by trickling of the condensate of the vapor.
  • the object is successively moved through a first vapor zone (18) of the solvent medium, the hot solvent medium (2), a second vapor zone (19 ), according to a trajectory imposed in the form of a continuous curve and clean and hot solvent medium is brought which is circulated continuously in contact with the elongate object in the opposite direction of the object's movement.
  • the tubular guide (12) can be partly immersed in a liquid medium so that the ends of the tubular guide (12) are located above the level of the liquid medium.
  • the liquid medium is then contained in a tank placed in the box (24), the emitters (31) being fixed to the wall of the tank.
  • the ultrasound emitted by the emitters is transmitted by the liquid medium to the solvent medium (2) after passing through the wall of the tubular guide (12).
  • the solvent medium (2) contained in the tubular guide (12) is heated but not brought to boiling, the boiling bringing a hinders the transmission of ultrasound.
  • An elongated object cleaned using an apparatus according to this embodiment is both subjected to the cleaning action of the hot solvent medium and to the cleaning action of ultrasound.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 A preferred embodiment of the cleaning device in a solvent medium for a long object, object of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
  • the apparatus (10) for cleaning a slender object (11), object of the invention comprises a tank (3) containing the solvent medium (2), open at its upper part and provided in the vicinity of its opening with means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium, constituted by a coil (5) traversed by a refrigerant.
  • the tank (3) of the device according to this embodiment consists of two compartments (29, 30) which are a cleaning compartment (29) and a distillation compartment (30).
  • the cleaning compartment (29) is substantially parallelepipedic, and its bottom is fitted with transmitters (31).
  • a tubular guide (12) In the cleaning compartment (29) is partially submerged in the solvent medium (2), a tubular guide (12), open at its ends, inside which the object moves.
  • the tubular guide (12) is provided in the vicinity of one end of inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium and at the other end of outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium, for circulating the solvent medium (2) in contact with the object (11) in the opposite direction to the movement of the object.
  • the tubular guide (12) is partly immersed in the solvent medium (2) contained in the tank (3) so that its ends, the means of the inlet (21) of clean solvent medium and the outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium, are located above the surface (14) of the solvent medium (2), and that the inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium are located at an altitude higher than that of the means (-22) for removing the dirty solvent medium, so that the solvent medium flows by gravity from one end to the other of the tubular guide (12) in traveling in contact with the elongate object (11) in the opposite direction of its movement.
  • the dirty solvent medium flows directly into the cleaning compartment (29).
  • the distillation compartment (30) is provided with heating means (4), for example electric, making it possible to bring the solvent medium (2) to its boiling point.
  • the partition (32) separating the cleaning compartment (29) and the distillation compartment has an overflow threshold (33) which allows the solvent medium (2) contained in the cleaning compartment (29) to flow in the distillation compartment (30) and an opening (34) which allows the solvent-medium vapors, generated by the boiling of the solvent medium (2) contained in the distillation compartment (30), to enter the cleaning compartment (29) and create a vapor zone (17) of the solvent medium above the level (14) of the solvent medium (2).
  • the partition (32) can have a uniform height equal to the height of the overflow threshold.
  • a conduit (36) conveys the condensate recovered to a water separating device (37) which can be, for example a separating device by decantation, or a cartridge filled with a product having the ability to absorb water while letting the solvent medium pass.
  • a conduit (38) routes the clean solvent medium to the inlet means (21) of the tubular guide (12).
  • the heating device can be constituted by the conduit (38), for example put in helical form and placed within the vapor zone (17) of the solvent medium.
  • the device also includes, like the device according to the embodiments described above, an entry ramp (6), an exit ramp (7) and a drive device (8) for the elongated object. (11).
  • the device can also optionally be provided with a cover (39), advantageously transparent.
  • the heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2) contained in the distillation compartment are put into operation. (30) until the solvent medium is boiling and the vapor of solvent medium passes through the opening (34) of the partition (32) and creates the vapor zone (17) above the surface ( 14) of the solvent medium (2) placed in the cleaning compartment (29).
  • the circulation of coolant is established in the coil (5) located near the opening of the tank (3) of the apparatus, in order to condense the vapors of the solvent medium by means of the coil (5) and prevent them from escaping out of the tank (3) of the appliance (10).
  • the condensate recovered in the chute (35) is conveyed by the conduit (36) to the water separating device (37), the water-free condensate, which is clean solvent medium, leaves the device (37) through the conduit (38) and is routed to the inlet means (21) after being heated in the helical conduit (39).
  • the solvent medium will therefore be circulated in the tubular guide (12) continuously, from the inlet means (21) to the outlet means (22), in the opposite direction of the movement of the object (11).
  • the solvent medium leaving the tubular guide (12) by the outlet means (21) arrives in the cleaning compartment (29), the solvent medium escapes by overflowing above the threshold (33) and falls into the compartment distillation (30) where it is brought to a boil.
  • the ultrasonic transmitters (31) are put into service.
  • the elongated object (11) is introduced successively into the inlet ramp (6), into the tubular guide (12), into the outlet ramp (7) and then between the drive rollers (8).
  • the slender object is successively moved through a first vapor zone [between the inlet ramp (6) and the surface of the solvent medium (2) in the tubular guide (12)], in the solvent medium (2), in a second vapor zone of the solvent medium [between the surface of the solvent medium (2) in the tubular guide (12) and the outlet ramp (7) J.
  • the elongated object (11) When crossing the first vapor zone, the elongated object (11) is preheated and pre-cleaned. When passing through the solvent medium (2) the elongated object (11) is subjected to the cleaning action of the solvent medium and the non-soluble soils in it are removed by the action of the solvent medium cavitated by the ultrasound. The elongated object (11) is rinsed by the solvent medium (2) which moves in the opposite direction to the movement of the object (11). when passing through the second steam zone the object (11) is rinsed by trickling steam condensate.
  • the device for cleaning at least one elongated object according to the invention has numerous advantages compared to the devices according to the prior art.
  • the means for guiding the object along a continuous curve make it possible to introduce the object into the device with greater ease than in devices equipped with rollers because, in these, the operator must manually place the object around each pebble.
  • guide means constituted by a tubular guide it suffices to introduce the elongated object at one end and to push it little by little towards the inside of the guide so that it reaches the other end without risk. attachment and without manual operator intervention in the solvent medium.
  • the device also has the advantage of avoiding the risk of deterioration of the object to be cleaned.
  • An important advantage of the apparatus according to the invention lies in the low consumption of solvent medium, while making it possible to obtain a good quality cleaning of the object, this is due to the circulation of clean solvent medium in the opposite direction from the displacement of the object which allows rinsing of the object with clean solvent just before it leaves the solvent medium.
  • the apparatus also makes it possible, according to certain embodiments, to use only a small volume of solvent medium since it is sufficient for the tubular guide to contain solvent medium.
  • the device Due to its low solvent consumption, the device also has the advantage of reducing the problems of pollution and solvent regeneration.

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  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'au moins un objet longiligne continu. L'appareil comporte des rampes d'entrée (6) et de sortie (7) de l'objet (11), des moyens de guidage de l'objet longiligne (11) constitués par un guide tubulaire (12) ouvert à ses extrémités, l'objet se déplaçant à l'intérieur du guide tubulaire (12) selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue, le guide tubulaire (12) étant pourvu au voisinage d'une extrémité de moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre et au voisinage de l'autre extrémité de moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale de façon telle que le milieu solvant (2) circule dans le guide tubulaire (12) au contact de l'objet longiligne (11) en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet (11) dans le guide tubulaire (12) et des moyens (31) pour soumettre le milieu solvant (2) à des ultrasons. L'appareil est particulièrement destiné à être utilisé pour nettoyer des objets filiformes, sous forme de bande ou formés d'éléments unitaires reliés entre eux pour former une bande.The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one continuous elongate object. The apparatus comprises entry (6) and exit (7) ramps for the object (11), means for guiding the elongate object (11) constituted by a tubular guide (12) open at its ends. , the object moving inside the tubular guide (12) along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve, the tubular guide (12) being provided in the vicinity of one end of medium input means (21) clean solvent and in the vicinity of the other end of outlet means (22) for dirty solvent medium so that the solvent medium (2) circulates in the tubular guide (12) in contact with the elongated object (11) in opposite direction of movement of the object (11) in the tubular guide (12) and means (31) for subjecting the solvent medium (2) to ultrasound. The device is particularly intended to be used for cleaning filiform objects, in the form of a strip or formed of unitary elements linked together to form a strip.

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'au moins un objet longiligne continu ainsi que l'emploi de cet appareil pour le nettoyage d'au moins un objet longiligne continu.The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one continuous elongate object as well as the use of this apparatus for cleaning at least one continuous elongate object.

Dans le présent texte par le "terme objet longiligne continu" on entend un objet d'allure générale allongée, dont la dimension longitudinale est importante vis-à-vis des dimensions de l'objet dans une section par un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire à la dimension longitudinale.In the present text by the term "continuous elongated object" is meant an object of generally elongated appearance, the longitudinal dimension of which is important with respect to the dimensions of the object in a section by a plane substantially perpendicular to the dimension longitudinal.

Les objets longilignes continus en cause, ne sont pas rigides, ils sont sensiblement souples et peuvent être mis sous forme de bobines ou de rouleaux.The continuous elongated objects in question are not rigid, they are appreciably flexible and can be put in the form of coils or rolls.

Ainsi le terme "objet longiligne continu" désigne aussi bien un objet longiligne filiforme, qu'un objet longiligne en forme de ruban ou qu'un objet longiligne formé d'éléments unitaires reliés entre eux par des moyens appropriés pour former une bande.Thus the term "continuous elongated object" designates both a filiform elongated object, an elongated object in the form of a ribbon or an elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together by suitable means to form a strip.

A titre d'exemple d'objet longiligne continu susceptible d'être nettoyé, on peut citer, comme objet longiligne filiforme des filaments, des fils, des câbles, par exemple métalliques, desquels toute trace de salissure doit être éliminée ; comme objet longiligne en forme de ruban on peut citer des rubans métalliques, des bandes magnétiques, des films photographiques ; et comme objet longiligne formé d'éléments unitaires reliés entre eux on peut citer des composants électroniques soudés sur des circuits imprimés (dont toute trace de flux de soudure doit être éliminée) qui sont placés côte-à-côte et reliés par exemple par un support pour former un objet longiligne ayant l'aspect d'une bande.By way of example of a continuous elongated object capable of being cleaned, mention may be made, as filiform elongated object of filaments, wires, cables, for example of metal, from which all traces of soiling must be removed; as elongated object in the form of a ribbon, mention may be made of metallic ribbons, magnetic tapes, photographic films; and as an elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together, there may be mentioned electronic components soldered on printed circuits (from which all traces of solder flux must be eliminated) which are placed side by side and connected for example by a support. to form a slender object having the appearance of a band.

Dans le présent texte par "milieu solvant" on entend un liquide qui oontient au moins une substance capable d'en mettre au moins une autre en solution. Ainsi le milieu solvant peut par exemple contenir au moins un solvant organique et/ou minéral ou encore être une solution alcaline ou acide.In the present text, "solvent medium" means a liquid which contains at least one substance capable of putting at least one other in solution. Thus the solvent medium can for example contain at least one organic and / or inorganic solvent or else be an alkaline or acid solution.

Des appareils pour nettoyer de tels objets procèdent généralement par trempage de l'objet dans le milieu solvant.Apparatuses for cleaning such objects proceed generally by soaking the object in the solvent medium.

Ces appareils sont le plus souvent constitués d'une cuve, ouverte à sa partie supérieure, pourvue au voisinage de son ouverture d'une rampe d'entrée et d'une rampe de sortie. La cuve contient un milieu solvant liquide choisi pour son aptitude à dissoudre les salissures présentes sur l'objet. Le milieu solvant est généralement chauffé, parfois jusqu'à ébullition, et souvent soumis à l'action d'ultrasons jusqu'à cavitation, ce qui favorise l'arrachage de salissures non solubles dans le milieu solvant. Le milieu solvant liquide est parfois surmonté d'une zone de vapeur saturée chaude du milieu solvant et des moyens de condensation sont prévus à la partie haute de la cuve pour empêcher la sortie de la vapeur hors de la cuve.These devices most often consist of a tank, open at its upper part, provided in the vicinity of its opening with an inlet ramp and an outlet ramp. The tank contains a liquid solvent medium chosen for its ability to dissolve the dirt present on the object. The solvent medium is generally heated, sometimes to boiling point, and often subjected to the action of ultrasound until cavitation, which promotes the removal of non-soluble dirt in the solvent medium. The liquid solvent medium is sometimes surmounted by a zone of hot saturated vapor of the solvent medium and means of condensation are provided at the upper part of the tank to prevent the exit of the vapor out of the tank.

Dans un appareil dont le milieu solvant est surmonté d'une zone de vapeur chaude, l'objet longiligne à nettoyer est déplacé dans la cuve de façon telle qu'il traverse successivement la zone de vapeur, le milieu solvant, et de nouveau, la zone de vapeur.In an apparatus in which the solvent medium is surmounted by a zone of hot steam, the elongated object to be cleaned is moved in the tank in such a way that it successively crosses the vapor zone, the solvent medium, and again, the steam zone.

Lors de la première traversée de la zone de vapeur l'objet subit un préchauffage, par condensation de la vapeur sur sa surface, qui évite un choc thermique lors de son immersion dans le milieu solvant chaud, et par ruissellement de oondensat il se produit un pré-nettoyage de l'objet.During the first crossing of the vapor zone the object undergoes a preheating, by condensation of the vapor on its surface, which avoids a thermal shock during its immersion in the hot solvent medium, and by trickling of oondensate there occurs a pre-cleaning of the object.

Lors de la deuxième traversée de la zone de vapeur l'objet subit un rinçage par ruissellement du condensat de la vapeur qui vient se condenser sur lui.During the second crossing of the vapor zone the object undergoes a rinsing by trickling of the condensate of the vapor which comes to condense on it.

Le déplacement de l'objet dans la cuve est généralement assuré par l'exercice d'un effort de traction sur l'objet par des moyens- . d'entraînement qui peuvent être des moyens d'enroulement de l'objet.The displacement of the object in the tank is generally ensured by the exercise of a traction force on the object by means. which can be means for winding the object.

Que le milieu solvant liquide soit ou non surmonté d'une zone de vapeur, le déplacement de l'objet se fait dans la cuve selon une trajectoire et à une vitesse telles que le temps de séjour de l'objet dans le milieu solvant soit suffisant pour assurer un bon nettoyage de l'objet.Whether the liquid solvent medium is surmounted by a vapor zone or not, the object moves in the tank according to a trajectory and at a speed such that the object's residence time in the solvent medium is sufficient to ensure proper cleaning of the object.

Dans certains appareils l'objet se déplace selon une trajectoire libre entre la rampe d'accès et la rampe de sortie et rien ne s'oppose, en cas de vitesse de déplacement de l'objet trop élevée, à ce que celui-ci suive un chemin trop court dans le milieu solvant ou même émmerge de celui-ci.In some devices the object moves along a free path between the access ramp and the exit ramp and nothing prevents, in the event of the object moving speed too high, this that it follows too short a path in the solvent medium or even emerges from it.

Pour éviter cet inconvénient, certains appareils sont pourvus de galets tournants fous sur leurs axes, l'objet longiligne se déplace alors dans le milieu solvant selon une trajectoire en ligne brisée.To avoid this drawback, certain devices are provided with idle rotating rollers on their axes, the elongated object then moves in the solvent medium along a broken line trajectory.

Un tel appareil évite toute émersion intempestive de l'objet longiligne du milieu solvant, cependant les galets accroissent notablement les risques de détérioration de l'objet longiligne. Ces détériorations vont même, dans le cas de nettoyage de circuits électroniques, jusqu'à l'arrachage des composants.Such an apparatus avoids any untimely emergence of the elongated object from the solvent medium, however the rollers significantly increase the risks of deterioration of the elongated object. These deteriorations even go, in the case of cleaning electronic circuits, to the tearing of the components.

De plus comme le milieu solvant est souvent agressif, d'autant plus lorsqu'il est en cavitation, il se pose d'importants problèmes de corrosion des galets et de leurs supports.In addition, as the solvent medium is often aggressive, all the more when it is in cavitation, there are significant problems of corrosion of the rollers and their supports.

Un but de l'invention est un appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'objet longiligne continu, qui évite toute émersion intempestive de l'objet hors du milieu solvant tout en évitant toute détérioration de l'objet.An object of the invention is an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium of a continuous slender object, which avoids any untimely emersion of the object out of the solvent medium while preventing any deterioration of the object.

Il a maintenant été trouvé un appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'au moins un objet longiligne continu, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des rampes d'entrée et de sortie dudit objet, des moyens de guidage de l'objet longiligne constitués par un guide tubulaire ouvert à ses extrémités, ledit objet se déplaçant à l'intérieur dudit guide tubulaire selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue, ledit guide tubulaire étant pourvu au voisinage d'une extrémité de moyens d'entrée de milieu solvant propre et au voisinage de l'autre extrémité de moyens de sortie de milieu solvant sale de façon telle que le milieu solvant circule dans le guide tubulaire au contact de l'objet longiligne en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet dans le guide tubulaire et des moyens pour soumettre le milieu solvant à des ultrasons.We have now found an apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one continuous elongated object, characterized in that it comprises ramps for entering and leaving said object, means for guiding the elongated object constituted by a tubular guide open at its ends, said object moving inside said tubular guide along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve, said tubular guide being provided in the vicinity of one end of means for entering its own solvent medium and in the vicinity of the other end of means for removing dirty solvent medium in such a way that the solvent medium circulates in the tubular guide in contact with the elongated object in the opposite direction to the movement of the object in the tubular guide and the means to subject the solvent medium to ultrasound.

Par commodité, dans le présent texte on écrit que l'objet se déplace selon une trajectoire en forme de courbe continue, c'est-à-dire sans point de rebroussement. En toute rigueur chaque point de l'objet se déplace en suivant sa propre trajectoire, toutes les trajectoires étant déduites les unes des autres par translation.For convenience, in the present text we write that the object moves along a trajectory in the form of a continuous curve, that is to say without a cusp. Strictly speaking, each point of the object moves along its own trajectory, all the trajectories being deduced from each other by translation.

La courbe continue constituant la trajectoire de l'objet est telle que sa concavité soit tournée vers la surface du milieu solvant et elle est avantageusement plane et de préférence située dans un plan perpendiculaire à ladite surface.The continuous curve constituting the trajectory of the object is such that its concavity is turned towards the surface of the solvent medium and it is advantageously plane and preferably located in a plane perpendicular to said surface.

Les guides tubulaires sont conformés de façon telle qu'ils permettent d'imposer à l'objet une trajectoire en forme de courbe continue dont la concavité est tournée vers la surface du milieu solvant.The tubular guides are shaped in such a way that they make it possible to impose on the object a trajectory in the form of a continuous curve whose concavity is turned towards the surface of the solvent medium.

Avantageusement, les guides tubulaires sont réalisés en un matériau qui résiste bien à la corrosion par le milieu solvant qui peut être, par exemple un solvant fluoré ou une solution acide ou une solution alcaline, à l'usure due aux frottements de l'objet, ainsi qu'à l'érosion due à la cavitation du milieu solvant lorsque celui-ci est soumis à l'action d'ultrasons.Advantageously, the tubular guides are made of a material which is well resistant to corrosion by the solvent medium which may be, for example a fluorinated solvent or an acid solution or an alkaline solution, to wear due to friction of the object, as well as erosion due to cavitation of the solvent medium when it is subjected to the action of ultrasound.

Selon l'objet longiligne à nettoyer et le milieu solvant choisi, les guides tubulaires peuvent être réalisés, par exemple : en matière plastique, en acier inoxydable, en verre, en céramique, en porcelaine ....Depending on the elongated object to be cleaned and the solvent medium chosen, the tubular guides can be produced, for example: plastic, stainless steel, glass, ceramic, porcelain, etc.

Les guides tubulaires peuvent avoir une section par un plan perpendiculaire au sens de déplacement, de forme quiconque, de préférence la section est choisie d'une forme telle qu'elle empêche tout déplacement latéral de l'objet.The tubular guides can have a section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement, of anyone shape, preferably the section is chosen in a shape such that it prevents any lateral movement of the object.

Un tel guide tubulaire peut être par exemple de section carrée, rectangulaire, circulaire, elliptique.Such a tubular guide can be for example of square, rectangular, circular, elliptical section.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'appareil objet de l'invention, le milieu solvant sale sortant du guide tubulaire peut être dirigé vers un dispositif de régénération, par exemple par distillation, -et réintroduit propre dans le guide tubulaire par les moyens d'entrée.According to one embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention, the dirty solvent medium leaving the tubular guide can be directed to a regeneration device, for example by distillation, and reintroduced clean into the tubular guide by the means of Entrance.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation l'appareil selon l'invention comporte une cuve ouverte à sa partie supérieure et contenant un milieu liquide et le guide tubulaire est en partie immergé dans le milieu liquide, de façon telle que ses extrémités soient situées au-dessus de la surface du milieu liquide dans la cuve.According to another embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a tank open at its upper part and containing a liquid medium and the tubular guide is partly immersed in the liquid medium, so that its ends are located above from the surface of the liquid medium in the tank.

De préférence, le milieu liquide contenu dans la cuve est du milieu solvant et les moyens d'entrée de milieu solvant propre dans le guide tubulaire sont à une altitude supérieure à celle des moyens de sortie de milieu solvant sale et situés au dessus de la surface du milieu solvant. Le milieu solvant sale peut s'écouler directement dans la cuve.Preferably, the liquid medium contained in the tank is solvent medium and the means for entering clean solvent medium into the tubular guide are at an altitude higher than that of the means for leaving dirty solvent medium and located above the surface. middle solvent. The dirty solvent medium can flow directly into the tank.

Les moyens pour soumettre le milieu solvant à des ultrasons peuvent être constitués par des émetteurs plongés dans le milieu solvant lui-même. De préférence les émetteurs d'ultrasons sont fixés à la paroi du guide tubulaire ou de la cuve selon le procédé de fixation d'un transducteur piézo-électrique sur une paroi mince objet du brevet français 1 526 179.The means for subjecting the solvent medium to ultrasound can be constituted by emitters immersed in the solvent medium itself. Preferably the ultrasonic emitters are fixed to the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank according to the method of fixing a piezoelectric transducer on a thin wall which is the subject of French patent 1,526,179.

Les ultrasons sont transmis au milieu solvant soit directement, soit par l'intermédiare du milieu liquide.Ultrasound is transmitted to the solvent medium either directly or through the liquid medium.

Avantageusement, l'appareil selon l'invention est tel qu'il comporte des moyens de chauffage du milieu solvant.Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention is such that it includes means for heating the solvent medium.

Les moyens de chauffage du milieu solvant peuvent être par exemple des moyens de chauffage électrique ou des moyens de chauffage par circulation d'un fluide caloporteur.The means for heating the solvent medium can be, for example, electric heating means or means for heating by circulation of a heat transfer fluid.

Des moyens de chauffage électrique peuvent, par exemple, être constitués par des résistances immergées dans le milieu solvant ou fixées à la paroi du guide tubulaire ou de la cuve.Electric heating means can, for example, be constituted by resistors immersed in the solvent medium or fixed to the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank.

Des moyens de chauffage par circulation d'un fluide caloporteur peuvent, par exemple, être constitués par un serpentin immergé dans le milieu solvant ou une double enveloppe autour d'une partie de la paroi du guide tubulaire ou de la cuve.Heating means by circulation of a heat transfer fluid may, for example, be constituted by a coil immersed in the solvent medium or a double jacket around a part of the wall of the tubular guide or of the tank.

Selon les objets à nettoyer et la nature du solvant utilisé, le milieu solvant est chauffé jusqu'à ébullition. Dans ce cas, l'appareil est tel qu'il est pourvu de moyens de condensation des vapeurs dudit milieu solvant.Depending on the objects to be cleaned and the nature of the solvent used, the solvent medium is heated until boiling. In this case, the apparatus is such that it is provided with means for condensing the vapors of said solvent medium.

Pour un appareil dans lequel le milieu solvant est contenu dans le guide tubulaire, les moyens de condensation des vapeurs du milieu solvant peuvent être, par exemple, un serpentin parcouru par un fluide réfrigérant, tel que de l'eau, placé sur la face intérieure de la paroi du guide tubulaire au voisinage de ses extrémités ou bien un manchon parcouru par un fluide réfrigérant fixé sur la face extérieure de la paroi du guide tubulaire au voisinage de ses extrémités.For an apparatus in which the solvent medium is contained in the tubular guide, the means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium can be, for example, a coil traversed by a cooling fluid, such as water, placed on the inner face from the wall of the tubular guide in the vicinity of its ends or else a sleeve traversed by a refrigerant fluid fixed on the external face of the wall of the tubular guide in the vicinity of its ends.

Pour un appareil dans lequel le milieu solvant est contenu dans une cuve, les moyens de condensation des vapeurs du milieu solvant peuvent être, par exemple, un serpentin parcouru par un fluide réfrigérant, tel que de l'eau, placé sur la face intérieure de la paroi de la cuve au voisinage de son ouverture ou une double enveloppe parcourue par un fluide réfrigérant fixée extérieurement à la paroi latérale de la cuve au voisinage de son ouverture.For an apparatus in which the solvent medium is contained in a tank, the means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium can be, for example, a coil traversed by a fluid refrigerant, such as water, placed on the inner face of the wall of the tank in the vicinity of its opening or a double jacket traversed by a refrigerant fluid fixed externally to the side wall of the tank in the vicinity of its opening.

Avantageusement, les moyens d'entrée du milieu solvant propre sont reliés à des moyens de récupération du condensat des vapeurs dudit milieu solvant.Advantageously, the means for entering the clean solvent medium are connected to means for recovering the condensate of the vapors of said solvent medium.

De préférence, l'appareil selon l'invention comporte en outre entre les moyens de récupération du condensat des vapeurs du milieu solvant et les moyens d'entrée du milieu solvant propre, un dispositif séparateur d'eau et un dispositif de réchauffage du condensat.Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention further comprises, between the means for recovering the condensate from the vapors of the solvent medium and the means for entering the clean solvent medium, a water separator device and a device for heating the condensate.

Afin de disposer d'une quantité de vapeur du milieu solvant suffisante il est avantageux que l'appareil soit tel que la cuve contenant le milieu solvant soit constituée d'un compartiment de nettoyage dans lequel le guide tubulaire est en partie immergé dans le milieu solvant et d'un compartiment de distillation du milieu solvant pourvu de moyens de chauffage du milieu solvant, la cloison entre ledit compartiment de nettoyage et ledit compartiment de distillation comportant un seuil de trop plein et une ouverture d'amenée des vapeurs du milieu solvant dans ledit compartiment de nettoyage.In order to have a sufficient quantity of vapor from the solvent medium it is advantageous for the apparatus to be such that the tank containing the solvent medium consists of a cleaning compartment in which the tubular guide is partly immersed in the solvent medium and a solvent medium distillation compartment provided with means for heating the solvent medium, the partition between said cleaning compartment and said distillation compartment comprising an overflow threshold and an opening for supplying the vapors of the solvent medium into said cleaning compartment.

Un appareil selon l'invention permettant de nettoyer simultanément plusieurs objets fait également partie de l'invention. Un tel appareil comporte plusieurs rampes d'entrée et de sortie d'objets et plusieurs guides tubulaires placés côte-à-côte sans point commun ou bien accolés, deux guides tubulaires voisins présentant une partie de paroi commune.An apparatus according to the invention for simultaneously cleaning several objects is also part of the invention. Such an apparatus comprises several entry and exit ramps for objects and several tubular guides placed side by side with no common point or joined together, two neighboring tubular guides having a common wall portion.

L'appareil, objet de l'invention peut être utilisé pour nettoyer au moins un objet longiligne filiforme tel qu'un fil, un filament, un câble.The apparatus, object of the invention can be used to clean at least one elongated, threadlike object such as a wire, a filament, a cable.

Il peut aussi être utilisé pour nettoyer au moins un objet longiligne en forme de bande.It can also be used to clean at least one elongated strip-shaped object.

L'appareil, selon l'invention, est plus particulièrement destiné à être utilisé pour nettoyer au moins un objet longiligne formé d'éléments unitaires reliés entre eux, par exemple par un support, pour former une bande, de tels éléments unitaires peuvent être des composants électroniques soudés sur des circuits imprimés.The apparatus according to the invention is more particularly intended to be used for cleaning at least one elongated object formed of unitary elements linked together, for example by a support, to form a band, such unitary elements can be components electronic soldered on printed circuits.

L'invention sera mieux comprise par la description des figures ci-jointes qui illustrent schématiquement et sans échelle déterminée divers modes de réalisation de l'appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'au moins un objet longiligne, objet de l'invention.

  • La figure 1 est une vue en coupe Par le plan de symétrie du guide tubulaire d'un mode de réalisation d'un appareil selon l'invention.
  • La figure 2 est une coupe par le plan II-II du guide tubulaire de l'appareil selon la figure 1.
  • La figure 3 est une vue générale en coupe par le plan de symétrie du guide tubulaire d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un appareil selon l'invention.
  • La figure 4 est une vue en coupe par le plan IV-IV de l'appareil selon la figure 3.
  • La figure 5 est une vue en coupe par le plan V-V de l'appareil selon la figure 3.
The invention will be better understood from the description of the attached figures which illustrate diagrammatically and without a given scale various embodiments of the apparatus for cleaning in a solvent medium at least one elongated object, object of the invention.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view through the plane of symmetry of the tubular guide of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a section through plane II-II of the tubular guide of the device according to FIG. 1.
  • Figure 3 is a general sectional view through the plane of symmetry of the tubular guide of another embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the plane IV-IV of the apparatus according to FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a view in section through the plane VV of the apparatus according to FIG. 3.

L'appareil (10) de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'un objet longiligne selon le mode de réalisation représenté figure 1 comporte une rampe d'entrée (6), une rampe de sortie (7) et un dispositif d'entraînement (8) de l'objet longiligne (11) constitué par exemple par deux rouleaux entraînés en rotation pour déplacer l'objet selon la flèche.The apparatus (10) for cleaning in a solvent medium an elongate object according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises an inlet ramp (6), an outlet ramp (7) and a drive device (8) of the elongated object (11) constituted for example by two rollers driven in rotation to move the object according to the arrow.

Les moyens de guidage sont constitués par un guide tubulaire (12) ouvert à ses deux extrémités à l'intérieur duquel l'objet (11) se déplace selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue.The guide means consist of a tubular guide (12) open at its two ends inside which the object (11) moves along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve.

Le guide tubulaire (12) est maintenu en place par des pattes de fixation (23) à l'intérieur d'un caisson (24).The tubular guide (12) is held in place by fixing lugs (23) inside a box (24).

Le guide tubulaire (12) comporte au voisinage d'une extrémité des moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre et au voisinage de l'autre extrémité des moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale de façon telle que le milieu solvant (2) circule dans le guide tubulaire (12) au contact de l'objet longiligne (11) en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet (11).The tubular guide (12) comprises in the vicinity of one end of the inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium and in the vicinity of the other end of the outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium in such a way that the medium solvent (2) flows in the tubular guide (12) in contact with the elongated object (11) in the opposite direction of the movement of the object (11).

Les moyens d'entrée (15) peuvent être reliés à une source de milieu solvant propre et les moyens de sortie (16) de milieu solvant sale sont alors reliés à un bac de récupération du milieu solvant sale en vue d'une régénération ultérieure.The inlet means (15) can be connected to a source of clean solvent medium and the outlet means (16) of dirty solvent medium are then connected to a tank for recovering the dirty solvent medium in view of a subsequent regeneration.

De préférence le milieu solvant sale est dirigé directement vers un dispositif de régénération (25), par exemple par distillation ou par filtration, et le milieu solvant propre sortant de ce dispositf est réintroduit dans le guide tubulaire (12) par les moyens d'entrée (21). Il se crée donc dans le guide tubulaire (12) une circulation du milieu solvant au contact de l'objet longiligne (11) en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet dans le guide tubulaire (12).Preferably, the dirty solvent medium is directed directly to a regeneration device (25), for example by distillation or by filtration, and the clean solvent medium leaving this device is reintroduced into the tubular guide (12) by the inlet means. (21). It therefore creates in the tubular guide (12) a circulation of the solvent medium in contact with the elongated object (11) in the opposite direction of the movement of the object in the tubular guide (12).

Le guide tubulaire (12) est pourvu sur une partie de sa surface extérieure de moyens de chauffage (4) permettant de porter le milieu solvant (2) à ébullition et de créer deux zones de vapeur (18, 19).The tubular guide (12) is provided on a part of its outer surface with heating means (4) making it possible to bring the solvent medium (2) to a boil and to create two vapor zones (18, 19).

Le guide tubulaire (12) est pourvu à chacune de ses extrémités d'un manchon (20) comportant des moyens de condensation (5) des vapeurs du milieu solvant (2).The tubular guide (12) is provided at each of its ends with a sleeve (20) comprising means (5) for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium (2).

Des émetteurs d'ultrasons (31) sont fixés à la paroi du guide tubulaire (12).Ultrasonic emitters (31) are attached to the wall of the tubular guide (12).

La figure 2 montre la position de l'objet longiligne (11) dans le guide tubulaire (12), l'objet longiligne (11) qui est nettoyé est ici formé de composants électroniques (26) soudés sur des circuits imprimés (27) qui sont reliés par un support (28) afin de former une bande. Les bords (29, 30) du support (28) viennent en butée sur la surface intérieure du guide tubulaire (12) quand un effort de traction est exercé au moyen des rouleaux du dispositif d'entraînement (8).Figure 2 shows the position of the elongated object (11) in the tubular guide (12), the elongated object (11) which is cleaned is here formed of electronic components (26) soldered on printed circuits (27) which are connected by a support (28) to form a band. The edges (29, 30) of the support (28) abut on the inner surface of the tubular guide (12) when a tensile force is exerted by means of the rollers of the drive device (8).

Un appareil selon ce mode de réalisation permettant de nettoyer simultanément plusieurs objets longilignes peut comporter plusieurs guides tubulaires placés côte-à-côte sans point commun ou bien plusieurs guides tubulaires accolés, deux guides tubulaires voisins présentant une partie de paroi commune.An apparatus according to this embodiment making it possible to simultaneously clean several elongated objects may comprise several tubular guides placed side by side with no common point or else several tubular guides joined together, two neighboring tubular guides having a common wall part.

Dans les guides tubulaires d'un appareil selon cette variante peut circuler le même milieu solvant, les extrémités des guides tubulaires situées du côté des rampes d'entrée et/ou de sortie peuvent déboucher dans le même manchon comportant des moyens de condensation.In the tubular guides of an apparatus according to this variant, the same solvent medium can circulate, the ends of the tubular guides situated on the side of the inlet and / or outlet ramps can open into the same sleeve comprising condensing means.

Dans les guides tubulaires d'un appareil selon cette variante peuvent circuler des milieux solvants différents, chaque guide tubulaire ayant ses moyens d'entrée et de sortie de solvant reliés à des dispositifs de régénération différents.In the tubular guides of an apparatus according to this variant, different solvent media can circulate, each tubular guide having its solvent inlet and outlet means connected to different regeneration devices.

Le nettoyage d'un objet longiligne à l'aide d'un appareil selon le présent mode de réalisation est décrit ci-après.The cleaning of a slender object using an apparatus according to this embodiment is described below.

D'une part on met en fonctionnement les moyens de chauffage (4) du milieu solvant (2) jusqu'à ce que le milieu solvant (2) soit en ébullition et que deux zones de vapeur (18, 19) du milieu solvant se forment au-dessus de la surface (14) du milieu solvant (2). D'autre part on établit la circulation de fluide réfrigérant dans les serpentins (5) situés au voisinage des extrémités du guide tubulaire (12) afin d'empêcher la vapeur du milieu solvant de s'échapper.On the one hand, the heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2) are put into operation until the solvent medium (2) is boiling and two vapor zones (18, 19) of the solvent medium form above the surface (14) of the solvent medium (2). On the other hand, the circulation of refrigerant fluid is established in the coils (5) located in the vicinity of the ends of the tubular guide (12) in order to prevent the vapor of the solvent medium from escaping.

On fait circuler le milieu solvant (2) dans le guide tubulaire (12), des moyens d'entrée (21) vers les moyens de sortie (22).The solvent medium (2) is circulated in the tubular guide (12), from the inlet means (21) to the outlet means (22).

On met en service les émetteurs d'ultrasons (31).The ultrasonic transmitters (31) are put into service.

On introduit l'objet longiligne (11) successivement dans la rampe d'entrée (6), dans le guide tubulaire (12), dans la rampe de sortie (7) et entre les rouleaux du dispositif d'entraînement (8).The elongate object (11) is introduced successively into the inlet ramp (6), into the tubular guide (12), into the outlet ramp (7) and between the rollers of the drive device (8).

Par la mise en rotation des rouleaux du dispositif d'entraînement (8), on déplace l'objet longiligne successivement à travers une première zone de vapeur (18), dans le milieu solvant (2), dans une deuxième zone de vapeur (19) du milieu solvant, selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue.By rotating the rollers of the drive device (8), the elongated object is successively moved through a first vapor zone (18), in the solvent medium (2), in a second vapor zone (19 ) of the solvent medium, along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve.

Lors de la traversée de la première zone de vapeur (18), l'objet longiligne (11) est préchauffé et pré-nettoyé. Lors de la traversée du milieu solvant (2) les salissures sont dissoutes et/ou décollées et l'objet longiligne (11) est rincé par le milieu solvant (2) qui se déplace en sens contraire. lors de la traversée de la deuxième zone de vapeur (19) l'objet longiligne (11) subit un rinçage par ruissellement du condensat de la vapeur.When passing through the first vapor zone (18), the elongated object (11) is preheated and pre-cleaned. When passing through the solvent medium (2) the dirt is dissolved and / or peeled off and the elongated object (11) is rinsed by the solvent medium (2) which moves in the opposite direction. during the crossing of the second vapor zone (19) the elongated object (11) is rinsed by trickling of the condensate of the vapor.

En utilisant un tel appareil, pour nettoyer l'objet longiligne (11) on déplace successivement l'objet à travers une première zone de vapeur (18) du milieu solvant, le milieu solvant (2) chaud, une deuxième zone de vapeur (19), selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue et on amène du milieu solvant propre et chaud que l'on fait circuler de façon continue au contact de l'objet longiligne en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet.Using such an apparatus, to clean the elongated object (11), the object is successively moved through a first vapor zone (18) of the solvent medium, the hot solvent medium (2), a second vapor zone (19 ), according to a trajectory imposed in the form of a continuous curve and clean and hot solvent medium is brought which is circulated continuously in contact with the elongate object in the opposite direction of the object's movement.

Selon une variante de ce mode de réalisation le guide tubulaire (12) peut être en partie immergé dans un milieu liquide de façon telle que les extrémités du guide tubulaire (12) soient situées au-dessus du niveau du milieu liquide. Le milieu liquide est alors contenu dans une cuve placée dans le caisson (24), les émetteurs (31) étant fixés à la paroi de la cuve. Les ultrasons émis par les émetteurs sont transmis par le milieu liquide au milieu solvant (2) après avoir traversé la paroi du guide tubulaire (12).According to a variant of this embodiment, the tubular guide (12) can be partly immersed in a liquid medium so that the ends of the tubular guide (12) are located above the level of the liquid medium. The liquid medium is then contained in a tank placed in the box (24), the emitters (31) being fixed to the wall of the tank. The ultrasound emitted by the emitters is transmitted by the liquid medium to the solvent medium (2) after passing through the wall of the tubular guide (12).

Lors du fonctionnement d'un tel appareil dans lequel le milieu solvant est soumis à des ultrasons, il est préférable que le milieu solvant (2) contenu dans le guide tubulaire (12) soit chauffé mais non porté à ébullition, l'ébullition apportant une gêne à la transmission des ultrasons.During the operation of such an apparatus in which the solvent medium is subjected to ultrasound, it is preferable that the solvent medium (2) contained in the tubular guide (12) is heated but not brought to boiling, the boiling bringing a hinders the transmission of ultrasound.

Un objet longiligne nettoyé à l'aide d'un appareil selon ce mode de réalisation est à la fois soumis à l'action nettoyante du milieu solvant chaud et à l'action nettoyante des ultrasons.An elongated object cleaned using an apparatus according to this embodiment is both subjected to the cleaning action of the hot solvent medium and to the cleaning action of ultrasound.

Un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'appareil de nettoyage en milieu solvant d'un objet longiligne, objet de l'invention est représenté figures 3, 4 et 5.A preferred embodiment of the cleaning device in a solvent medium for a long object, object of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

L'appareil (10) de nettoyage d'un objet longiligne (11), objet de l'invention, selon le mode de réalisation représenté, comporte une cuve (3) contenant le milieu solvant (2), ouverte à sa partie supérieure et munie au voisinage de son ouverture de moyens de condensation des vapeurs du milieu solvant, constitués par un serpentin (5) parcouru par un fluide réfrigérant.The apparatus (10) for cleaning a slender object (11), object of the invention, according to the embodiment shown, comprises a tank (3) containing the solvent medium (2), open at its upper part and provided in the vicinity of its opening with means for condensing the vapors of the solvent medium, constituted by a coil (5) traversed by a refrigerant.

Bien que l'appareil ait été représenté avec des moyens de condensation situés à une seule hauteur comptée à partir de la surface du milieu solvant, on ne sort pas du cadre de l'invention en plaçant des moyens de condensation à deux hauteurs différentes.Although the apparatus has been shown with condensing means located at a single height counted from the surface of the solvent medium, it is not going beyond the scope of the invention by placing condensing means at two different heights.

La cuve (3) de l'appareil selon le présent mode de réalisation est constituée de deux compartiments (29, 30) qui sont un compartiment de nettoyage (29) et un compartiment de distillation (30).The tank (3) of the device according to this embodiment consists of two compartments (29, 30) which are a cleaning compartment (29) and a distillation compartment (30).

Le compartiment de nettoyage (29) est sensiblement parallélépipédique, et son fond est équipé d'émetteurs (31). Dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29) se trouve, en partie immergé dans le milieu solvant (2), un guide tubulaire (12), ouvert à ses extrémités, à l'intérieur duquel se déplace l'objet. Le guide tubulaire (12) est pourvu au voisinage d'une extrémité de moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre et à l'autre extrémité de moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale, pour faire circuler le milieu solvant (2) au contact de l'objet (11) en sens inverse du déplacement de l'objet.The cleaning compartment (29) is substantially parallelepipedic, and its bottom is fitted with transmitters (31). In the cleaning compartment (29) is partially submerged in the solvent medium (2), a tubular guide (12), open at its ends, inside which the object moves. The tubular guide (12) is provided in the vicinity of one end of inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium and at the other end of outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium, for circulating the solvent medium (2) in contact with the object (11) in the opposite direction to the movement of the object.

Selon le présent mode de réalisation de l'appareil objet de l'invention, le guide tubulaire (12) est en partie immergé dans le milieu solvant (2) contenu dans la cuve (3) de façon telle que ses extrémités, les moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre et les moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale, soient situés au-dessus de la surface (14) du milieu solvant (2), et que les moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre soient situés à une altitude supérieure à celle des moyens de sortie (-22) du milieu solvant sale, afin que le milieu solvant s'écoule par gravité d'une extrémité à l'autre du guide tubulaire (12) en circulant au contact de l'objet longiligne (11) en sens contraire de son déplacement. Le milieu solvant sale s'écoule directement dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29).According to this embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention, the tubular guide (12) is partly immersed in the solvent medium (2) contained in the tank (3) so that its ends, the means of the inlet (21) of clean solvent medium and the outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium, are located above the surface (14) of the solvent medium (2), and that the inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium are located at an altitude higher than that of the means (-22) for removing the dirty solvent medium, so that the solvent medium flows by gravity from one end to the other of the tubular guide (12) in traveling in contact with the elongate object (11) in the opposite direction of its movement. The dirty solvent medium flows directly into the cleaning compartment (29).

Un appareil selon ce mode de réalisation permettant de nettoyer simultanément plusieurs objets longilignes peut comporter, comme moyens de guidage, plusieurs guides tubulaires placés côte-à-côte sans point commun ou bien plusieurs guides tubulaires accolés, deux guides tubulaires voisins présentant une partie de paroi commune.An apparatus according to this embodiment making it possible to simultaneously clean several elongated objects may comprise, as guide means, several tubular guides placed side by side without common point or else several tubular guides joined together, two neighboring tubular guides having a wall part common.

Le compartiment de distillation (30) est pourvu de moyens de chauffage (4), par exemple électriques, permettant d'amener le milieu solvant (2) jusqu'à sa température d'ébullition.The distillation compartment (30) is provided with heating means (4), for example electric, making it possible to bring the solvent medium (2) to its boiling point.

La cloison (32) de séparation entre le compartiment de nettoyage (29) et le compartiment de distillation comporte un seuil de trop plein (33) qui permet au milieu solvant (2) contenu dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29) de s'écouler dans le compartiment de distillation (30) et une ouverture (34) qui permet aux vapeurs de milieu- solvant, générées par la mise en ébullition du milieu solvant (2) contenu dans le compartiment de distillation (30), d'entrer dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29) et de créer une zone de vapeur (17) du milieu solvant au-dessus du niveau (14) du milieu solvant (2). La cloison (32) peut avoir une hauteur uniforme égale à la hauteur du seuil de trop plein.The partition (32) separating the cleaning compartment (29) and the distillation compartment has an overflow threshold (33) which allows the solvent medium (2) contained in the cleaning compartment (29) to flow in the distillation compartment (30) and an opening (34) which allows the solvent-medium vapors, generated by the boiling of the solvent medium (2) contained in the distillation compartment (30), to enter the cleaning compartment (29) and create a vapor zone (17) of the solvent medium above the level (14) of the solvent medium (2). The partition (32) can have a uniform height equal to the height of the overflow threshold.

Les vapeurs de milieu solvant se condensent au voisinage des serpentins (5) et le condensat des vapeurs qui est alors du milieu solvant exempt de salissures est récupéré par des moyens appropriés tels qu'une goulotte (35).The solvent medium vapors condense in the vicinity of the coils (5) and the vapor condensate which is then soil medium free of dirt is recovered by suitable means such as a chute (35).

Un conduit (36) achemine le condensat récupéré vers un dispositif séparateur d'eau (37) qui peut être, par exemple un dispositif de séparation par décantation, ou une cartouche garnie d'un produit ayant la faculté d'absorber l'eau tout en laissant passer le milieu solvant.A conduit (36) conveys the condensate recovered to a water separating device (37) which can be, for example a separating device by decantation, or a cartridge filled with a product having the ability to absorb water while letting the solvent medium pass.

A la sortie du dispositif séparateur d'eau (37) un conduit (38) achemine le milieu solvant propre vers les moyens d'entrée (21) du guide tubulaire (12). Afin d'assurer le réchauffage du condensat, un dispositif de réchauffage est prévu avant les moyens d'entrée (21) du milieu solvant propre dans le guide tubulaire (12), le dispositif de réchauffage peut être constitué par le conduit (38), par exemple mis sous forme hélicoïdale et placé au sein de la zone de vapeur (17) du milieu solvant.At the outlet of the water separating device (37) a conduit (38) routes the clean solvent medium to the inlet means (21) of the tubular guide (12). In order to ensure the heating of the condensate, a heating device is provided before the inlet means (21) of the clean solvent medium in the tubular guide (12), the heating device can be constituted by the conduit (38), for example put in helical form and placed within the vapor zone (17) of the solvent medium.

L'appareil, comporte également comme l'appareil selon les modes de réalisation décrit ci-avant, une rampe d'entrée (6), une rampe de sortie (7) et un dispositif d'entraînement (8) de l'objet longiligne (11).The device also includes, like the device according to the embodiments described above, an entry ramp (6), an exit ramp (7) and a drive device (8) for the elongated object. (11).

L'appareil peut aussi éventuellement être pourvu d'un couvercle (39), avantageusement transparent.The device can also optionally be provided with a cover (39), advantageously transparent.

On va décrire ci-après le nettoyage d'un objet longiligne continu à l'aide de l'appareil de nettoyage selon le mode de réalisation représenté figures 3, 4 et 5.The cleaning of a continuous elongate object will be described below using the cleaning device according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

Après avoir rempli de milieu solvant le compartiment de nettoyage (29) et le compartiment de distillaticn (30) jusqu'au niveau prévu, on met en fonctionnement les moyens de chauffage (4) du milieu solvant (2) contenu dans le compartiment de distillation (30) jusqu'à ce que le milieu solvant soit en ébulliton et que la vapeur de milieu solvant franchisse l'ouverture (34) de la cloison (32) et crée la zone de vapeur (17) au-dessus de la surface (14) du milieu solvant (2) placé dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29).After filling the cleaning compartment (29) and the distillation compartment (30) with solvent medium to the level provided, the heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2) contained in the distillation compartment are put into operation. (30) until the solvent medium is boiling and the vapor of solvent medium passes through the opening (34) of the partition (32) and creates the vapor zone (17) above the surface ( 14) of the solvent medium (2) placed in the cleaning compartment (29).

On établit la circulation de fluide réfrigérant dans le serpentin (5) situé au voisinage de l'ouverture de la cuve (3) de l'appareil, afin de condenser les vapeurs du milieu solvant au moyen du serpentin (5) et de les empêcher de s'échapper hors de la cuve (3) de l'appareil (10). Le condensat récupéré dans la goulotte (35) est acheminé par le conduit (36) vers le dispositif séparateur d'eau (37), le condensat exempt d'eau, qui est du milieu solvant propre, sort du dispositif (37) par le conduit (38) et est acheminé vers les moyens d'entrée (21) après avoir été réchauffé dans le conduit hélicoïdal (39).The circulation of coolant is established in the coil (5) located near the opening of the tank (3) of the apparatus, in order to condense the vapors of the solvent medium by means of the coil (5) and prevent them from escaping out of the tank (3) of the appliance (10). The condensate recovered in the chute (35) is conveyed by the conduit (36) to the water separating device (37), the water-free condensate, which is clean solvent medium, leaves the device (37) through the conduit (38) and is routed to the inlet means (21) after being heated in the helical conduit (39).

On fera donc circuler le milieu solvant dans le guide tubulaire (12) de façon continue, des moyens d'entrée (21) vers les moyens de sortie (22), en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet (11).The solvent medium will therefore be circulated in the tubular guide (12) continuously, from the inlet means (21) to the outlet means (22), in the opposite direction of the movement of the object (11).

Le milieu solvant sortant du guide tubulaire (12) par les moyens de sortie (21) arrive dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29), du milieu solvant s'échappe par débordement au-dessus du seuil (33) et tombe dans le compartiment de distillation (30) où il est porté à ébullition.The solvent medium leaving the tubular guide (12) by the outlet means (21) arrives in the cleaning compartment (29), the solvent medium escapes by overflowing above the threshold (33) and falls into the compartment distillation (30) where it is brought to a boil.

On met en service les émetteurs d'ultrasons (31).The ultrasonic transmitters (31) are put into service.

On introduit l'objet longiligne (11) successivement dans la rampe d'entrée (6), dans le guide tubulaire (12), dans la rampe de sortie (7) puis entre les rouleaux d'entraînement (8).The elongated object (11) is introduced successively into the inlet ramp (6), into the tubular guide (12), into the outlet ramp (7) and then between the drive rollers (8).

Par la mise en rotation des rouleaux du dispositf d'entraînement (8), on déplace l'objet longiligne successivement à travers une première zone de vapeur [entre la rampe d'entrée (6) et la surface du milieu solvant (2) dans le guide tubulaire (12)], dans le milieu solvant (2), dans une deuxième zone de vapeur du milieu solvant [entre la surface du milieu solvant (2) dans le guide tubulaire (12) et la rampe de sortie (7)J.By rotating the rollers of the drive device (8), the slender object is successively moved through a first vapor zone [between the inlet ramp (6) and the surface of the solvent medium (2) in the tubular guide (12)], in the solvent medium (2), in a second vapor zone of the solvent medium [between the surface of the solvent medium (2) in the tubular guide (12) and the outlet ramp (7) J.

De par la présence du guide tubulaire (12) lorsque l'on déplace l'objet longiligne (11) on le déplace selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue.Due to the presence of the tubular guide (12) when the elongated object (11) is moved, it is displaced along a path imposed in the form of a continuous curve.

Lors de la traversée de la première zone de vapeur, l'objet longiligne (11) est préchauffé et pré-nettoyé. Lors de la traversée du milieu solvant (2) l'objet longiligne (11) est soumis à l'action nettoyante du milieu solvant et les salissures non solubles dans celui-ci sont décolées par l'action du milieu solvant mis en cavitation par les ultrasons. L'objet longiligne (11) est rincé par le milieu solvant (2) qui se déplace en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet (11). lors de la traversée de la deuxième zone de vapeur l'objet (11) subit un rinçage par ruissellement du condensat de la vapeur.When crossing the first vapor zone, the elongated object (11) is preheated and pre-cleaned. When passing through the solvent medium (2) the elongated object (11) is subjected to the cleaning action of the solvent medium and the non-soluble soils in it are removed by the action of the solvent medium cavitated by the ultrasound. The elongated object (11) is rinsed by the solvent medium (2) which moves in the opposite direction to the movement of the object (11). when passing through the second steam zone the object (11) is rinsed by trickling steam condensate.

Les divers modes de réalisation de l'appareil de nettoyage d'au moins un objet longiligne, selon l'invention, ne sont décrits ci-avant qu'à titre d'exemple et l'on ne sort pas du cadre de l'invention en combinant tout ou partie de ces divers modes de réalisation entre eux.The various embodiments of the apparatus for cleaning at least one elongated object, according to the invention, are described above only by way of example and it is not going beyond the ambit of the invention by combining all or part of these various embodiments with one another.

L'appareil de nettoyage d'au moins un objet longiligne selon l'invention présente de nombreux avantages par rapport aux appareils selon l'art antérieur.The device for cleaning at least one elongated object according to the invention has numerous advantages compared to the devices according to the prior art.

En effet, les moyens de guidage de l'objet selon une courbe continue permettent d'introduire l'objet dans l'appareil avec plus de facilité que dans des appareils équipés de galets car, dans ceux-ci, l'opérateur doit manuellement placer l'objet autour de chaque galet. En particulier, avec des moyens de guidage constitués par un guide tubulaire il suffit d'introduire l'objet longiligne à une extrémité et de le pousser peu à peu vers l'intérieur du guide pour qu'il parvienne à l'autre extrémité sans risque d'accrochage et sans intervention manuelle de l'opérateur au sein du milieu solvant.In fact, the means for guiding the object along a continuous curve make it possible to introduce the object into the device with greater ease than in devices equipped with rollers because, in these, the operator must manually place the object around each pebble. In particular, with guide means constituted by a tubular guide, it suffices to introduce the elongated object at one end and to push it little by little towards the inside of the guide so that it reaches the other end without risk. attachment and without manual operator intervention in the solvent medium.

L'appareil présente aussi l'avantage d'éviter les risques de détérioration de l'objet à nettoyer.The device also has the advantage of avoiding the risk of deterioration of the object to be cleaned.

Un avantage important de l'appareil selon l'invention réside dans la faible oonsonmation de milieu solvant, tout en permettant d'obtenir un nettoyage de l'objet de bonne qualité, ceci est dû à la circulation de milieu solvant propre en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet ce qui permet un rinçage de l'objet par du solvant propre juste avant qu'il ne sorte du milieu solvant.An important advantage of the apparatus according to the invention lies in the low consumption of solvent medium, while making it possible to obtain a good quality cleaning of the object, this is due to the circulation of clean solvent medium in the opposite direction from the displacement of the object which allows rinsing of the object with clean solvent just before it leaves the solvent medium.

L'appareil permet également, selon certains modes de réalisation, de ne mettre en oeuvre qu'un faible volume de milieu solvant puisqu'il suffit que le guide tubulaire contienne du milieu solvant.The apparatus also makes it possible, according to certain embodiments, to use only a small volume of solvent medium since it is sufficient for the tubular guide to contain solvent medium.

De par sa faible consommation de solvant l'appareil présente aussi l'avantage de diminuer les problèmes de pollution et de régénération de solvant.Due to its low solvent consumption, the device also has the advantage of reducing the problems of pollution and solvent regeneration.

Claims (12)

1. - Appareil (10) de nettoyage en milieu solvant (2) d'au moins un objet longiligne continu (11), caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des rampes d'entrée (6) et de sortie (7) dudit objet (11), des moyens de guidage de l'objet longiligne (11) constitués par un guide tubulaire (12) ouvert à ses extrémités, ledit objet se déplaçant à l'intérieur dudit guide tubulaire (12) selon une trajectoire imposée en forme de courbe continue, ledit guide tubulaire (12) étant pourvu au voisinage d'une extrémité de moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant propre et au voisinage de l'autre extrémité de moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale de façon telle que le milieu solvant (2) circule dans le guide tubulaire (12) au contact de l'objet longiligne (11) en sens contraire du déplacement de l'objet (11) dans le guide tubulaire (12) et des moyens (31) pour soumettre le milieu solvant (2) à des ultrasons.1. - Apparatus (10) for cleaning in a solvent medium (2) of at least one continuous elongated object (11), characterized in that it comprises inlet (6) and outlet (7) ramps of said object (11), means for guiding the elongate object (11) constituted by a tubular guide (12) open at its ends, said object moving inside said tubular guide (12) along a path imposed in the form of continuous curve, said tubular guide (12) being provided in the vicinity of one end of inlet means (21) of clean solvent medium and in the vicinity of the other end of outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium such that the solvent medium (2) circulates in the tubular guide (12) in contact with the elongated object (11) in the opposite direction of the movement of the object (11) in the tubular guide (12) and means (31 ) to subject the solvent medium (2) to ultrasound. 2. - Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une cuve (3) ouverte à sa partie supérieure et contenant un milieu liquide et que le guide tubulaire (12) est en partie immergé dans le milieu liquide, de façon telle que ses extrémités soient situées au-dessus de la surface du milieu liquide dans la cuve.2. - Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tank (3) open at its upper part and containing a liquid medium and that the tubular guide (12) is partly immersed in the liquid medium, so such that its ends are located above the surface of the liquid medium in the tank. 3. - Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le milieu liquide contenu dans la cuve (3) est du milieu solvant (2) et que les moyens d'entrée (21) de milieu solvant (2) propre sont à une altitude supérieure à celle des moyens de sortie (22) de milieu solvant sale (2) et situés au dessus de la surface (14) du milieu solvant (2).3. - Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the liquid medium contained in the tank (3) is solvent medium (2) and that the inlet means (21) of solvent medium (2) clean are at a altitude higher than that of the outlet means (22) of dirty solvent medium (2) and located above the surface (14) of the solvent medium (2). 4. - Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendication 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de chauffage (4) du milieu solvant (2).4. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2). 5. - Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de condensation (5) des vapeurs dudit milieu solvant (2).5. - Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means for condensing (5) the vapors of said solvent medium (2). 6. - Appareil selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'entrée (21) du milieu solvant propre sont reliés à des moyens de récupération (35) du condensat des vapeurs dudit milieu solvant (2).6. - Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the inlet means (21) of the clean solvent medium are connected to recovery means (35) of the condensate of the vapors of said solvent medium (2). 7. - Appareil selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre entre les moyens de récupération (35) du condensat des vapeurs du milieu solvant et les moyens d'entrée (21) du milieu solvant propre, un dispositif séparateur d'eau (37) et un dispositif de réchauffage (39) du condensât.7. - Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises between the recovery means (35) of the condensate of the vapors of the solvent medium and the inlet means (21) of the clean solvent medium, a separator device water (37) and a condensate heating device (39). 8. - Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 7, caractérisé en ce que la cuve (3) contenant le milieu solvant (2) est constituée d'un compartiment de nettoyage (29) dans lequel le guide tubulaire (12) est en partie immergé dans le milieu solvant (2) et d'un compartiment de distillation (30) du milieu solvant (2) pourvu de moyens de chauffage (4) du milieu solvant (2), la cloison (32) entre ledit compartiment de nettoyage (29) et ledit compartiment de distillation (30) comportant un seuil de trop plein (33) et une ouverture (34) d'amenée des vapeurs du milieu solvant (2) dans le compartiment de nettoyage (29).8. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the tank (3) containing the solvent medium (2) consists of a cleaning compartment (29) in which the tubular guide (12) is partly immersed in the solvent medium (2) and a distillation compartment (30) of the solvent medium (2) provided with heating means (4) of the solvent medium (2), the partition (32) between said compartment cleaning (29) and said distillation compartment (30) having an overflow threshold (33) and an opening (34) for supplying the vapors of the solvent medium (2) into the cleaning compartment (29). 9. - Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte plusieurs rampes d'entrée (6) et de sortie (7) de plusieurs objets (11), et plusieurs guides tubulaires (12) desdits objets (11) lors de leurs déplacements dans le milieu solvant (2).9. - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises several inlet ramps (6) and outlet (7) of several objects (11), and several tubular guides (12) said objects (11) during their movements in the solvent medium (2). 10. - Emploi d'un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes pour nettoyer des objets filiformes.10. - Use of an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims for cleaning filiform objects. 11.- Emploi d'un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes pour nettoyer des objets sous forme de bande.11. Use of an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims for cleaning objects in the form of a strip. 12. - Emploi d'un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes pour nettoyer des objets longilignes formés d'éléments unitaires reliés entre eux pour former une bande.12. - Use of an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims for cleaning elongated objects formed of unitary elements linked together to form a strip.
EP84420040A 1983-04-01 1984-03-08 Cleaning apparatus using a solvent for at least one longitudinal object, and its use Withdrawn EP0123630A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8305649A FR2543459B1 (en) 1983-04-01 1983-04-01 METHOD FOR CLEANING IN A SOLVENT MEDIUM OF AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS LONGILINE OBJECT, APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD AND USE OF SAID APPARATUS
FR8305649 1983-04-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0123630A1 true EP0123630A1 (en) 1984-10-31

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EP84420040A Withdrawn EP0123630A1 (en) 1983-04-01 1984-03-08 Cleaning apparatus using a solvent for at least one longitudinal object, and its use

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Country Link
US (1) US4605027A (en)
EP (1) EP0123630A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2543459B1 (en)

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FR2607347A1 (en) * 1986-11-21 1988-05-27 Teledyne Ind APPARATUS, INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CLEANING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
FR2614562A1 (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-04 Outillages Scient Lab CLEANING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRONIC SUBASSEMBLIES
FR2653684A1 (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-05-03 Osl Technologies Machine for cleaning with the aid of a solvent
CN103861840A (en) * 2014-03-12 2014-06-18 张家港市港威超声电子有限公司 Ultrasonic wave ore pulp invasion taking machine

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US20030124853A1 (en) * 1998-06-25 2003-07-03 Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corporation Anisotropic etching method and apparatus
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FR2607347A1 (en) * 1986-11-21 1988-05-27 Teledyne Ind APPARATUS, INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CLEANING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
FR2614562A1 (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-04 Outillages Scient Lab CLEANING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRONIC SUBASSEMBLIES
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CN103861840B (en) * 2014-03-12 2017-04-19 张家港市港威超声电子有限公司 Ultrasonic wave ore pulp leaching machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2543459A1 (en) 1984-10-05
FR2543459B1 (en) 1986-07-11
US4605027A (en) 1986-08-12

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