JP2001286834A - Washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the detergent leakage due to pressure increase in a closed vessel in a washing device for washing a workpiece by using the detergent in the closed vessel. SOLUTION: A closed tank 50 being a floating roof type storage tank is connected to the closed vessel 1 through a gas feed/discharge pipe 44. In the closed tank 50, the gas feed/discharge pipe 44 is communicated to a cover vessel 51 becoming the floating roof, and in the closed vessel 1, the pipe is communicated to the upper part space 10 in the vessel 1. In the cover vessel 51 of the closed vessel 1, the balance between a prescribed gas pressure in the cover vessel 51 and the flotating force worked to the cover vessel 51 by inert liquid and the gravity of the cover vessel 51 is previously taken. When the pressure variation in the closed vessel occurs, the cover vessel 51 is moved vertically in order to ensure the valance to automatically perform the exchange of gas between the closed vessel 1 and the closed tank 50 and to suppress the pressure variation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a workpiece using a cleaning agent, and more particularly, to a cleaning apparatus with a small loss of the cleaning agent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a conventional one-tank type ultrasonic cleaning apparatus. The one-tank type ultrasonic cleaning device mainly includes a closed container 1, a storage tank 2, and a steam generation tank 3. The cover 4 is opened and the work W is put into the closed container 1.
The cleaning agent liquid 5 is supplied into the closed container 1 using the circulation system 6 including the storage tank 2. The ultrasonic vibrator 7 is operated to perform ultrasonic immersion cleaning. After the immersion cleaning, the circulation supply into the closed container 1 is stopped, and the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent is withdrawn.
Steam 8 is continuously supplied by supplying a steam 8 of a cleaning agent into the inside.
A refrigerant flows through a cooling pipe 9 at the upper part of the steam cleaner and the closed vessel 1 to cool, condense and discharge the rising steam 8 to the outside. After the steam cleaning, the supply of steam is stopped, and the cleaned work W is dried in the closed container 1. Washing is completed by this drying.

As described above, by continuously performing immersion cleaning, steam cleaning, and drying in the closed container 1, it is possible to maintain a state with less environmental pollution.

[0004]

However, at the time of immersion cleaning, the cleaning liquid 5 is supplied into the closed container 1 which is in the atmospheric pressure state with the work W put therein and the lid 4 is closed. The gas pressure in the upper space 10 in the interior increases. Also,
Also during the evaporative cleaning performed subsequent to the immersion cleaning, the gas pressure in the upper space 10 of the closed container 1 increases because steam is supplied into the closed container 1 in a closed state. In particular, at the time of steam cleaning, although the steam zone is kept at a certain level by cooling by the cooling pipe 9, it is difficult to control the steam pressure, and the gas pressure often exceeds the limit at which the hermetic container 1 can be kept tightly closed. Become. If the gas pressure exceeds the limit pressure of the closed container 1, the cleaning agent leaks from the gap of the lid 4. Leakage of the cleaning agent is not preferable because the external environment is contaminated. Further, the consumption of the cleaning agent increases, which is not economical.
In particular, if a relatively expensive and highly effective cleaning agent is used instead of a relatively inexpensive cleaning agent, even a slight leakage of the cleaning agent causes a large loss.

In order to prevent such a leakage of the cleaning agent, the O-ring or the seal 60 provided between the upper opening of the closed container 1 and the lid 4 is multiplied, or the lid 4 for the upper opening is provided. It is conceivable to take measures such as further strengthening the tightening force of the lock handle 11 or performing both of them. However, such measures have limitations, and as a result, leakage of the cleaning agent cannot be effectively prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and reduce the leakage loss of the cleaning agent as much as possible.
It is to provide a more environmentally friendly, safe and economical cleaning device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for performing cleaning of a work in a closed container using a cleaning agent, wherein the cleaning device communicates with the closed container and a gas in the closed container is provided. A cleaning tank provided with a sealed tank for exchanging the gas with the sealed container according to the pressure of the gas.

[0008] During the cleaning of the work, the gas pressure in the closed container fluctuates. Gas is exchanged between the closed container and the closed system according to the fluctuation of the gas pressure. By this exchange, the gas pressure in the closed container is adjusted, so that the pressure increase in the closed container is suppressed. Therefore, gas does not leak from the closed container due to the pressure increase in the closed container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the closed tank has a lower container in which an upper part is opened and an inert liquid which does not react with the gas is stored therein, and the lower part is supported by floating on the inert liquid. Having a lid container that closes the upper opening of the lower container,
The lid container and the closed container are communicated with each other, and the gas pressure of gas accumulated in the lid container and the buoyancy provided by the inert liquid are balanced with the gravity of the lid container, so that the lid container is floated and supported. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is a cleaning device.

[0010] A so-called floating roof type storage tank is used as the closed tank, and the lid container as a floating roof is raised and lowered according to the pressure fluctuation in the closed container. The pressure inside the closed vessel can be automatically adjusted without the need.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an upper opening is closed by a lid, and a closed container for cleaning a work in an internal space, and a cleaning agent for immersion cleaning in the closed container is circulated and supplied by a liquid. Liquid supply means for performing the above steps, and a steam supply means for continuously supplying the cleaning agent with steam instead of the liquid in order to perform steam cleaning on the closed container. Cooling means for cooling and capturing the coming steam, a drain pipe for returning the vapor of the cleaning agent captured and condensed by the cooling means to the solvent supply means, and the sealing during the immersion cleaning and the steam cleaning. The closed tank for supplying and discharging gas accumulated in the upper space in the container, and a gas supply / discharge pipe communicating the closed tank with the upper space in the closed container are provided.

The closed tank has a lower container in which an upper portion is opened and an inert liquid which does not react with the gas is stored therein, and a lid container which is floated and supported on the inert liquid and closes an upper opening of the lower container. Wherein the lid container and the closed container are communicated with each other, and the gas pressure of gas accumulated in the lid container and the buoyancy given by the inert liquid, and the gravity of the lid container are balanced, so that the lid container Is a cleaning device characterized by being supported by floating.

When the gas pressure in the closed container increases, a part of the gas flows into the closed tank via the gas supply / discharge pipe, so that the gas pressure in the closed container decreases. Part of the gas flowing into the closed tank pushes up the lid container. Conversely, when the gas pressure in the closed container decreases, the cover container descends, and the gas in the cover container flows into the closed container via the gas supply / discharge pipe, thereby increasing the gas pressure in the closed container. As a result, during immersion cleaning and steam cleaning, the pressure in the closed container is always adjusted to be constant regardless of the amount of the cleaning agent supplied to the closed container, and the gas pressure in the closed container may excessively increase. Disappears. Therefore, the airtightness of the lid of the sealed container is not broken, and the detergent does not leak to the external environment.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The cleaning device according to the embodiment has a simple structure.
It is a tank type, and has a closed container 1 for cleaning and drying the work W in a cleaning tank formed in the internal space using a cleaning agent. The cleaning agent used is, for example, HFC, HCFC,
HFE and the like.

The closed container 1 has a lid 4 covering an upper opening.
It has a closed structure type with The lid 4 can be opened and closed by a lock handle 11. The work W is put into and taken out of the closed container 1 by opening and closing the lid 4. The work W is accommodated in a rotating basket 13 that is rotatably supported by a pair of rotating rollers 12 provided in the closed container 1, and is rotated as needed during cleaning.

An ultrasonic vibrator 7 is provided on the inner bottom of the sealed container 1 so that the work W immersed in the cleaning agent liquid 5 can be ultrasonically cleaned. The level of the cleaning liquid 5 in the tank 3 is detected by a photoelectric sensor 61.

In order to filter and regenerate the detergent liquid 5 to be supplied to the closed container 1, a circulation system 6 is provided outside the closed container 1.
Connect. The circulation system 6 includes a closed vessel 1, a discharge pipe 15 connected to the bottom of the closed vessel 1 via a drain valve 14,
A storage tank 2 for storing the cleaning agent liquid 5 discharged from the discharge pipe 15, a suction pipe 16 connected to the storage tank 2, a valve 17 and a strainer 18 provided in the middle of the suction pipe 16, and a storage tank via the suction pipe 16. A pump 19 for sucking the cleaning liquid 5 from the pump 2, a discharge pipe 20 connected to the pump 19, a check valve 21 and a filter 22L provided in the middle of the discharge pipe 20, a cleaning liquid 5 discharged from the pump 19; And a solvent supply pipe 23 connected to the side surface of the sealed container 1 via a filter 22, and valves 24 and 25 provided in the middle of the solvent supply pipe 23.

A drain pipe 2 is provided on a side surface of the sealed container 1 above a place where the supply pipe 23 is attached through a gas-liquid separator 62.
The cleaning liquid 6 in the closed container 1 condensed by overflow or cooling is returned to the storage tank 2 via the valve 27. A heater 28 is provided in the storage tank 2,
The cleaning agent stored therein is heated to a predetermined temperature lower than the boiling point but higher than room temperature. The liquid level of the cleaning agent liquid 5 in the tank 2 is monitored by the upper limit float 29 and the lower limit float 30.

A cooling pipe 9 wound around the inner periphery of the upper portion of the closed vessel 1 is provided. At the time of steam cleaning performed after immersion cleaning, a coolant is flowed through the cooling pipe 9 to cool and condense the vapor 8 of the cleaning agent rising from the lower portion of the closed container 1, and can be discharged out of the closed container 1 in a liquid state. It has become. A gutter 31 is provided on the inner periphery of the closed vessel 1 below the cooling pipe 9. The cleaning agent liquid 5 condensed and accumulated in the gutter 31 is collected in the storage tank 2 through the drain pipe 26 described above. In the storage tank 2, when the contamination of the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent becomes severe, it is withdrawn from the drain pipe 33 through the valve 32.

A solvent vapor supply pipe 34 for supplying steam 8 into the closed vessel 1 is connected to a side surface of the closed vessel 1 below a place where the supply pipe 23 is attached. After all the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent stored in the closed container 1 is extracted, steam 8 is supplied from a steam nozzle 35 provided in the closed container 1 communicating with the solvent vapor supply pipe 34. The solvent vapor supply pipe 34 is connected to the vapor generation tank 3 via a valve 36. The cleaning agent in the steam generating tank 3 is supplied from a branch supply pipe 37 branched from the solvent supply pipe 23 connected to the filter 22 of the circulation system 6 described above. A heater 38 is provided in the steam generation tank 3 and heats the cleaning agent stored in the tank 3 to a boiling point temperature to evaporate the cleaning agent.
The level of the cleaning agent in the tank 3 is monitored by an upper limit float 39 and a lower limit float 40. Further, the contamination of the cleaning agent in the tank 3 is detected by the photoelectric sensor 41. When the contamination of the cleaning agent becomes severe, it is withdrawn from the drain pipe 43 via the valve 42.

A gas supply / discharge pipe 44 for taking in and out gas stored in the upper space 10 is connected to the upper part of the closed vessel 1. The gas is air or a cleaning agent gas. The gas supply / discharge pipe 44 is connected to a closed tank 50 provided outside the closed container 1.
The closed tank 50 is constituted by a floating roof type storage tank. An open lower container 52 in which an inert liquid 45 such as water that does not react with the gas is stored;
And a lid container 51 that covers the opening of. Lid container 51
Has a predetermined weight, is fitted in the opening of the lower container 52, and floats on the inert liquid 45. The gas supply / discharge pipe 44 is guided into the lid container 51 so that the gas 46 accumulates in the lid container 51. The gas pressure accumulated in the space inside the lid container 51 and the buoyancy given by the inert liquid 45 and the gravity of the lid container 51 are balanced, so that the lid container 51 is floated above the inert liquid 45 and supported. The amount of gas stored in the lid container 51 changes in accordance with the fluctuation of the pressure in the closed container 1, and the lid container 51 moves up and down to maintain the inside of the closed container 1 at a constant pressure. The inert liquid 45 is withdrawn from the drain pipe 48 via the valve 47.

Using the cleaning apparatus configured as described above, a cleaning process of setting a basket, filling a tank, ultrasonic cleaning, steam cleaning, drying, and completion is performed. The purpose of cleaning here is mainly to remove degreasing (removal of organic substances such as oils, fluxes, and waxes) and to remove inorganic substances (sand, stone, metal powder). In addition, various types of workpieces to be cleaned include electronic components, mechanical components, and the like.

First, the lid 13 of the closed container 1 is opened, and the basket 13 containing the work W is set rotatably on the rotating roller 12. After the setting, the lid 4 is closed with the lock handle 11. At this time, the inside of the closed container 1 is in the atmospheric pressure state because the air remains therein. The liquid 5 of the cleaning agent at the predetermined temperature is circulated and supplied from the storage tank 2 into the closed container 1 using the pump 19, and the lower space 55 in the closed container 1 is filled with the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent to clean the work W. Immerse in the liquid 5 of the agent. At this time, since the air in the closed container 1 is pushed up by the cleaning agent liquid 5, the closed container 1
The pressure inside rises. Ultrasonic vibrator 7, rotating roller 12
Is operated to perform immersion cleaning of the work W by ultrasonic waves. When the immersion cleaning is completed, the ultrasonic vibrator 7 is stopped.
The valve 25 of the solvent supply pipe 23 is closed, the drain valve 14 of the discharge pipe 15 is opened, the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent in the closed vessel 1 is drawn out to the storage tank 2 through the discharge pipe 15, and the drain valve 14 is closed. At this time, the pressure in the closed vessel 1 decreases and becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Next, steam cleaning is performed. The valve 36 is opened, and the vapor 8 of the cleaning agent having the boiling point temperature is discharged from the vapor generation tank 3.
Is supplied into the closed container 1 through the solvent vapor supply pipe 34. At this time, the pressure in the closed container 1 increases again to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. In addition, a refrigerant is caused to flow through the cooling pipe 9 so that
The upper space 10 inside is cooled. By this cooling, the steam rising from the lower space 55 in the closed casing 1 is cooled, condensed, and collected in the gutter 31. The cleaning agent collected in the gutter 31 is collected in the storage tank 2 via the gas-liquid separator 62 and the drain pipe 26. In order to always fill the lower space 55 in the closed vessel 1 with steam, the supply of steam from the steam generation tank 3 is continued during the evaporative washing. The steam circulation system for continuing is as follows: the steam generation tank 3 → the solvent vapor supply pipe 34 →
The sealed container 1 → drain pipe 26 → storage tank 2 → branch supply pipe 37 → steam generation tank 3.

As described above, during the immersion cleaning, the liquid 5 of the cleaning agent is supplied from the storage tank 2 into the closed container 1 and the supply amount fluctuates.
The gas pressure inside will fluctuate constantly. Also, during the steam cleaning, the steam supply from the steam generation tank 3 to the inside of the closed vessel 1 is continued, so that the amount of steam in the closed vessel 1 fluctuates, and the inside of the closed vessel 1 in which the cooling pipe 9 suppresses the rise of steam. In the upper space 10, the gas pressure in the upper space 10 constantly fluctuates.

When the gas pressure in the sealed container 1 rises, a part of the gas flows into the sealed tank 50 via the gas supply / discharge pipe 44, so that the gas pressure in the sealed container 1 decreases. The gas flowing into the closed tank 50 pushes up the lid container 51 of the closed tank 50 to balance the lid container 51. Conversely, closed container 1
When the gas pressure in the container drops, the lid container 51
Falls, the gas in the lid container 51 flows into the closed container 1 via the gas supply / discharge pipe 44, and the gas pressure in the closed container 1 is increased. As a result, during the steam cleaning, the pressure in the sealed container 1 is always adjusted to be constant irrespective of the evaporation amount supplied into the sealed container 1, and the gas pressure in the sealed container 1 does not excessively increase. Therefore, the airtightness of the lid 4 of the closed container 1 is broken and the cleaning agent and its vapor do not leak.

After the steam cleaning, the solvent vapor supply pipe 3
By closing the valve 36 of No. 4, the supply of steam into the closed vessel 1 is cut off. During the steam cleaning, the work W which has been continuously exposed to the steam having the boiling point temperature is generating heat, and thus is left in the closed container 1 to be naturally dried by self-heating. At this time, the residual steam in the closed container 1 is cooled by the cooling pipe 9, condensed, and discharged from the drain pipe 26.

As described above, since the closed container and the closed tank are connected by the gas supply / discharge pipe, even if the gas pressure in the closed container fluctuates, the lid container is controlled so as to suppress the fluctuation of the gas pressure. The gas moves automatically up and down, and gas is exchanged between the sealed container and the sealed tank. Therefore, the gas pressure in the closed container is always constant, so that the gas pressure does not become too high, breaking the hermetic seal of the closed container and preventing gas from leaking from the closed container. As a result, the external environment can be kept safe and free from environmental pollution. Further, since there is no possibility that the cleaning agent leaks to the outside, resources can be effectively used. And even if expensive cleaning agents are used, there is no loss due to leakage. For example, the currently known and most expensive HF
When a C-based or HFE-based cleaning agent is used, even a small leak greatly increases the cost. However, compared with the conventional example in which the leak occurs, the monthly running cost is several tenths to several hundreds of minutes. Reduce to one. In addition, since steam does not leak, use of an evaporative cleaning agent is also possible.

Also, with a simple structure in which the closed tank is simply attached to the closed container via the gas supply / discharge pipe, even if the gas pressure in the closed container fluctuates, gas leakage can be effectively prevented. The need for an unnecessary sealing structure in the lid is eliminated. The tightening force of the lid 4 against the upper opening of the closed container 1 by the lock handle 11 can be reduced from 1/10 to 1/20 of the conventional one, and the sealing structure can be simplified.

Further, the closed tank does not require a strong structure like a closed container and can be constituted by a so-called floating roof type storage tank. Therefore, the structure is simple, and the inert liquid is an inexpensive liquid such as water. It is very economical.

Further, the adjustment of the pressure in the closed container is automatically performed by moving the lid container up and down, so that a complicated control system is not required.

[0032]

According to the present invention, by connecting the closed tank to the closed container, the pressure fluctuation in the closed container can be suppressed, and the leakage of the cleaning agent due to an increase in the gas pressure can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to perform cleaning that is less environmentally friendly and economical with less loss of the cleaning agent. Further, with a simple configuration in which the closed tank communicates with the closed container, the gas pressure of the closed container can be automatically adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cleaning apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Closed container 2 Storage tank (solvent supply means) 3 Steam generation tank (steam supply means) 4 Lid 5 Cleaning liquid 7 Ultrasonic vibrator 8 Cleaning liquid vapor 9 Cooling pipe (cooling means) 44 Gas supply / discharge pipe 50 Closed tank 51 Lid container 52 Lower container 55 Lower space of closed container W Work

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a workpiece in a closed container using a cleaning agent, wherein the cleaning device communicates with the closed container and communicates with the closed container according to a pressure of gas in the closed container. A cleaning device provided with a sealed tank for exchanging the gas. 2. The closed tank has a lower container in which an upper portion is opened and an inert liquid which does not react with the gas is stored therein, and an upper portion of the lower container which is floated and supported on the inert liquid to close an upper opening of the lower container. A lid container, wherein the lid container and the closed container are communicated with each other, and the gas pressure of the gas accumulated in the lid container and the buoyancy given by the inert liquid, and the gravity of the lid container are balanced, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the lid container is supported by floating. 3. An airtight container whose upper opening is closed by a lid, for cleaning a work in an internal space, liquid supply means for circulating a cleaning agent for immersion cleaning in the airtight container with a liquid, Steam supply means for continuously supplying the evaporative cleaning agent with steam instead of the liquid in order to perform steam cleaning on the closed container; and cooling the steam rising in the closed container during the steam cleaning. Cooling means for capturing and capturing, a drain pipe for returning the vapor of the evaporative cleaning agent captured and condensed by the cooling means to the solvent supply means, and at the time of the immersion cleaning and the vapor cleaning, the inside of the closed container. A closed tank for supplying and discharging gas accumulated in an upper space; and a gas supply / discharge pipe communicating between the closed tank and the upper space in the closed container. A lower container in which an inert liquid that does not react with the gas is stored, and a lid container that floats and is supported on the inert liquid to close an upper opening of the lower container, wherein the lid container and the closed container are The cleaning is characterized in that the lid container is floated and supported by balancing the gas pressure of the gas that is communicated with the gas stored in the lid container and the buoyancy given by the inert liquid, and the gravity of the lid container. apparatus.