JP2002079197A - Ultrasonic cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic cleaning device for efficiently cleaning plural treating tanks at a low cost. SOLUTION: An object to be cleaned is cleaned with high efficiency by using the treating tank 2a where a cleaning fluid 1a is stored and a vertically long ultrasonic energy generating part 3 one end of which is invaded in the fluid 1a to transmit ultrasonic vibration to the fluid 1a in the radial direction. The part 3 can be moved from the tank 2a to other treating tanks 2b, 2c by providing a supporting mechanism 22 for hanging/supporting the part 3 so that it can be invaded in the fluid 1a and a conveying means 20 to which the mechanism 22 is fit and fixed for conveying the mechanism 22 in this ultrasonic cleaning device. As a result, the cleaning cost can be cut down.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus that receives an object to be cleaned in an open processing tank and performs ultrasonic cleaning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of ultrasonic cleaning device,
A cleaning tank type shown in FIG. 5 is known.

As shown in the figure, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus includes a processing tank 103 that stores a cleaning fluid 101 and can store an object to be cleaned, and a vibrator 105 attached or adhered to the bottom of the processing tank 103. Have.

The vibrator 105 is made of, for example, an electrostrictive element, and operates by applying a voltage of a predetermined frequency by an oscillator (not shown) to generate ultrasonic vibration of this frequency, and the cleaning fluid 101 is excited by the ultrasonic vibration. Then, the object to be cleaned (not shown) immersed in the cleaning fluid 101 is cleaned.

[0005]

The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus described above is desired to be improved in the following points.

In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, a vibrator 105 is mounted on the bottom of a processing tank 103, and an ultrasonic energy generating unit having the processing tank and the vibrator is integrated. Therefore, in the case of a cleaning process using several types of different cleaning fluids, the cleaning fluid is replaced each time, or
It is necessary to use a plurality of ultrasonic cleaning devices themselves, which increases the working time or cost.

[0007] In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, since the vibrator 105 is mounted on the bottom of the processing tank 103, ultrasonic energy is radiated only in one direction upward from the bottom of the processing tank 103, so that the cleaning object can be cleaned. Cleaning unevenness is likely to occur.

When the operation is performed in the absence of the cleaning fluid 101, that is, in the state of empty heating, an abnormal increase in output occurs, and the deterioration of the adhesive fixing the vibrator 105 to the bottom surface of the processing tank 103 is caused. Peeling or cracking of the vibrator 105 itself may occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to have a plurality of processing tanks at a low cost by not fixing an ultrasonic energy generating section having a vibrator to the processing tank, and to improve efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic cleaning device capable of obtaining a good cleaning effect.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising: at least one processing tank in which a cleaning fluid is stored and which is capable of cleaning an object to be cleaned; A vibration transmitting member which is capable of transmitting ultrasonic vibration in the radial direction by entering into the fluid, and a vibrator which oscillates ultrasonic vibration in the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmitting member in combination with the other end of the vibration transmitting member. An ultrasonic energy generating section having a support mechanism for suspending and supporting the ultrasonic energy generating section so that the ultrasonic energy generating section can enter the cleaning fluid; and a conveying means to which the supporting mechanism is attached and fixed and which conveys the supporting mechanism. The vibration transmitting member enters the cleaning fluid by the transportation of the transportation means, and radiates ultrasonic energy in a radial direction of the vibration transmitting member to clean the object to be cleaned.

Further, the processing tank of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has an open upper surface.

Further, the ultrasonic energy generating section of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a suspending member to be suspended by the support mechanism.

Further, the length of the vibration transmitting member of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is set to an integral multiple of a half wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration oscillated by the vibrator.

Further, the vibration transmitting member of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a tip portion uniformly reduced in diameter and a cover member for forming a gap in the tip portion, and the gap is formed. The length in the longitudinal direction is set to about １ ／ of the wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration oscillated by the vibrator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ultrasonic cleaning device (including an ultrasonic energy radiating device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the vibration transmitting member shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a radiation direction, and FIG.
Is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a part of a tip end portion of a vibration transmission member provided in the ultrasonic cleaning device shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cleaning device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic energy generator 3, a hanging member 10, and a processing tank 2.

The processing tank 2 has a box shape with an open upper surface.
A cleaning tank that stores a cleaning fluid such as pure water and a chemical solution, and that can receive an object to be cleaned and perform ultrasonic cleaning. Since the processing tank 2 is not connected to the ultrasonic energy generating unit 3, the processing tank can be changed according to the size and shape of the object to be cleaned and the type of the cleaning fluid, so that the working efficiency can be increased or Cost reduction is possible.

The ultrasonic energy generator 3 has a vibration transmitting member 4 and a vibrator 5 coupled to the vibration transmitting member 4.

The vibration transmitting member 4 is made of a material such as duralumin or the like, and is formed to be long, solid in cross section, and solid. One end side is the cleaning fluid 1 in the processing tank 2.
It is suspended vertically so that it is immersed in.

A vibrator 5 is fixed to the other end of the vibration transmitting member 4, that is, the upper end shown in FIG. Also,
As shown in FIG. 1, the vicinity of the upper end of the vibration transmitting member 4 and the vibrator 5 are enclosed by a cylindrical case 12, and a cooling fan motor 11 is mounted and fixed inside the upper part of the case 12. The cooling fan motor 11 is for preventing the vibrator 5 from being overheated, and is supplied with power via a connector 15 and a cable 14. Further, a ventilation hole for suction by the cooling fan motor 11 is provided in the case 12.

The vibrator 5 is, for example, an electrostrictive element, and is driven by applying a voltage of a predetermined frequency through a connector 15 and a cable 14 by an oscillator (not shown) to oscillate ultrasonic vibrations. This ultrasonic vibration is propagated in the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmitting member 4. The ultrasonic energy generator 3 and an oscillator (not shown) are collectively referred to as an ultrasonic energy radiating device.

The length L of the vibration transmitting member 4 is
Half wavelength (λ / 2) of ultrasonic vibration transmitted from vibrator 5
And resonates. In the present embodiment, the length L of the vibration transmitting member 4 is 379 mm, and the diameter d is 66 mm. One wavelength (λ) of the ultrasonic vibration propagated from the vibrator 5 is 252 mm, and the length L and the diameter d
Are about 1.5 times this one wavelength and about １ ／ to ３ times this one wavelength, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the direction of the ultrasonic energy radiated from the vibration transmitting member 4 is indicated by F,
The ultrasonic energy is radiated in the radial direction of the vibration transmitting member 4 and has an omnidirectional (360 °) characteristic, and is uniformly transmitted to the cleaning fluid 1, so that cleaning unevenness can be prevented. is there.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the distal end portion 4e of the vibration transmitting member 4 is uniformly reduced in diameter, and the outer shape of the distal end portion 4e is substantially the same as that of the main body of the vibration transmitting member 4. A cover member 7 having an inner diameter larger than the tip portion 4e is fixed. The cover member 7
Thereby, a gap 6 is formed at the distal end face of the vibration transmitting member 4 and in the vicinity thereof.

The cover member 7 is made of a metal such as duralumin or a synthetic resin.

A liquid-tight member 7 a is interposed between the vibration transmitting member 4 and the cover member 7 in the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmitting member 4. The liquid tightness of the gap 6 is ensured by the liquid tight member 7a. The liquid-tight member 7a is formed using a viscoelastic material such as rubber. The liquid-tight member 7a not only maintains the liquid-tightness inside and outside the cover member, but also has a function of making it difficult for the longitudinal ultrasonic vibration applied to the vibration transmitting member 4 from the vibrator 5 to propagate to the cover member 7. . That is, transmission of vibration energy to the cleaning fluid 1 through the cover member 7 is suppressed, and the efficiency of the vibration transmission member 4 being converted into energy in the radial direction is further increased.

Since the acoustic impedance of the air in the space 6 of the vibration transmitting member 4 is extremely smaller than the acoustic impedance of the cleaning fluid 1, almost no vibration energy is transmitted to the space 6. Therefore, the longitudinal vibration energy applied to the vibration transmitting member 4 from the vibrator 5 is not wastefully radiated from the tip of the vibration transmitting member 4, and almost all of the energy is converted into radial ultrasonic energy and cleaned. Is efficiently radiated into the working fluid 1. That is, a highly efficient cleaning effect can be obtained.

Here, the dimension indicated by the symbol a in FIG.
That is, the vibration transmitting member 4 is separated from the gap 6 by the cover member 7.
Is formed in the longitudinal direction is about １ ／ of the wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration applied from the vibrator 5. In this range, a relatively large radial vibration is induced in the vibration transmitting member 4, and the radiation efficiency of the vibration energy to the cleaning fluid 1 is further increased, which is effective.

The suspension member 10 is formed of a metal such as duralumin or a load-bearing material, and is attached to the case 12.

By suspending the suspension member 10 on the support mechanism 22 shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic energy generating section 3 can be moved up and down in the Z1 direction shown by the arrow in FIG. Therefore, the value of the portion d in which the vibration transmitting member 4 is immersed in the cleaning fluid 1 can be adjusted from the maximum to zero.

Further, since the vibration transmitting member 4 is long and has a relatively large acoustic impedance itself, the vibration transmitting member 4 operates in a state where the d value is 0, that is, an abnormal increase in the output even in a state of idling. Is prevented.

Next, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus provided with the ultrasonic energy emitting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus includes a transfer means 20. The transfer means 20 includes a movable base 21 movable in a horizontal direction (indicated by an arrow H), and a movable base 21. And a base driving means (not shown) for moving. The movable base 21 is provided with a movable pole 23 as an elevating member which is moved up and down by an elevating member driving means (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down (indicated by an arrow Z2).

The support mechanism 22 comprises a base 22a and an arm member 22b.
3 is attached and fixed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic energy generator 3 has a hanging member 10 hung on a pair of arm members 22b of a support mechanism 22 and is suspended. The height in the tank 2a can be freely adjusted, and can be taken out of the processing tank.

The ultrasonic energy generating section 3 is moved up and down by the movable pole 23 and moved in the horizontal direction by the transfer means 20, as shown by a two-dot chain line.
The cleaning process can be performed by changing the processing tank from a to the processing tank 2b and the processing tank 2c.

[0037]

As described above, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a structure in which the ultrasonic energy generating section having the vibrator is suspended and supported without being fixed to the processing tank.
It is possible to have a plurality of processing tanks at low cost, and the ultrasonic energy has an omnidirectional (360 °) characteristic and is uniformly and efficiently radiated to the object to be cleaned. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view on arrow AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a part of a vibration transmitting member 4 provided in the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional ultrasonic cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning fluid 2 Processing tank 3 Ultrasonic energy generation part 4 Vibration transmission member 4e Tip part 5 Vibrator 6 Air gap 7 Cover member 7a Liquid tight member 10 Hanging member 12 Case 20 Transport means 22 Supporting mechanism 22a Base part 22b Arm member

Claims (5)

[Claims] A cleaning fluid is stored therein, and at least one or more processing tanks capable of cleaning an object to be cleaned, and a longitudinal one end of which enters the cleaning fluid to generate ultrasonic vibrations in a radial direction. An ultrasonic energy generating unit having a vibration transmitting member capable of transmitting and an oscillator coupled to the other end of the vibration transmitting member and oscillating ultrasonic vibration in a longitudinal direction of the vibration transmitting member; A support mechanism for suspending and supporting the unit so as to be able to enter the cleaning fluid; and a transport unit to which the support mechanism is attached and fixed, and transports the support mechanism. An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus characterized in that it enters a working fluid and radiates ultrasonic energy in a radial direction of the vibration transmitting member to clean an object to be cleaned. 2. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said processing tank is open. 3. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic energy generating section has a suspending member for being suspended by the support mechanism. 4. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of said vibration transmitting member is set to an integral multiple of a half wavelength of ultrasonic vibration oscillated by said vibrator. 5. The vibration transmitting member has a tip portion uniformly reduced in diameter, and a cover member for forming a gap in the tip portion, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction in which the gap is formed is set to the length. About 1/4 of the wavelength of ultrasonic vibration oscillated by the vibrator
The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: