JP2002273352A - Method and apparatus for washing optical part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently wash an optical part and prevent formation of latent scratches owing to a washing solution. SOLUTION: The washing method comprises the following steps combined with one another; an immersion washing step of washing the optical part by immersing the part in a non-aqueous washing solution or a semi-aqueous washing solution, a brush washing step of washing the optical part by bringing the part into contact with a rotating brush, and a rinsing step of carrying out finish rinsing of the optical part by immersing the part in a non-aqueous washing solution or a pseudo-aqueous washing solution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the cleaning of optical parts such as lenses, and more particularly, to the cleaning of optical parts having low water resistance and detergent resistance without using a water-based cleaning agent and eliminating latent scratches. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning an optical component that can be cleaned without causing defects.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the production of optical parts such as lenses,
It is necessary to sufficiently wash the abrasive, glass fine powder, grinding oil, hand oil, and the like adhered in the polishing step and the centering step (cutting of the outer diameter of the lens) and then send them to the next step. As a general method of this cleaning, ultrasonic vibration is applied by dipping in a cleaning liquid. That is, while applying ultrasonic waves to a cleaning liquid such as an alkaline cleaning liquid, city water, pure water, or a solvent stored in each cleaning tank, and immersing optical components in these cleaning liquids for a certain period of time, the physical force of the ultrasonic waves is reduced. It works to remove dirt. Further, instead of this, cleaning is also performed in which the surface of the glass is slightly eroded by an alkali cleaning agent to remove an abrasive such as cerium oxide attached to the surface of the glass.

However, an optical component made of a glass material having low water resistance and detergent resistance is easily eroded by immersion in an alkali cleaning agent or water, and fine scratches formed during the polishing process are reduced. "Latent scars" that are enlarged and become apparent on the surface are occurring. Then, when the ultrasonic cleaning is used in combination to obtain a higher degree of cleaning, the latent wound is further enlarged by the physical force of the ultrasonic waves.

Therefore, instead of using an aqueous cleaning agent such as an alkaline cleaning agent, only a non-aqueous cleaning agent typified by a chlorine-based cleaning agent or a hydrocarbon solvent or a semi-aqueous cleaning agent typified by an alcohol is used. Cleaning has been done. However, these cleaning agents cannot provide high cleanliness. For example, when high cleanliness such as forming a vapor-deposited film on the surface of an optical component in the next step of cleaning is required, Is inappropriate.

In order to obtain such a high degree of cleanliness, it is necessary to wipe the optical components by hand using a cleaning paper or cloth impregnated with a solvent such as alcohol.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-262151, an outer peripheral portion of an optical component such as a lens, which has been subjected to a polishing process, is pinched by a support shaft, and is also pinched by a wiping tool. Cleaning is performed by spraying a cleaning liquid from the nozzle. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-23
Japanese Patent No. 4431 discloses that productivity is improved by wiping optical components using a robot.

[0007]

However, the method of impregnating a solvent such as alcohol into cleaning paper or cloth and wiping it by hand requires a very long time for cleaning, resulting in poor productivity. In particular, it takes a very long time to wipe off dirt such as wax and pitch adhered to the optical component after the polishing step by hand. In addition, in order to clean the entire surface of the optical component cleanly, skill of an operator is required.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-234431,
When a robot is used to wipe an optical component, no manual operation is required, but it takes much time, and productivity is poor. In addition, since cleaning can be performed only on one side, efficiency is reduced. Furthermore, in the robot,
It is difficult to obtain a high degree of cleanliness like a skilled person's hand towel.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-262151, since the optical component and the wiping tool are rotated and cleaned while the optical component is held between the support shafts, it is somewhat effective for removing abrasives and hand grease. However, when the wiping tool becomes dirty, it becomes difficult to remove the grinding oil and the like, and there is a problem that cleaning with high cleanliness cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such conventional problems, and does not cause latent damage even in an optical component using a glass material having small water resistance and detergent resistance. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning method and a cleaning apparatus capable of reliably removing dirt and performing cleaning with high cleanliness.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a cleaning method according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a dipping and cleaning step of dipping and cleaning an optical component in a non-aqueous or semi-aqueous cleaning solution. A combination of a brush cleaning step of contacting the rotating brush and cleaning, and a rinse cleaning step of immersing the optical component in a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a quasi-aqueous cleaning liquid and performing a final rinse cleaning.

In the present invention, immersion cleaning and rinsing cleaning are performed using a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid. In these cleanings, an alkali cleaning agent or water is not used, so that water resistance and detergent resistance are reduced. Even an optical component using a small glass material can prevent the occurrence of latent scratches. In addition to the immersion cleaning and the rinsing cleaning, a brush cleaning for bringing an optical component into contact with a rotating brush is incorporated. In this brush cleaning, the abrasive and the like adhering to the optical component can be physically removed, so that cleaning with a high degree of cleanness in which dirt is surely removed can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical component cleaning method according to the first aspect, wherein the brush cleaning step is inserted between the immersion cleaning step and the rinsing cleaning step.

In the present invention, since the brush cleaning step is performed after the immersion cleaning step, even dirt that cannot be removed by immersion cleaning can be physically removed by subsequent brush cleaning. Therefore, cleaning can be performed with a high degree of cleanliness.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning an optical component.
A shower cleaning step of shower-cleaning the optical component with the cleaning liquid, a brush cleaning step of bringing the optical component into contact with the rotating brush after the shower cleaning step, and a cleaning liquid adhering to the optical component after the brush cleaning step. A shower rinsing step of showering and rinsing by showering. The shower cleaning step, the brush cleaning step, and the shower rinsing step are performed while transporting the optical component.

According to the present invention, the dirt attached to the optical component is removed by the shower cleaning in the shower cleaning step. In addition, dirt that is not removed in the shower cleaning process has a cleaning liquid attached during shower cleaning, and in this state, the brush rotating in the brush cleaning process comes into contact with the optical component, so that the dirt is firmly attached to the optical component. Even if it adheres, it can be removed. In the subsequent shower rinsing step, dirt is removed together with the cleaning liquid. Therefore, even for an optical component using a glass material having small water resistance and detergent resistance, it is possible to perform clean cleaning without causing any trace of cleaning or remaining cleaning without causing damage.

Further, in the present invention, a shower cleaning step,
Since the brush cleaning step and the shower rinsing step are performed while transporting the optical components, continuous charging is possible, and efficient cleaning can be performed in a short time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for transporting an optical component, a first shower device for discharging a cleaning liquid to the optical component, and a brush for rotating a brush against the optical component. A first shower device, a brush device, and a second shower device, which are sequentially arranged along a transport direction of the transport device. It is characterized by being.

In the present invention, after the first shower device discharges the cleaning liquid to remove dirt, the brush device makes the rotating brush abut against the optical component, so that it is firmly attached to the optical component. Even dirt can be reliably removed by rubbing off. Thereafter, the second shower device discharges the rinsing liquid to wash the cleaning liquid containing the dirt component from the optical component. Therefore, cleaning using ultrasonic waves becomes unnecessary, and the occurrence of latent scratches can be prevented.

Since the transport device transports the optical components and the first shower device, the brush device, and the second shower device are arranged along the transport direction, the cleaning while transporting the optical components is performed. It can be performed. For this reason, optical components can be continuously put into the cleaning,
Efficient cleaning can be performed, and cleaning can be performed in a short time.

[0021]

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 and 2
Shows the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lens L as an optical component is cleaned.
After the lens L is immersed in the non-aqueous cleaning liquid or the quasi-aqueous cleaning liquid, the rotating brush is brought into contact with the lens L, and then the final rinse cleaning is performed.

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning apparatus for performing such cleaning, in which first and second cleaning tanks 61 and 62 filled with a non-aqueous cleaning agent such as a hydrocarbon-based cleaning agent, and a brush cleaning tank 63.
And first and second rinse cleaning tanks 6 for performing finish cleaning
4, 65, and a drying tank 66. In this cleaning device, the cleaning tanks 61 and 62 and the brush cleaning tank 63, the brush cleaning tank 63 and the rinsing cleaning tanks 64 and 65, and the rinsing cleaning tank 6
4, 65 and a drying tank 66 are sequentially arranged so as to be adjacent to each other.

In the cleaning, the lens L, which is an optical component, is used.
From the first cleaning tank 61 to the second cleaning tank 62, the brush cleaning tank 63, and the first rinse cleaning tanks 64 and 65 in this order. After the cleaning is completed, the lens L is dried by the drying tank 66.

The cleaning tanks 61 and 62 are filled with a cleaning liquid. As the cleaning liquid, a chlorine-based cleaning agent, a hydrocarbon-based cleaning agent (petroleum-based solvent), an ester-based cleaning agent, a quasi-water-based cleaning agent such as alcohol or glycol ether, and other cleaning agents can be used as appropriate. By performing immersion cleaning in which the lens L is immersed in these cleaning liquids,
Dirt adhering to the lens L is removed. In this case, ultrasonic vibration may be applied in parallel with the cleaning with the cleaning liquid.

FIG. 2 shows a brush device provided in the brush cleaning tank 63.
Are opposed to each other. The brush mounting bodies 71 and 72 have mounting plates 75 and 76, and brushes 73 and 74 are provided on the opposing surfaces of the mounting plates 75 and 76 by implanting fibers made of a soft material such as nylon. Have been. The brushes 73 and 74 are in contact with the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L and act to rub the optical surfaces L1 and L2. The brush mounts 71 and 72 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow G while oscillating in the vertical direction or the left and right direction indicated by the arrow D. The entire surface of the surfaces L1 and L2 is rubbed to remove dirt.

The first rinsing cleaning tank 64 and the second rinsing cleaning tank 65 perform finish cleaning, and are filled with the above-mentioned non-aqueous cleaning liquid or semi-aqueous cleaning liquid. By immersing the lens L in these cleaning liquids, final rinse cleaning is performed.

In the embodiment described above, the immersion cleaning and the rinsing cleaning are performed using a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid, and no alkali cleaning agent or water is used. Even with the used optical component, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of latent scratches. Also, in brush cleaning, an optical component is brought into contact with a rotating brush to physically remove abrasives and the like adhering to the optical component. Washing can be performed.

The brush cleaning tank 63 is replaced with the first cleaning tank 6.
The brush cleaning may be performed between the first and second cleaning tanks 62 or between the first and second rinse cleaning tanks 64 and 65.

Next, an example of cleaning according to this embodiment will be described.

(Cleaning Example 1) The cleaning performance was compared between the case where the brush cleaning was performed and the case where the brush cleaning was not performed using the polished lens. The lens had a polishing material and a pitch to be attached to the polishing jig, and the lens was placed in a dedicated cleaning basket for cleaning. The lens has a diameter of 32 mm made of a product name "FPL51 (manufactured by Ohara Kogaku)", which is liable to cause latent scratches by an aqueous detergent or water.
Were used.

As a typical stain on the lens after the completion of polishing, cleaning was performed using a glass lens to which a lens attaching pitch (trade name “K3 (manufactured by Kuju Denki Co., Ltd.)”) was attached. The cleaning solution No. 62 used was “Cleansol G” (manufactured by Nisseki Mitsubishi Co., Ltd.), which is a hydrocarbon-based cleaning solution (petroleum-based solvent), and the temperature of the cleaning solution was 50 ° C. Tanks 61 and 62 and rinse cleaning tank 6
At 4,65, a 28 KHz ultrasonic oscillator was installed.

When ultrasonic waves are used in combination with an aqueous cleaning agent or water, latent scratches occur. However, when ultrasonic waves are used in a solvent-type cleaning agent such as a non-aqueous cleaning agent or a semi-aqueous cleaning agent, an ultrasonic wave is generated. It is known that there is no occurrence of latent injury due to the above.

The brush device of the brush cleaning tank 63 was rotated at a speed of 300 to 500 rpm in the left and right opposite directions. In addition, the entire brush device was applied to the lens L with a vertical and horizontal amplitude of about 10 mm, so that the brushes 73 and 74 uniformly contact the entire surface of the lens L. In order to prevent scratches caused by rubbing of the brushes 73 and 74 with dirt such as an abrasive, brush cleaning was performed while flowing a small amount of IPA (isopropyl alcohol) on the rotating brush.

In the rinsing tanks 63 and 64, IPA was used as final rinsing. The liquid temperature of IPA was room temperature.

In the drying tank 66, drying was performed using a hot-air drying furnace.

Table 1 shows the results of the cleaning. The removability of abrasives, hand grease and the like was confirmed with and without brush cleaning. As a result, when there is no brush cleaning, non-aqueous cleaning agents such as Cleansol G and IPA and semi-aqueous cleaning agents
Since there was no detergency against abrasives and hand grease, residual abrasives were remarkably observed.

On the other hand, by performing the brush cleaning in the intermediate step, the abrasive and the hand oil could be completely removed. In addition, since we do not use water-based cleaning agents or water,
No defects such as latent scratches occurred on the lens L.

[0038]

[Table 1]

(Cleaning Example 2) The same cleaning as in Cleaning Example 1 was performed except that the cleaning liquid and the rinse cleaning liquid were changed. As the cleaning liquid, a cleaning agent composed of an ester solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent (trade name “EE-4120 (manufactured by Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd.)”) was used. As the rinse solution, an isoparaffin-based solvent (trade name “Kyowasol C-90”)
0 (manufactured by Kyowa Hakko Co., Ltd.)). EE-4120
Sets the liquid temperature at 50 ° C.,
Was used at room temperature. Further, similarly to the cleaning example 1, all the tanks 61,
Ultrasonic oscillators of 28 KHz were installed at 62, 64 and 65.

Table 2 shows the results of the evaluation of the detergency, and Table 3 shows the main physical properties of each liquid.

[0041]

[Table 2]

[0042]

[Table 3]

The pitch for sticking at the time of polishing could be washed with either Cleansol G or EE-4120, but both the abrasive and the grease remained. However, by performing the same brush cleaning as in Cleaning Example 1, the abrasives and hand grease could be completely removed. As the rinse liquid, Kyowasol C-900, which has good drying properties and is highly safe for the human body, was used. However, this rinse liquid showed the same rinse property as IPA, and was able to be subjected to finish cleaning. . In brush cleaning, as in cleaning example 1,
In order to prevent the generation of scratches due to the brushes 73 and 74 rubbing against dirt such as abrasives, cleaning was performed while flowing a small amount of Kyowasol C-900 over the rotating brush.

In the first embodiment, the lens is cleaned using only a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid without using a water-based cleaning agent or water. And a brush cleaning step for physically removing abrasives, fine powder of glass, hand grease, and the like, so that high cleaning quality can be obtained. In addition, high cleaning properties can be obtained without causing latent scratches on the lens surface due to an alkali cleaning agent or water.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 3 to 7 show a cleaning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, this cleaning device is for cleaning a lens L as an optical component, and includes a transport device 1 for transporting the lens L, a first shower device 2, a brush device 3, and a second Shower equipment 4
And a gas blow device 5. In this cleaning device, a first shower device 2, a brush device 3, a second shower device 4, and a gas blow device 5 are arranged in this order from the upstream side along the transport direction of the transport device 1.

The transport device 1 has two types of links 11 and 12
Are alternately arranged, a loop-shaped chain 10, sprockets 13, 14 and a motor (not shown). A part of the chain 10 includes a sprocket 13,
Meshes with 14 teeth. One sprocket 13
Is connected to a motor, and by driving the motor, the sprocket 13 rotates and the chain 10 travels in the direction of arrow A. The lens L is transported by the transport device 1 while being held by the cleaning lens 6.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cleaning toy 6 is formed of a U-shaped plate member whose lower part is opened, and holds the lens L in its opening 6A. The holding of the lens L is performed by the three flangers 7 attached at predetermined intervals inside the cleaning toy 6 holding the lens L therebetween.

A hook 8 is provided on the upper part of the cleaning toy 6.
Are integrally connected. The hook 8 has a link 11
Are provided with two hook holes 8A to be fitted with the two pins 11A provided in the washing machine, so that the washing toy 6 is suspended from the chain 10 and conveyed. In the suspended state, the thickness direction of the cleaning toy 6 is perpendicular to the transport direction, and the opening 6A is downward. Thereby, the optical surface (cleaning surface) of the lens L
L1 and L2 are parallel to the transport direction A and perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the first shower device 2 includes a lens L suspended from the transport device 1.
Two nozzles 15 and 16 which are positioned diagonally above and whose tip is directed to the lens L, and which are arranged symmetrically with the lens L interposed therebetween, and a tank (not shown) storing the cleaning liquid,
A pump (not shown) for pumping the cleaning liquid in the tank to the nozzles 15 and 16 and a liquid receiver 17 for collecting the cleaning liquid discharged from the nozzles 15 and 16 are provided.

The nozzles 15 and 16 are mounted above the columns 18 and 19 so that they are located above the liquid receiver 17. The liquid receiver 17 is fixed via the legs 20 in a state that the liquid receiver 17 is slightly lifted from the base surface B. The nozzle 1
The pumps 5, 16 and the pump, the pump and the tank, and the liquid receiver 17 and the tank are connected by pipes.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the brush device 3 includes brush shafts 21 and 22 erected symmetrically with the lens L in a suspended state interposed therebetween, and a brush shaft 21 and a brush shaft 21 on the outer periphery thereof. Fixed brushes 23 and 24, a motor (not shown) for rotating one brush shaft 21, and a brush shaft 21
And 22 which are attached to each other and transmit the rotation of the brush shaft 21 to the other brush shaft 22.
5 and 26.

The brushes 23 and 24 are made of a soft fiber such as nylon, and are arranged so that a part thereof comes into contact with the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L suspended from the transport device 1. The brush shafts 21 and 22 are supported by upper and lower ends rotatably inserted into bases 27 and 28. The bases 27 and 28 are formed of a pair of side plates 29 and 30.
And the lower base 27 is fixed to the liquid receiver 17 described above. The tip of one brush shaft 21 is connected to the motor shaft via a coupling (not shown).

The second shower device 4 has the same structure as the first shower device 2 described above. That is,
As shown in FIG. 7, the second shower device 4 is positioned diagonally above the lens L suspended from the transport device 1, and its tip is directed toward the lens L, and is symmetrically disposed with the lens L interposed therebetween. Two nozzles 31 and 32, a tank (not shown) storing a rinsing liquid, a pump (not shown) for pumping the rinsing liquid in the tank to the nozzles 31 and 32, and a cleaning liquid discharged from the nozzles 31 and 32. For collecting liquid 33
And The nozzles 31 and 32 are located above the liquid receiver 33 by being attached to the upper portions of the columns 34 and 35. The liquid receiver 33 is fixed via the leg 36 in a state where it is slightly lifted from the base surface B. And the nozzles 31 and 32 and the pump, the pump and the tank and the liquid receiver 3
The tank 3 and the tank are connected by pipes.

The gas blow device 5 has the same structure as the first shower device 2 and the second shower device 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the gas blow device 5 is positioned diagonally above the lens L suspended from the transport device 1 and its tip is directed toward the lens L.
Gas nozzles 37 and 38 symmetrically arranged with respect to
And a gas generation source (not shown). The gas nozzles 37 and 38 are located above the liquid receiver 33 by being attached to the upper portions of the columns 39 and 40.
Further, the gas nozzles 37 and 38 and the gas generation source are connected by piping via a valve (not shown). In addition, by using dry clean air as gas,
It can be inexpensive.

A method of cleaning the lens L using the cleaning apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

First, the first and second shower devices 2,
4 to drive the cleaning liquid and the rinsing liquid in the tank to the respective shower device nozzles 15, 16, 31,
32 and discharged from the tip. In addition, the motor of the brush device 3 is driven to rotate one brush shaft 21. This rotational force is applied to the gears 25, 26
Is transmitted to the other brush shaft 22 through the
Rotates in the direction opposite to the brush shaft 21. Further, the valve of the gas blow device 5 is opened, and gas such as air is injected from the tips of the nozzles 37 and 38. What is the gas pressure at this time?
About 0.1 MPa is sufficient.

Next, the cleaning toy 6 holding the lens L
Is set on the link 11 on the upstream side of the first shower device 2 and the motor of the transfer device 1 is driven to start the transfer. When the lens L is conveyed to the first shower device 2, the cleaning liquid discharged from the tips of the nozzles 15 and 16 hits the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L and adheres to the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens. The cleaning solution adheres to the optical surfaces L1 and L2.

Further, the lens L is transported, and the brush device 3
When it reaches, the rotating brushes 23 and 24 come into contact with the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L, and dirt firmly adhered to the optical surfaces L1 and L2 is scraped off.

When the lens L is further conveyed and reaches the second shower device 4, the rinsing liquid discharged from the tips of the nozzles 31 and 32 hits the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L and hits the optical surfaces L1 and L2. Wash off the cleaning solution containing the adhered dirt components.

Then, when the lens L is further conveyed and reaches the gas blow device 5, gas such as air discharged from the tips of the nozzles 37 and 38 is discharged to the optical surfaces L1 and L1 of the lens L.
The rinsing liquid blown to L2 and attached to the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L is blown off, and the lens L is dried.

According to such an embodiment, the first shower apparatus 2 discharges the cleaning liquid to clean the lens L, and then the brushes 23 and 24 of the brush apparatus 3 rotate while rotating the optical surface of the lens L. L1 to L1
Even if dirt is firmly attached to the surface, it can be reliably removed by rubbing off. After that, the second shower device 4 discharges the rinsing liquid to wash off the cleaning liquid containing the dirt component from the lens L. Therefore, cleaning using ultrasonic waves becomes unnecessary, and the occurrence of latent scratches can be prevented.

Since the transport device 1 transports the lens L and the first shower device 2, the brush device 3 and the second shower device 4 are arranged along the transport direction, the lens L is transported. The washing can be performed while performing. For this reason, the lens L can be continuously put into the cleaning, efficient cleaning can be performed, and cleaning can be performed in a short time.

Further, brushes 23 and 24, nozzles 15,
18, the nozzles 31 and 32 and the nozzles 37 and 38 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the lens L of the transport device 1 and the lens L is transported so that its optical surfaces L1 and L2 are parallel to the transport direction. The two optical surfaces L1 and L2 can be cleaned at the same time, and can be efficiently cleaned.

Further, the optical surfaces L1, L of the lens L
Since 2 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the cleaning liquid or liquid adhering to the optical surfaces L1 and L2 of the lens L can be easily removed, and rinsing and drying can be performed efficiently.

[0065]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the immersion cleaning and the rinsing cleaning are performed using a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid.
Even if it is an optical component using a glass material having small water resistance and detergent resistance, occurrence of latent scratches can be prevented. Also, in addition to immersion cleaning and rinsing cleaning, a brush cleaning for bringing the optical component into contact with the rotating brush is incorporated, so that abrasives and the like adhering to the optical component can be physically removed. In addition, cleaning with high cleanliness in which dirt has been surely removed can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to having the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention, since the brush cleaning step is performed after the immersion cleaning step, it cannot be removed by the immersion cleaning. Even dirt can be physically removed by subsequent brush cleaning, and can be cleaned with high cleanliness.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, light stains are removed by shower washing, and stains not removed in the shower washing step are physically removed in the brush washing step, so that the stains are firmly attached to the optical components. It can be removed even if it is done, and even if it is an optical component using a glass material with small water resistance and detergent resistance, it can perform clean cleaning without damage and no cleaning residue without damaging . In addition, since the shower cleaning step, the brush cleaning step, and the shower rinsing step are performed while transporting the optical components, continuous feeding is possible, and efficient cleaning can be performed in a short time.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, after the first shower device discharges the cleaning liquid to remove dirt, the brush device uses ultrasonic waves to bring the rotating brush into contact with the optical component. Cleaning becomes unnecessary, and the occurrence of latent scratches can be prevented. Further, since the cleaning is performed while transporting the optical component, the optical component can be continuously put into the cleaning, the cleaning can be performed efficiently, and the cleaning can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the brush device used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an overall front view of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the cleaning toy.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken side view of the cleaning toy.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the brush device.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the structures of a first shower device, a second shower device, and a gas blow device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveying apparatus 2 1st shower apparatus 3 Brush apparatus 4 2nd shower apparatus 5 Gas blow apparatus L lens

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2K009 BB02 DD12 EE00 3B116 AA46 AB02 BA02 BB01 BB21 BB83 CC01 CC03 CD22 3B201 AA46 AB02 BA02 BB01 BB21 BB83 BB92 CC01 CC12 CD22

Claims (4)

[Claims] An immersion cleaning step of immersing the optical component in a non-aqueous cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid; a brush cleaning step of cleaning the optical component by contacting with a rotating brush; A method for cleaning an optical component, comprising a step of rinsing in a cleaning liquid or a semi-aqueous cleaning liquid to perform a final rinse cleaning. 2. The method for cleaning an optical component according to claim 1, wherein the brush cleaning step is inserted between the immersion cleaning step and the rinsing cleaning step. 3. A shower cleaning step of shower cleaning the optical component with a cleaning liquid, a brush cleaning step of contacting the optical component with a rotating brush after the shower cleaning step, and a brush cleaning step of applying the optical component to the optical component after the brush cleaning step. A method for cleaning an optical component, comprising: a shower rinsing step of showering and rinsing an attached cleaning liquid, wherein the shower cleaning step, the brush cleaning step, and the shower rinsing step are performed while transporting the optical component. 4. A transport device for transporting an optical component, a first shower device for discharging a cleaning liquid to the optical component, a brush device for bringing a rotating brush into contact with the optical component, and a rinsing device for the optical component An optical component, comprising: a second shower device for discharging a liquid, wherein the first shower device, the brush device, and the second shower device are sequentially arranged along a transport direction of the transport device. Cleaning equipment.