JP2006116386A - Washing method and its apparatus for article to be washed - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing method with a high working efficiency in which an article to be washed is dried when it is taken out from respective washing tanks, a washing liquid is certainly removed and a solvent vapor is not diffused to the outside not to pollute an environment in a washing method for performing transferring of the article to be washed between a plurality of washing tanks. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of washing tanks 1, 2, 3 for performing washing of the article to be washed are arranged in series. Washing of the article to be washed is performed while the plurality of washing tanks 1, 2, 3 are successively moved. Before the article to be washed is taken out from the washing tanks 1, 2, 3 for the movement, the article to be washed is dried even when it is taken out from any washing tanks 1, 2, 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning method and apparatus capable of quickly and inexpensively performing liquid cleaning and steam cleaning of an object to be cleaned while reducing the influence on the environment.

  Conventionally, there are two methods for cleaning an object to be cleaned: a liquid cleaning method in which the cleaning liquid is directly contacted with the object to be cleaned for cleaning, and the cleaning liquid is vaporized and brought into contact with the object to be cleaned. There is a steam cleaning method that is performed by condensing water. Usually, these two methods are often used together. As one of the methods, as shown in Patent Document 1, a plurality of cleaning tanks are prepared, one of which is a liquid cleaning tank, the other is a steam cleaning tank, and liquid cleaning is completed in the liquid cleaning tank. A method of performing steam cleaning by moving an object to be cleaned to a steam cleaning tank is used.

The other method is a method in which liquid cleaning and vapor cleaning are performed while the object to be cleaned is placed in a fixed position without moving. In this method, liquid cleaning is performed in one tank, and then the cleaning liquid is extracted into the liquid tank, and cleaning steam is introduced into the cleaning tank after the cleaning liquid is extracted to perform the steam cleaning of the object to be cleaned.
JP 2002-177904 A

  However, when a plurality of cleaning tanks are prepared and the objects to be cleaned that have been cleaned in the first cleaning tank are moved to the second cleaning tank and cleaned, the objects to be cleaned are moved to the outside during the movement. Because of exposure, the solvent as a cleaning liquid volatilizes and diffuses to cause environmental pollution, and when the cleaning liquid is a flammable solvent, there are disadvantages such as a risk of ignition.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems. In the cleaning operation using a plurality of cleaning tanks, for example, in the cleaning of an object to be cleaned, liquid cleaning and steam cleaning are used in combination. When moving the cleaning tank to clean the object to be cleaned, when removing the object to be cleaned from one cleaning tank, be sure to take it out in a dry state and diffuse the solvent vapor outside to pollute the environment. In addition, it is intended to enable an inexpensive and quick cleaning operation to be performed efficiently.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has a plurality of cleaning tanks for cleaning an object to be cleaned arranged in series, and the objects to be cleaned are cleaned while sequentially moving the plurality of cleaning tanks. When the object to be cleaned is taken out of the cleaning tank for this movement, the object to be cleaned is dried in any of the cleaning tanks.

  The apparatus for carrying out the above method comprises a plurality of cleaning tanks arranged in series for performing cleaning while sequentially moving the object to be cleaned, and a drying mechanism connected to each of the plurality of cleaning tanks, When the object to be cleaned is taken out from each cleaning tank, the drying mechanism is operated to allow the object to be cleaned to be taken out and dried.

  In addition, one or more of the plurality of cleaning tanks for cleaning the object to be cleaned is filled with a cleaning liquid or cleaning vapor to perform liquid cleaning or steam cleaning of the object to be cleaned, and after this liquid cleaning or steam cleaning is completed, In cleaning tanks that have been subjected to liquid cleaning, the cleaning liquid is transferred to the liquid tank and the cleaning liquid is removed from the cleaning tank. Then, after the object to be cleaned is dried under reduced pressure, the object to be cleaned is taken out from the cleaning tank and transferred to the next work process.

  In addition, as an apparatus for realizing the above method, a plurality of cleaning tanks connected to a decompression mechanism for cleaning an object to be cleaned, a steam generation mechanism connected to the plurality of cleaning tanks, and a plurality of cleaning tanks connected for cleaning. It consists of a liquid tank that can transfer the cleaning liquid in the tank, supplies the cleaning liquid or cleaning steam to any one or more of the plurality of cleaning tanks, and the object to be cleaned that has undergone liquid cleaning or steam cleaning in the cleaning tank In the cleaning tank where the liquid cleaning is performed, the cleaning liquid is transferred to the liquid tank. In the cleaning tank where the steam cleaning is performed, the supply of steam is stopped, and the object to be cleaned is dried under reduced pressure in the cleaning tank. The object to be cleaned is taken out from the cleaning tank and transferred to the next work process.

  Further, a cleaning liquid cleaning mechanism may be disposed between the plurality of cleaning tanks and the liquid tank.

  Further, the next work process may be a re-cleaning process.

  Further, the next work process may be a process for processing an object to be cleaned that is not a cleaning process.

  Since the cleaning apparatus of the present invention is for drying the object to be cleaned when the object to be cleaned is taken out from the cleaning tank in the cleaning of the object to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid is removed from the object to be cleaned without fail. It does not pollute the environment by diffusing solvent vapor to the outside. Then, the object to be cleaned from which the cleaning liquid has been removed can be transferred to the next cleaning process, or the cleaning operation can be completed and transferred to the next processing step of the object to be cleaned.

  In addition, by using a plurality of cleaning tanks, a relatively large amount of objects to be cleaned can be efficiently cleaned with a small apparatus, and an inexpensive and quick cleaning operation can be performed.

  The embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. (1), (2), and (3) are a plurality of washing tanks arranged in series and housed to be washed for cleaning. is there. Any number of the plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) can be arranged and used. In this embodiment, three cleaning tanks (1), (2), (3) are used. ) Will be described. Then, the steam generating mechanism (8) is supplied to the three cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) via the first, second, and third control valves (5), (6), and (7). Each is connected by a pipe (10). An on-off valve (9) is provided between the steam pipe (10) and the steam generation mechanism (8).

  Further, the steam generation mechanism (8) includes a pressure reduction mechanism (11) constituted by a vacuum pump, an ejector mechanism, and the like via a fourth control valve (12) and a fifth control valve (13). ). The decompression mechanism (11) performs decompression inside the steam generation mechanism (8) and enables steam generation at a low boiling point.

  The pressure reducing mechanism (11) is connected to the recovered liquid preliminary tank (16) via a condensate return pipe (18) for transferring the condensate recovered by the reduced pressure of the steam generating mechanism (8). The recovered liquid reserve tank (16) is connected to the liquid tank (15) via the sixth control valve (17). This liquid tank (15) is connected to the lower ends of the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) by the cleaning liquid pipe (23) via the eighth, ninth and tenth control valves (20), (21) and (22). To do. Then, after the pressure in the liquid tank (15) is reduced to a certain limit by the pressure reducing mechanism (11), the eighth, ninth, and tenth control valves (20) of the cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) that drain the liquid are used. If any one or more of (21) and (22) are opened, the cleaning liquid in the opened cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) is immediately discharged through the cleaning liquid pipe (23). It is transferred to the tank (15). The cleaning liquid pipe (23) is provided with a cleaning mechanism (24) for purifying the transferred cleaning liquid, and the object to be cleaned is contaminated by cleaning the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3). The cleaning liquid can be purified. For this cleaning mechanism (24), a filter, an ion exchanger, an oil / water separator, a distillation regenerator, or the like can be used.

  The liquid tank (15) is provided with a vacuum release valve (25). Further, a seventh control valve (19) is provided between the cleaning liquid pipe (23) and the liquid tank (15), and the eleventh control valve (19) and the cleaning mechanism (24) are arranged in front of and behind the eleventh control valve (19). The twelfth control valves (26) and (27) are provided, and a bypass pipe (28) communicating the upstream side and the downstream side of the eleventh and twelfth control valves (26) and (27) is provided in the cleaning liquid pipe (23). A fourteenth control valve (30) is provided in the bypass pipe (28).

  With this configuration, when introducing the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) into the liquid tank (15), the seventh control valve (19) is opened and the fourteenth control valve (30) is closed. By opening the eleventh and twelfth control valves (26), (27), the cleaning liquid can be purified through the cleaning mechanism (24) and then introduced into the liquid tank (15). In order to distribute the cleaning liquid from the liquid tank (15) to the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3), the seventh control valve (19) is opened, and the eleventh and twelfth control valves (26) and (27). ) And the 14th control valve (30) is opened, the cleaning liquid can be introduced into the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) without going through the cleaning mechanism (24). It becomes possible to prevent the backflow of the dirt adhering to the mechanism (24).

  Further, the liquid tank (15) may be formed completely separately from the cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3), or provided above or below the cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) or in parallel. In the cleaning tank (1) (2) (3), a partition plate may be inserted into the cleaning tank (1), (2), and (3) during the vacuum drying operation. What is necessary is just to be able to transfer the cleaning liquid to a position where there is no problem in drying the object to be cleaned under reduced pressure. The cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) are provided with vacuum release valves (32), (33), and (34), respectively. Further, a spare tank (35) is connected to the liquid tank (15) via a fifteenth control valve (31), and this spare tank (35) is connected to the steam generation mechanism (8). The steam generation mechanism (8) is provided with a vacuum release valve (36).

  Further, only one pressure reducing mechanism (11) may be formed as described above, but in another different embodiment, a second pressure reducing mechanism (38) may be arranged. The second pressure reducing mechanism (38) is connected to the first, second, and third cleaning tanks (1) through the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth control valves (40), (41), and (42) by the third pressure reducing pipe (39). ) (2) (3). A nineteenth control valve (43) is disposed between the sixteenth control valve (40) and the second pressure reducing mechanism (38). The second pressure reducing mechanism (38) is connected to the pressure reducing mechanism (11) by the fourth pressure reducing pipe (45) through the nineteenth, twentieth and fifth control valves (43) (44) (13). .

  The second pressure reducing mechanism (38) is connected to the fifth pressure reducing valve via the nineteenth control valve (43), the twenty-first control valve (46), the twenty-second control valve (47), and the fifth control valve (13). The pressure reducing mechanism (11) is connected by a pipe (48). A sixth pressure reducing pipe (49) is connected between the twenty-first control valve (46) and the twenty-second control valve (47), and is connected to the liquid tank (15) via the twenty-third control valve (51). Connected. Further, the second pressure reducing mechanism (38) is connected to the recovered liquid preliminary tank (16) via the condensate return pipe (18).

  In order to clean an object to be cleaned with the cleaning apparatus configured as described above, the object to be cleaned is placed in three cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) for cleaning the object to be cleaned as shown in FIG. After the storage, the cleaning liquid is supplied to an arbitrary cleaning tank, and the cleaning steam is supplied to another arbitrary cleaning tank to perform the liquid cleaning and the steam cleaning in parallel. Of course, it is possible to select liquid cleaning and steam cleaning for the plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3), and liquid cleaning or steam cleaning for all cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3). It is possible, and any selection according to the purpose of cleaning is possible.

  First, in order to use the first, second, and third cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) under reduced pressure using the pressure reducing mechanism (11), the nineteenth control valve (43) and the twenty-first control valve (46) ), The 22nd control valve (47) and the 4th control valve (12) are closed, the 5th control valve (13) and the 20th control valve (44) are opened, and the 16th, 17th and 18th control valves ( 40) (41) If any valve of (42) is opened as necessary, the first, second, and third cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) may be any or all of them. Can be depressurized.

  Further, when the second pressure reducing mechanism (38) is used in combination with the pressure reducing mechanism (11) to achieve the purpose, the nineteenth control valve (43) is opened, and the twentieth control valve (44) and the twenty-second control valve are opened. The liquid tank (15) can be depressurized by closing the control valve (47) and opening the twenty-first control valve (46) and the twenty-third control valve (51).

  Thus, it is possible to perform vacuum drying in the second cleaning tank (2) while performing steam cleaning in the first cleaning tank (1). Further, while performing steam cleaning in the first cleaning tank (1), it is possible to perform liquid cleaning with the cleaning liquid in the second cleaning tank (2) and simultaneously perform vacuum drying in the third cleaning tank (3). Furthermore, it is also possible to perform vacuum drying in the second cleaning tank (2) while performing steam cleaning in the first cleaning tank (1). By using the second pressure reducing mechanism (38) in this way, the plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) can be used in various ways depending on the purpose of cleaning, and efficient cleaning can be performed. Enable work.

  In order to facilitate the explanation of the present embodiment, liquid cleaning is performed in the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2), and steam cleaning and drying of an object to be cleaned are performed in the third cleaning tank (3). In the case of carrying out, after the objects to be cleaned are stored in the first, second and third cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3), the eighth, ninth, seventh and fourteenth control valves (20 ), (21), (19) and (30) are opened, and the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) are filled with the cleaning liquid from the liquid tank (15). In the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2), the object to be cleaned is subjected to liquid cleaning by an appropriate cleaning method such as shower cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, rotary cleaning, or swing cleaning. At the same time, the on-off valve (9) and the third control valve (7) are opened in the third cleaning tank (3), and steam is supplied from the steam generating mechanism (8) to perform steam cleaning. Usually, this steam cleaning is often performed as finish cleaning, and therefore, it is preferable to perform the cleaning on an object to be cleaned.

  Next, when the liquid cleaning of the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) is completed, the eighth, ninth, and fourteenth control valves (20), (21), and (30), and the eleventh and twelfth control valves. (26) (27) is closed, the 23rd, 22nd, and 5th control valves (51), (47) and (13) are opened, and the pressure in the liquid tank (15) is reduced by the pressure reducing mechanism (11). Since the liquid tank (15) is connected only to the pressure reducing mechanism (11) in this state, the inside of the liquid tank (15) can be decompressed at a high degree of pressure reduction. When the pressure reduction degree of the liquid tank (15) reaches the target value, the 14th and 23rd control valves (30) and (51) are closed, and the 7th, 11th, 12th, 8th and 9th control valves (19 ) (26) (27) (20) (21) is opened, the cleaning liquid in the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) is instantaneously transferred into the liquid tank (15). . The cleaning liquid contaminated by the cleaning operation in the course of this transfer is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism (24).

  Next, the on-off valve (9) and the third control valve (7), which connected the steam generation mechanism (8) and the third cleaning tank (3), are closed, and the steam is supplied to the third cleaning tank (3). The supply is stopped and the eighteenth control valve (42) and the nineteenth control valve (43) are opened to operate the second pressure reducing mechanism (38). The operation of the second depressurization mechanism (38) depressurizes the interior of the third cleaning tank (3), and the object to be cleaned that has undergone the steam cleaning is dried under reduced pressure. Although the object to be cleaned is taken out from the third cleaning tank (3) due to the completion of the drying under reduced pressure, the object to be cleaned is dried and does not have a solvent as a cleaning liquid, so there is no influence on the environment. .

  At the same time, the first and second control valves (5) and (6) of the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) are opened, and the cleaning steam is first and second cleaned from the steam generating mechanism (8). Introduce into tank (1) (2) and perform steam cleaning. At the same time, the tenth, fourteenth and seventh control valves (22), (30) and (19) are opened in the third cleaning tank (3), and the eleventh and twelfth control valves (26) and (27) are opened. After closing, the cleaning liquid is introduced from the liquid tank (15) to clean the object to be cleaned. When the steam cleaning of the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) proceeding simultaneously is completed, the first and second control valves (5) and (6) are closed, and the first and second control valves are closed. The supply of the cleaning vapor to the cleaning tanks (1) and (2) is stopped and the 16th and 17th control valves (40) and (41) are opened to operate the second pressure reducing mechanism (38). By the operation of the second pressure reducing mechanism (38), the first and second cleaning tanks (1) and (2) are depressurized, and the objects to be cleaned are dried under reduced pressure and can be taken out to the outside.

  In addition, after the cleaning of the third cleaning tank (3) performing the liquid cleaning, the seventh, eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth control valves (19), (26), (27), and (30) are closed. The seventh, eleventh, twelfth, and tenth control valves (19), (26), (27), and (22) are activated when the pressure reducing mechanism (11) is activated and the pressure in the liquid tank (15) reaches a certain level or more. ) Is opened, the cleaning liquid instantaneously moves to the liquid tank (15) and the third control valve (7) is opened to allow the steam generated by the steam generating mechanism (8) to enter the third cleaning tank (3). Can be supplied and steam cleaned.

  Then, the object to be cleaned, which has been cleaned as described above, is sent to the next work process, which may be a re-cleaning process or a completely separate processing process that is not a cleaning process. May be. Further, in the cleaning of the object to be cleaned, it is not always necessary to perform the steam cleaning after the liquid cleaning is completed, and the steam cleaning is selected according to the cleaning purpose. In addition, when steam cleaning is not performed, it is preferable that the object to be cleaned is liquid-washed with a heated cleaning liquid and the object to be cleaned stored by this warmed liquid cleaning is dried under reduced pressure in order to dry the object to be cleaned. Is. In any case, it is indispensable in the present invention that before the object to be cleaned is taken out from the cleaning tank (1), (2), or (3), only the object to be cleaned, which is not attached with the cleaning liquid, is taken out. It becomes.

  The pressure reducing mechanism (11) and the second pressure reducing mechanism (38) are used when the first, second, and third cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3) and the liquid tank (15) are replaced with the cleaning liquid. Not only is the vacuum operation performed when drying the cleaning product, but the solvent is vaporized at a low temperature by reducing the pressure in the cleaning tanks (1), (2), (3) and the steam generation mechanism (8) during steam cleaning. This is effective in preventing the risk of ignition and the deformation of the object to be cleaned having low heat resistance due to heating.

  In this embodiment, the liquid tank (15) can be used to supply or remove the cleaning liquid to the first, second and third cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3). In addition, it is possible to supply cleaning steam to each cleaning tank (1), (2), and (3), so that the object to be cleaned is not transferred between the cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3). Liquid cleaning with a cleaning liquid and steam cleaning can be performed while maintaining a fixed position. For this reason, it is possible to prevent danger caused by the solvent vapor leaking to the outside and adverse effects on the environment. In addition, workability can be improved as compared with the case where the object to be cleaned is moved between the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3).

  In addition, the position of the object to be cleaned is not incapable of moving between the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3), and depending on the purpose of cleaning, the position between the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) It is also possible to move. However, in this case as well, it is an essential requirement to carry out after the object to be cleaned is dried in the cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3).

  In the above embodiment, the pressure reducing mechanism (11), the steam generating mechanism (8) and the like are connected to the plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3). However, it is not always necessary to use this mechanism, and it may be arranged in series in a plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2) and (3) having an arbitrary configuration. In that case, when the object to be cleaned is moved between the plurality of cleaning tanks (1), (2), and (3), the object to be cleaned is always taken out from the first cleaning tank (1) in the dry state, and the second It is an essential requirement to be moved to the cleaning tank (2) and to the third cleaning tank (3).

  Moreover, in the said Example, although vacuum drying is used for the drying of a to-be-cleaned object, it is possible to use other arbitrary drying methods. For example, drying by heat conduction performed in contact with a heat medium becomes possible.

It is a flowchart which shows the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning tank 2 Cleaning tank 3 Cleaning tank 8 Steam generating mechanism 11 Decompression mechanism 15 Liquid tank 24 Cleaning mechanism

Claims (10)

  A plurality of cleaning tanks for cleaning the objects to be cleaned are arranged in series, and the objects to be cleaned are cleaned while moving the plurality of cleaning tanks sequentially. A method for cleaning an object to be cleaned, characterized in that the object to be cleaned is kept in a dry state when being taken out from any cleaning tank.   It consists of a plurality of cleaning tanks arranged in series to perform cleaning while sequentially moving the objects to be cleaned, and a drying mechanism connected to each of the plurality of cleaning tanks. A cleaning apparatus characterized in that it can be taken out after the mechanism is operated and the object to be cleaned is dried.   One or more of the plurality of cleaning tanks for cleaning the object to be cleaned is filled with cleaning liquid or cleaning vapor to perform liquid cleaning or steam cleaning of the target cleaning object, and liquid cleaning is performed after the liquid cleaning or steam cleaning is completed. In the cleaning tank where the cleaning was performed, the cleaning liquid was transferred to the liquid tank to remove the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank. A method for cleaning an object to be cleaned, which comprises drying the object to be cleaned under reduced pressure, then removing the object to be cleaned from the cleaning tank and transferring the object to be cleaned to the next work step.   A plurality of cleaning tanks connected to the decompression mechanism for cleaning the object to be cleaned, a steam generation mechanism connected to the plurality of cleaning tanks, a liquid tank connected to the plurality of cleaning tanks and capable of transferring the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank, The cleaning liquid or the cleaning steam is supplied to any one or a plurality of the cleaning tanks, and the cleaning target is cleaned in the cleaning tank. In the cleaning tank that has been transferred to the liquid tank and subjected to steam cleaning, the supply of steam is stopped, and after the object to be cleaned is dried under reduced pressure in this cleaning tank, the object to be cleaned is taken out from this cleaning tank and the next An apparatus for cleaning an object to be cleaned, wherein the object to be cleaned is transferred to a work process.   4. The method for cleaning an object to be cleaned according to claim 3, wherein a cleaning liquid cleaning mechanism is disposed between the plurality of cleaning tanks and the liquid tank.   The cleaning apparatus for an object to be cleaned according to claim 4, wherein a cleaning liquid cleaning mechanism is disposed between the plurality of cleaning tanks and the liquid tank.   4. The method for cleaning an object to be cleaned according to claim 3, wherein the next operation step is a second cleaning step.   5. The apparatus for cleaning an object to be cleaned according to claim 4, wherein the next work process is a re-cleaning process.   4. The method for cleaning an object to be cleaned according to claim 3, wherein the next work process is a process for processing the object to be cleaned that is not a cleaning process.   5. The apparatus for cleaning an object to be cleaned according to claim 4, wherein the next work process is a process for processing the object to be cleaned that is not a cleaning process.