JP2019107597A - Vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method and vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cleaning method using an electrolytic cleaning liquid which can surely clean the inside of a small-diameter stop hole which is formed at a matter to be cleaned such as a molding metal mold, a fine clearance or the like, and a cleaner.SOLUTION: In a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner 1, an ultrasonic vibrator is driven by repeating a vacuuming process for vacuuming the inside of a cleaning tank 8 so as to be brought into a prescribed vacuum state by bringing the cleaning tank 8 in which an electrolytic cleaning liquid 15 is stored into a sealed state, and a repressurization process for returning the vacuum state to atmospheric pressure after releasing the vacuum state, makes a DC current flow between the electrolytic cleaning liquid and a matter to be cleaned, and applies vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning to the matter to be cleaned which is immersed in the electrolytic cleaning liquid 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning method and a cleaning machine suitable for cleaning foreign matter adhering to a molding die used for molding resin, glass, etc. In particular, blind holes formed in a molding die etc. The present invention relates to a cleaning method and a cleaning machine capable of reliably cleaning foreign matter adhering to the inside of a counterbore, a minute gap or the like.

  As a cleaning method and a cleaning machine suitable for cleaning a molding die and the like, an electrolytic cleaning method and a cleaning machine using an electrolytic cleaning solution are known. In the electrolytic cleaning, the object to be cleaned is immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution, and the electrolytic cleaning solution is, for example, an anode and the object to be cleaned is a cathode, and a direct current flows between them to thereby generate hydrogen bubbles generated from the surface of the object to be cleaned. Peeling force is used to remove dirt adhering to the object to be cleaned. In Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic generator is attached to a cleaning tank that performs electrolytic cleaning, and by using ultrasonic waves in combination, contamination is more reliably removed using the cavitation effect.

  The electrolytic cleaning can realize an environmentally friendly cleaning method by using a weakly alkaline solution as the electrolytic cleaning solution. In addition, foreign substances such as oxide films, oil and fat stains, gas burns, resin residue and the like adhering to the object to be cleaned can be reliably removed in a short time. Furthermore, since there is no attack property (a dimensional change such as abrasion or polishing, a change in gloss) with respect to an iron material, there is an advantage such as being suitable for cleaning a mold made of an iron material.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-15229

  The conventional electrolytic cleaning method or electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method has the following problems to be solved. There are many small diameter blind holes, small diameter through holes, fine gaps, etc. on the surface and the inner surface of the object to be cleaned such as a molding die and mold. An air reservoir is likely to be formed in such a portion. The electrolytic cleaning solution can not enter into the inside of a blind hole or the like in which an air reservoir is formed, and the cleaning of such a portion tends to be insufficient.

  In particular, air stagnation tends to occur in blind holes, fine gaps and the like formed on the lower surface of the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution of the cleaning tank. Even if ultrasonic waves are applied, air can not often be removed sufficiently. For this purpose, for example, the object to be cleaned is subjected to electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning in a state of being immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution in a established posture, and the object to be cleaned is inverted and immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution in an inverted state again It is necessary to carry out double cleaning, that is, electrolytic cleaning liquid ultrasonic cleaning.

  In view of this point, the present invention provides a cleaning method and cleaning method using an electrolytic cleaning solution capable of reliably cleaning the inside of a small diameter blind hole, a fine gap, etc. formed in an object to be cleaned such as a molding die. The purpose is to provide a machine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the cleaning method of the present invention vacuums the upper space in the cleaning tank to a predetermined vacuum state, with the cleaning tank in which the electrolytic cleaning solution is stored sealed. A direct current is supplied between the electrolytic cleaning solution and the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution while repeating the evacuating process and the repressurizing process to release the vacuum and return to the atmospheric pressure, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the electrolytic cleaning solution. And subjecting the object to be cleaned to vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning.

  Here, before or after the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning that performs electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning while repeating the vacuum drawing step and the repressurization step, electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning that performs the electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning without performing the vacuum drawing step and the repressurization step It is also possible to carry out at least one of cleaning and electrolytic cleaning in which the object to be cleaned is cleaned while applying a direct current between the electrolytic cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank and the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution. .

  The vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning of the present invention is suitable for use in cleaning a molding die having a large number of small diameter blind holes, fine gaps and the like.

Next, a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner used for the above-mentioned vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method of the present invention comprises a sealable cleaning tank;
A feed mechanism for supplying a direct current between the electrolytic cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank and the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution;
An ultrasonic wave generation mechanism that applies ultrasonic waves to the electrolytic cleaning solution;
A vacuum / repressurization mechanism for performing a vacuuming step and a repressurization step in the upper space of the cleaning tank in a closed state;
A cleaning control mechanism for controlling a power feeding mechanism, an ultrasonic wave generation mechanism, and a vacuum / recompression mechanism;
It is characterized by having.

  In the method and apparatus of the present invention, the object to be cleaned is subjected to vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning. An air pool formed inside the small-diameter blind hole of the object to be cleaned and inside the fine gap by performing cleaning while repeating evacuation of the upper space in the closed cleaning tank and return to atmospheric pressure repeatedly. Can be destroyed and removed with certainty. Since the electrolytic cleaning solution can be reliably brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the blind hole and the inner peripheral surface of the gap, foreign substances adhering to the inside of these can be reliably separated and removed. Therefore, the double washing etc. which were conventionally performed are unnecessary, and the foreign material adhering to the to-be-cleaned things, such as a shaping | molding die, can be wash | cleaned and removed efficiently and reliably.

(A) is a front view of the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is the side view, (c) is the top view. (A) is a schematic sectional view showing a portion cut by the line AA of FIG. 1 (c), and FIG. 2 (b) is a schematic sectional view of the portion cut by the line BB of FIG. 2 (a) FIG. 2C is a schematic plan view with the open / close lid 4 removed. It is a system systematic diagram of a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning machine. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method and a vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Fig.1 (a) is a front view of the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner which concerns on this Embodiment, FIG.1 (b) is the side view, FIG.1 (c) is the top view. The vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner 1 is provided with a housing 2 in the form of a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped. In the upper surface of the housing 2, the front half portion thereof is a rectangular opening 3, and the opening 3 can be sealed by an opening / closing lid 4 having a rectangular contour. The open / close lid 4 is pivotable from an open position, which stands vertically, to a closed position, which is horizontally inclined forward as shown by a solid line, as a phantom line, as a center of the rear end edge. Opening and closing of the open / close lid 4 is performed by, for example, an air cylinder 5 (see FIG. 2B). A vertically long rectangular control panel 6 for driving and controlling each part is attached to the side of the housing 2, and an operation panel 7 on which various operation members and display parts are arranged is attached to the front surface of the control board 6. ing.

  2A and 2B show the internal structure of the housing 2, and FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion cut along the line A-A of FIG. 1C, and FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the part cut | disconnected by the BB line, and FIG.2 (c) is a schematic plan view of the state which removed the opening / closing lid 4. As shown in FIG. As shown in these figures, a rectangular parallelepiped cleaning tank 8 is disposed on the front side inside the housing 2. The upper end of the cleaning tank 8 is open to the opening 3 of the housing 2. A pedestal 9 is disposed at the bottom of the inside of the cleaning tank 8. An object to be cleaned such as a molding die is placed on the receiving table 9 in a cleaning basket made of a wire mesh or the like. The cradle 9 is rockable by a rocking motor 10 disposed at the bottom of the housing 2 in this example.

  At the bottom inside the cleaning tank 8, an ultrasonic wave generation unit in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 11 are arranged is disposed. The ultrasonic transducer 11 is driven by an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) built in the control board 6 to generate an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic transducer 11 and the ultrasonic oscillator constitute an ultrasonic wave generation mechanism for performing ultrasonic cleaning. Further, in the cleaning tank 8, in order to perform electrolytic cleaning, a plurality of sets of electrodes, for example, electrodes 13 serving as cathodes, are disposed on the four sides and the bottom, respectively. An electrode, for example, an electrode 14 to be an anode is disposed. The electrode 14 of the open / close lid 4 can be immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 stored in the cleaning tank 8 in a state where the open / close lid 4 is closed. A DC power supply (not shown) is incorporated in the control panel 6, and a power supply mechanism for electrolytic cleaning is constituted by the DC power supply and the electrodes 13 and 14 to which a DC current is supplied from here. A direct current is supplied between the object to be cleaned and the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 placed in the cleaning tank 8 by the power supply mechanism.

  FIG. 3 is a system diagram of the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner 1. Referring mainly to FIG. 3, the inside of the cleaning tank 8 is divided into an electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 and an overflow tank 23 by a vertical partition plate 21 having a predetermined height from the bottom surface thereof. The electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 and the overflow tank 23 communicate with each other through the upper space 8 a of the vertical partition plate 21. An electrolytic cleaning solution 15 is stored in the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22. The cleaning cage 16 containing the object to be cleaned is placed on the pedestal 9 in a state of being immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution 15. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 11 are disposed on the bottom surface of the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22. The liquid level 15 a of the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 is at a height position defined by the vertical partition 21. The portion of the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 overflowed from the vertical partition 21 flows down to the filter 24 for removing foreign matter, passes through the filter 24 and is stored in the overflow tank 23.

  The electrolytic cleaning solution of the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 and the overflow tank 23 can be returned to the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 again after being cleaned through the reflux path 31. A filtration pump 32 and a filter 33 are disposed in the return path 31. In addition, the electrolytic cleaning solution of the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 and the overflow tank 23 can be discharged to the outside through the drainage valve 34 and the drainage valve 35, respectively.

  In the cleaning tank 8, the upper space 8a above the liquid surface 15a of the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 is communicated with the upper end of the air passage 37 formed between the partition plate 36 and the inner peripheral surface of the cleaning tank. The lower end of the air passage 37 extends to a position near the bottom of the cleaning tank. The lower end portion of the air passage 37 is in communication with the gas-liquid separation tank 40 via a valve 38 and a water-sealed vacuum pump 39. Further, the air passage 37 can communicate with the atmosphere through the vent valve 41. The water-sealed vacuum pump 39 can be driven to evacuate the inside of the cleaning tank 8 to a predetermined vacuum state. Water supply and drainage are performed on the gas-liquid separation tank 40 through the water supply path 42 and the discharge path 43. Also, water supply to the cleaning tank 8 is also performed via the water supply path 42.

  Although not shown, a control circuit, a DC power supply, an ultrasonic oscillator, an air pressure control circuit, and the like are arranged in the control board 6. The control panel 6 functions as a cleaning control mechanism for opening and closing the open / close lid 4 and performing the cleaning operation in accordance with the set sequence. Further, the water ring vacuum pump 39 and the vent valve 41, etc., which are driven and controlled by the control panel 6, function as a vacuum and pressure repressing mechanism that executes vacuum and repressurization processes that repeat vacuum release and vacuum release in the cleaning tank 8. Do.

  An operation example of the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A predetermined sequence for vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning can be set by operating the operation members arranged on the operation panel 7 of the control panel 6. The operating member arranged on the operation panel 7 is operated to open the open / close lid 4 and the cleaning object put in the cleaning cage 16 is dipped in the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 stored in the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 to receive the receiving table 9 The lid 4 is closed, and the cleaning tank 8 is sealed (steps ST1 and ST2).

  When the start of cleaning is instructed by operating the operation member of the operation panel 7, a direct current starts to flow between the electrolytic cleaning solution 15 and the object to be cleaned, and at the same time the ultrasonic transducer 11 is driven to electrolyze the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22. Ultrasonic waves are generated in the cleaning solution 15. In addition, the water ring vacuum pump 39 is driven and controlled, and the inside of the cleaning tank 8 is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum state, for example, to about 0.1 atm, and the repressurization step to return to the atmospheric pressure again. Is repeated in the set cycle. As a result, vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning is applied to the object to be cleaned (step ST3). Vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning is performed for a set time.

  By the vacuum drawing step, the small diameter blind hole formed on the surface of the object to be cleaned, the air invading the fine gap and the like expand and are removed from these parts. In the subsequent repressurization step, the electrolytic cleaning solution enters the blind holes, gaps, etc. instead of air. By repeating the evacuating step and the repressurizing step, air stagnation inside the blind holes, gaps and the like is gradually removed, and a state in which the electrolytic cleaning solution is surely in contact with these inner surfaces is formed. As a result, dirt and the like adhering to the inner peripheral surface such as a blind hole and a gap are reliably peeled and removed by electrolytic cleaning. As in the prior art, since it is not necessary to reverse the direction of the object to be cleaned and wash twice, it is possible to efficiently clean the object to be cleaned such as a molding die.

  During the cleaning operation, the dirt separated from the object to be cleaned and floated on the liquid surface 15a overflows from the side of the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 together with the electrolytic cleaning solution 15, and flows down to the overflow tank 23 through the filter 24. Dirt is captured by the filter 24. In addition, the filtration pump 32 is driven, and the electrolytic cleaning solution stored in each of the bottom surface of the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 and the bottom surface of the overflow tank 23 is cleaned through the filter 33, and the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22 is regenerated again. The electrolytic cleaning solution circulating operation is performed. Since the dirt dropped from the object to be cleaned by cleaning and mixed in the electrolytic cleaning solution is removed and the electrolytic cleaning solution is maintained at a predetermined degree of cleanliness, it is possible to prevent a decrease in cleaning power. The electrolytic cleaning solution used for a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time is discharged from the respective tanks 22 and 23 to the outside through the drain valves 34 and 35. After this, a new electrolytic cleaning solution is supplied to the electrolytic cleaning solution tank 22.

  In addition to the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning step, one or both of the electrolytic cleaning step and the electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning step may be predetermined depending on the type of the object to be cleaned without performing the vacuuming step and the repressurizing step. It may be performed in order.

  After completion of the cleaning, the lock of the open / close lid 4 is released, and the object to be cleaned after the cleaning can be taken out from the cleaning tank 8 (step ST4). The to-be-washed | cleaned material taken out from the washing tank 8 is handed over to the rinse process of the next step, a drying process, etc. one by one (step ST5).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning machine 2 case 3 opening part 4 opening-closing lid 5 air cylinder 6 control panel 7 operation panel 8 cleaning tank 8a upper space 9 receiving stand 10 rocking motor 11 ultrasonic transducer 13 electrode 14 electrode 15 electrolytic cleaning solution 15a Liquid level 16 Cleaning cage 21 Vertical partition plate 22 Electrolytic cleaning solution tank 23 Overflow tank 24 Filter 31 Reflux passage 32 Filtration pump 33 Filter 34 Drain valve 35 Drain valve 36 Partition plate 37 Air passage 38 Valve 39 Water ring vacuum Pump 40 Gas-liquid separation tank 41 Vent valve 42 Water supply passage 43 Discharge passage

Claims (4)

The cleaning tank in which the electrolytic cleaning solution is stored is sealed, and the upper space in the cleaning tank is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum state, and the vacuum state is released to return to atmospheric pressure. While repeating the repressurization process,
A direct current is applied between the electrolytic cleaning solution and the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the electrolytic cleaning solution to perform vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning on the object to be cleaned. Vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method. In claim 1,
Before or after the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning
At least one of an electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning step of performing electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning without performing the evacuating step and the repressurization step, and an electrolytic cleaning step of performing only electrolytic cleaning without applying the ultrasonic wave. Vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method to do. In claim 1 or 2,
The vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method in which the object to be cleaned is a molding die. A vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaner used in the vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning method according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
The sealable cleaning tank,
A power supply mechanism for supplying the direct current between the electrolytic cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank and the object to be cleaned immersed in the electrolytic cleaning solution;
An ultrasonic wave generation mechanism that applies the ultrasonic wave to the electrolytic cleaning solution;
A vacuum and repressurization mechanism performing the evacuating step and the repressurizing step in the upper space of the cleaning tank in the sealed state;
A cleaning control mechanism that controls the power feeding mechanism, the ultrasonic wave generation mechanism, and the vacuum / recompression mechanism;
Vacuum electrolytic ultrasonic cleaning machine.

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