JP3985546B2 - Cleaning device and cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method for using a cleaning liquid in a plurality of cleaning tanks and immersing and cleaning objects to be cleaned sequentially. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method that efficiently circulates and discharges cleaning liquid and improves cleaning quality.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In many industrial fields, products such as products (objects to be cleaned) are cleaned, and a cleaning device is used to immerse and clean the objects to be cleaned sequentially in part of the cleaning device or in all cleaning tanks. It has been known. In such a cleaning apparatus, from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of cleaning liquid used, a method called a cascade method or a direct overflow method, in which the cleaning liquid is sequentially fed and used, as opposed to the cleaning order of the objects to be cleaned, is employed. I came. In the present invention, contrary to the cleaning order of the objects to be cleaned, the supply and use of the cleaning liquid sequentially is referred to as “pre-feed”.
[0003]
In the present invention, the cleaning liquid refers to all liquids related to cleaning, such as cleaning water generally called functional water, represented by cleaning agents, cleaning solvents, rinsing water, rinsing solvents, ozone water, electrolytic water, and the like.
[0004]
The cascade system is a system in which the cleaning liquid overflowed from the second cleaning tank 2 is once supplied to the cascade tank 13 and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the first cleaning tank 1 as shown in FIG. The cascade tank 13 and the first cleaning tank 1 penetrate through the lower part of the partition plate 14, and supply the cleaning liquid from the penetrating part.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 3, the direct overflow method is arranged such that the height of the edge of the second cleaning tank 2 and the height of the edge of the first cleaning tank 1 are provided with a predetermined height difference between the tanks. This is a method in which the cleaning liquid in the second cleaning tank 2 is directly overflowed into the first cleaning tank 1 by joining with the connection plate 15 or the like.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are several problems with the above-described method of feeding the cleaning liquid.
The cleaning solution forwarded by the cascade system enters the cascade tank, but dirt (foreign matter, particles, etc.) peeled off from the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank (rear tank) floats forward and is forwarded. It sinks in the lower part of the tank and enters the cleaning tank (front tank) from the lower part of the partition plate. Even if it remains in the cascade tank, it will continue to float in the cascade tank, and eventually the cleaning tank (front tank) will be soiled. Even when the washing tank (front tank) has a filtration / circulation function, dirt is mixed in the cleaning liquid supplied by forward feeding and is dispersed in the washing tank, so only the filtration / circulation function of the liquid in the tank Then, it cannot filter completely. For this reason, these stains adhere to the object to be cleaned, and the cleaning quality cannot be obtained.
[0007]
In the case of the direct overflow method, floating dirt in the washing tank (rear tank) is directly fed to the washing tank (front tank), so that dirt in the washing tank (front tank) adheres to the object to be cleaned. As a result, the cleaning quality cannot be obtained.
[0008]
In the case of the cascade method or the direct overflow method, the cleaning liquid is supplied only by forward feeding, and only the amount supplied from the previous tank overflows. At this time, the amount of dirt discharged from the cleaning tank is not sufficient, so that the cleaning liquid cannot be purified. Therefore, dirt is likely to remain in the cleaning tank, and the cleaning quality cannot be obtained.
[0009]
Furthermore, in the case of the cascade structure or the direct overflow tank structure, a part of the entire periphery of the edge portion cannot overflow from the tank, and therefore overflows from the remaining edge portion at most. Even if the washing tank overflows evenly from the entire periphery of the edge, the liquid in the tank does not stagnate and helps to clean the inside of the washing tank. The cleaning quality cannot be ensured.
[0010]
Moreover, in the case of a cascade structure or a direct overflow tank structure, the liquid level is different for each tank. For this reason, when the number of cleaning tanks to be forwarded increases, the liquid level of the cleaning tank changes extremely between the first cleaning tank and the last cleaning tank. Since the depth of the tank is limited by the object to be cleaned, the number of tanks that can be forwarded is limited. In order to increase the number of tanks, the forward feed may be divided in the middle, but it is necessary to supply a new cleaning liquid, the amount of the cleaning liquid used increases, and the running cost increases.
[0011]
In addition, when transporting between cleaning tanks is automated, the difference in height between the liquid levels of the cleaning tanks must be taken into account, resulting in problems such as a complicated structure and increased equipment costs. Had.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a plurality of cleaning tanks that use a cleaning liquid, a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method that use the cleaning liquid efficiently by pre-feeding the cleaning liquid purified when the cleaning liquid is forward-feeded The purpose is to provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventor has provided a liquid storage tank for collecting the cleaning liquid flowing out from the cleaning tank at each peripheral portion of the plurality of cleaning tanks, and sets the adjacent liquid storage tanks to a predetermined one. It was found that it is effective to filter and circulate and supply the cleaning liquid in the storage tank that has flowed out of the cleaning tank and then supplied to the cleaning tank after being arranged and joined so as to have a height difference.
[0014]
That is, when the cleaning liquid is forwarded from the tank behind the cleaning tank in which the objects to be cleaned are sequentially cleaned to the previous tank, it is possible to supply the cleaning liquid with high cleanness without fail by filtering. It is also possible to increase the overflow amount of the cleaning tank by circulation and efficiently discharge (capture by filtration) the dirt (particularly particles) in the cleaning tank to the outside of the system.
[0015]
Therefore, by discharging the dirt in the cleaning tank out of the system (capturing by filtration), the dirt does not reattach to the object to be cleaned, and the cleaning quality can be obtained. Then, the cleaning liquid to be fed forward is not directly put into the cleaning tank, but is put into the liquid storage tank, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the liquid storage tank into the cleaning tank through a circulation mechanism having a filtration mechanism. The dirt discharged from the tank can be separated by filtration. As a result, dirt from the cleaning tank does not enter the pre-forwarded cleaning tank, and reattachment to the object to be cleaned can be prevented, and the cleaning quality can be obtained.
[0016]
In addition, since the cleaning liquid is supplied into the cleaning tank using the circulation path, the overflow amount is sufficient, and even if there is little supply of the cleaning liquid to the cleaning device, the cleaning tank can be sufficiently purified and the cleaning quality is ensured. it can.
[0017]
The entire periphery of the edge of the cleaning tank (four sides in the case of a square tank) is not subject to structural restrictions, and can overflow from the entire periphery of the edge. When the cleaning liquid uniformly overflows from the entire periphery of the edge, no stagnation (stagnation part of the liquid) occurs and the cleaning liquid can be sufficiently purified, and the cleaning quality can be ensured.
[0018]
Moreover, since there is no restriction | limiting in the liquid level height of a washing tank, the liquid level of each tank can be made substantially constant. For this reason, even when the cleaning apparatus is automated, it is not necessary to consider the difference in level of the liquid level, and since it can be transferred between the cleaning tanks with the same movement, the transfer mechanism becomes simple and the apparatus cost is reduced.
[0019]
Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is a cleaning apparatus that has a plurality of cleaning tanks using a cleaning liquid and sequentially immerses and cleans an object to be cleaned,
Among the cleaning tanks that use the cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank that performs the final cleaning,
A liquid storage tank for collecting the cleaning liquid flowing out from the cleaning tank using the cleaning liquid;
A cleaning liquid discharger that collects and discharges the cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the storage tank of the cleaning tank to be cleaned first among the cleaning tanks that use the cleaning liquid;
It has a circulation filtration device that filters the cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the cleaning tank into the liquid storage tank, and circulates and supplies it to the cleaning tank.
Provided is a cleaning apparatus characterized in that the edges of adjacent liquid storage tanks are joined so as to have a predetermined height difference.
[0020]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a liquid storage tank for recovering the cleaning liquid is disposed at a peripheral portion of the cleaning tank.
[0021]
A third aspect of the present invention provides the cleaning apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the overflow of all the cleaning tanks is performed from the entire circumference of the edge of the cleaning tank.
[0022]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cleaning apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the liquid level of each cleaning tank is substantially constant.
[0023]
The invention according to claim 5 is a cleaning method of immersing and cleaning an object to be cleaned sequentially in a plurality of cleaning tanks filled with a cleaning liquid,
The cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning tank that finally cleans the object to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid flowing out from each cleaning tank is collected in the storage tank, and the cleaning liquid collected in the liquid storage tank is filtered and circulated and supplied to the cleaning tank. In the two adjacent storage tanks, the cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the storage tank disposed on the supply side of the cleaning liquid is collected in the other storage tank, and from the storage tank of the cleaning tank that first cleans the object to be cleaned. A cleaning method is provided that collects and discharges outflowing cleaning liquid.
[0024]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cleaning method according to the fifth aspect, wherein a liquid storage tank is disposed at a peripheral portion of the cleaning tank.
[0025]
A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the cleaning method according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the liquid surface heights of the plurality of cleaning tanks filled with the cleaning liquid are made substantially constant.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, although the form of this invention is demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment.
[0027]
The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. Although FIG. 1 shows an example configured with two cleaning tanks, the number of cleaning tanks in the present invention is not limited to this. a is a configuration diagram viewed from the lateral direction, and b is a diagram viewed from above.
[0028]
Liquid storage tanks 3 and 4 are arranged around two cleaning tanks 1 and 2 filled with the same cleaning liquid. Each washing tank has a circulation mechanism 5, and the circulation mechanism has a pump 6 and a filtration mechanism 7.
[0029]
A supply mechanism 8 for supplying a cleaning liquid is connected to the second cleaning tank 2, and the supply mechanism 8 has a filtration mechanism 7 for filtering the supplied cleaning liquid. The first liquid storage tank 3 has a drainage mechanism 9 that collects and drains the outflowing cleaning liquid.
[0030]
Moreover, the conveyance mechanism 10 which conveys the to-be-cleaned object w is arrange | positioned at the upper part of the washing tank.
[0031]
The cleaning liquid is supplied to the second cleaning tank 2 by the supply mechanism 8, overflows, and flows out to the second liquid storage tank 4. From the second liquid storage tank 4 to the second cleaning tank 2, it is filtered and supplied by the circulation mechanism 5. The cleaning liquid overflows from the second liquid storage tank 4 by the amount supplied from the supply mechanism 8 and flows into the first liquid storage tank 3. A cleaning liquid filtered and purified by the circulation mechanism 5 is supplied to the first cleaning tank 1.
[0032]
The object to be cleaned w is immersed and cleaned in the first cleaning tank 1 by the transport mechanism 10, then transported along the transport path 11, immersed and cleaned in the second cleaning tank 2, and then along the transport path 11. To be carried out.
[0033]
Although not shown, even when there are three or more cleaning tanks, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the final cleaning tank for cleaning the objects to be cleaned, and the circulating and filtered cleaning liquid is supplied to each cleaning tank, and the objects to be cleaned are cleaned first. The cleaning liquid overflowing from the storage tank of the cleaning tank is discharged by the drainage mechanism.
[0034]
Further, the cleaning liquid may be supplied to the second liquid storage tank 4. In this case, the filtration mechanism 7 in the supply mechanism 8 may not be provided.
[0035]
In the case of a cleaning liquid that can be distilled and regenerated, such as a hydrocarbon-based cleaning agent, the cleaning liquid discharged from the discharge mechanism 9 is sent to a distillation regenerator or the like, and after distillation regeneration, a structure that is supplied from the supply mechanism 8 is adopted. You can also.
[0036]
Moreover, FIG. 4 is a figure which shows another example of the washing | cleaning apparatus by this invention. Although the basic flow of the cleaning liquid is the same as in FIG. 1, there is only a mechanism for recovering the cleaning liquid at the periphery of the cleaning tank, and the recovered cleaning liquid is set at a position away from the cleaning tanks 1 and 2. Collected in storage tanks 3 and 4. The liquid storage tanks 3 and 4 are provided with a predetermined height difference on the liquid level so that the cleaning liquid overflows from the second liquid storage tank 4 to the first liquid storage tank. The cleaning liquid is filtered and supplied to the cleaning tank by the circulation device 5. As described above, the liquid storage tank may not be provided at the peripheral edge of the tank.
[0037]
<Example 1>
The glass member was cleaned with the following cleaning liquid configuration.
[0038]
1st tank Detergent tank 2nd tank Detergent tank 3rd tank Rinse (pure water)
Tank 4 Rinse (pure water)
In the rinsing step for the third and fourth drying tanks, the structure of the cleaning tank having the structure shown in FIG. 1 was adopted. Further, both the three and four tanks are overflow structures from all four sides of the square tank.
As a result of cleaning, no foreign matter was observed and no defects occurred.
[0039]
<Comparative Example 1>
The same glass member was cleaned with the cleaning liquid configuration shown in Example 1.
In the rinsing process of the third and fourth tanks, the structure of the cleaning tank having the direct overflow system structure shown in FIG. 3 was adopted. Due to the structure, the overflow structure of one surface was obtained for both the three and four tanks.
[0040]
As a result of washing with this apparatus, 10% of defects in which foreign substances adhere to the glass member occurred.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
Due to the structure of the cleaning tank of the present invention, the cleaning liquid can be used in at least two tanks, and since the cleaning liquid filtered by the filtration device is supplied to each tank, there is no adhesion of foreign matters, etc., and no quality abnormality occurs. Can be washed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a cleaning apparatus having a cascade system, which is an example of a conventional technique.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a cleaning apparatus having a direct overflow method, which is an example of a conventional technique.
FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st washing tank 2 2nd washing tank 3 1st liquid storage tank 4 2nd liquid storage tank 5 Circulation mechanism 6 Pump 7 Filtration mechanism 8 Supply mechanism 9 Discharge mechanism 10 Conveyance mechanism 11 Conveyance path 12 Liquid flow 13 Cascade tank 14 Partition plate 15 Inter-tank connection plate 16 Overflow recovery part w

Claims (7)

A cleaning device that has a plurality of cleaning tanks that use a cleaning liquid and sequentially immerses and cleans an object to be cleaned,
Among the cleaning tanks that use the cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank that performs the final cleaning,
A liquid storage tank for collecting the cleaning liquid flowing out from the cleaning tank using the cleaning liquid;
A cleaning liquid discharger that collects and discharges the cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the storage tank of the cleaning tank to be cleaned first among the cleaning tanks that use the cleaning liquid;
It has a circulation filtration device that filters the cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the cleaning tank into the liquid storage tank, and circulates and supplies it to the cleaning tank.
A cleaning apparatus, wherein the adjacent edges of the liquid storage tanks are joined so as to have a predetermined height difference. 2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid storage tank for recovering the cleaning liquid is disposed at a peripheral portion of the cleaning tank. 3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein overflow of all cleaning tanks is performed from the entire circumference of the edge of the cleaning tank. 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level of each cleaning tank is substantially constant. It is a cleaning method of immersing and cleaning an object to be cleaned sequentially in a plurality of cleaning tanks filled with a cleaning liquid,
The cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning tank that finally cleans the object to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid flowing out from each cleaning tank is collected in the storage tank, and the cleaning liquid collected in the storage tank is filtered and circulated and supplied to the cleaning tank. In the two adjacent storage tanks, the cleaning liquid flowing out from the storage tank arranged on the supply side of the cleaning liquid is collected in the other storage tank, and the cleaning tank is first cleaned of the object to be cleaned. A cleaning method characterized by collecting and discharging outflowing cleaning liquid. 6. The cleaning method according to claim 5, wherein a liquid storage tank is disposed at the peripheral edge of the cleaning tank. 7. The cleaning method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the liquid level height of the plurality of cleaning tanks filled with the cleaning liquid is made substantially constant.

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