KR20190026538A - Ultrasonic Cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonic oscillator 9 provided in the cleaning tank 2 and an ultrasonic oscillator 10 for operating the ultrasonic oscillator 9; And control means for controlling the ultrasonic oscillator 10 to ultrasonically clean the object to be cleaned. The control means ultrasonically cleans the object to be cleaned while changing the operation mode (for example, the oscillation mode) by the ultrasonic oscillator 10. During the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator 10, the ultrasonic oscillator 10 is stopped by the set rest time to change (flow) the retentate in the cleaning bath 2 to prevent the contamination from the retentate to the retentate Do it smoothly.

Description

Ultrasonic Cleaner

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning an object to be cleaned by applying ultrasonic vibration to a liquid immersed in the object to be cleaned. The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-133814 filed on July 6, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Conventionally, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, there has been known a washing machine comprising a washing tub 20a for containing an object to be cleaned and a washing liquid, a plurality of vibration elements 31 to 33 attached to the washing tub, Oscillators 41 to 43 and a control unit 60 for controlling each oscillator so that a plurality of oscillators output signals having the same phase to a plurality of oscillation elements. In this apparatus, as an oscillation mode from an oscillator, it is possible to output a modulated wave by FM modulation or AM modulation instead of a sinusoidal wave.

International Publication No. 2008/035581 (Claim 1, paragraph [0056], Figures 1 and 6)

As an oscillation mode of an ultrasonic wave, generally, single, dual, FM modulation, pulse, etc. are known and have different characteristics. However, the conventional ultrasonic cleaner can be operated only in a single oscillation mode. In other words, it is operated only in the preset oscillation mode, and the oscillation mode can not be changed during operation. In addition, during operation in a predetermined oscillation mode (for example, a single oscillation mode), the frequency and the output of the ultrasonic wave are not changed. For this reason, for example, there is a possibility that a sufficient cleaning effect can not be obtained at the top or corner of the object to be cleaned. Therefore, it is required to perform effective cleaning effectively utilizing characteristics of each oscillation mode, cleaning with a change in oscillation, and cleaning according to needs.

Further, in the conventional ultrasonic cleaner, since the ultrasonic oscillation in a specific oscillation mode is continuous, the flow of the stored liquid is hardly changed and it is difficult to remove the contamination even if the contamination is floated from the object to be cleaned by the ultrasonic vibration. That is, there is room for improvement in the transfer of contamination from the object to be cleaned to the storage liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic cleaner capable of effectively cleaning the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, effectively cleaning the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, and cleaning the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to needs. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that changes the flow of a retentate during ultrasonic cleaning to smoothly carry out contamination from a retentate to a retentate.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a cleaning tank in which a liquid to be cleaned is contained and a liquid is stored; an ultrasonic vibrator provided in the cleaning tank; an ultrasonic oscillator for operating the ultrasonic vibrator; And control means for ultrasonically cleaning the object to be cleaned by controlling the ultrasonic oscillator, wherein the control means performs ultrasonic cleaning of the object to be cleaned while switching the operation mode of the ultrasonic oscillator.

According to the invention described in claim 1, the object to be cleaned can be ultrasonically cleaned while switching the operation mode. It is possible to change the operation mode during operation to change the oscillation and to perform cleaning according to needs.

The invention according to claim 2 is the ultrasonic cleaner according to claim 1, wherein switching of the operation mode of the ultrasonic oscillator includes switching of an oscillation mode by the ultrasonic oscillator.

According to the invention described in claim 2, the object to be cleaned can be ultrasonically cleaned while switching the oscillation mode by the ultrasonic oscillator. By changing the oscillation mode during operation, it is possible to effectively clean the oscillation mode by effectively using the characteristics of each oscillation mode, to perform cleaning with a change in oscillation, and to clean according to needs.

The invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ultrasonic oscillator is stopped during the set rest time during the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the ultrasonic oscillator is temporarily stopped during the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator. In other words, after the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator, the ultrasonic oscillator is stopped by the set idle time at the set timing, and then the ultrasonic oscillation is resumed. In this way, it is possible to smoothly transfer contamination from the object to be cleaned to the storage liquid by giving a change (flow) to the storage liquid in the cleaning tank.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator repeats while switching a plurality of operation modes in time. However, when the plurality of operation modes are almost finished or at a predetermined time or during a predetermined time Wherein the ultrasonic oscillator is stopped during a set idle time during an oscillation in an operation mode of the ultrasonic cleaner.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the ultrasonic oscillator is temporarily stopped whenever a plurality of operation modes are almost completed, or at predetermined times during switching of each operation mode or during oscillation in a predetermined operation mode. This makes it possible to smoothly transfer the contamination from the object to be cleaned to the storage liquid by giving a change (flow) to the storage liquid in the cleaning tank.

The invention according to claim 5 further includes a circulation means for circulating and supplying a liquid to the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank and a liquid below the cleaning tank in the spraying portion, It is possible to sequentially carry out the heating step of the stored liquid in the cleaning tank, the ultrasonic cleaning step of the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank, and the drainage step to the outside of the cleaning tank. In at least the heating step among the water supply step and the heating step , The circulation means is operated, the ultrasonic vibrator is operated, and at least one of the oscillation mode, the frequency and the output of the ultrasonic wave is changed in accordance with the transition from the heating process to the ultrasonic cleaning process. The ultrasonic cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 5, the water supply step, the heating step, the ultrasonic cleaning step and the water drainage step are sequentially executed, but at least in the heating step of the water supply step and the heating step, the circulation means is operated to prevent temperature unevenness In addition to this, the liquid to be cleaned may be sprayed or the retentate may be flowed to clean the object to be cleaned. In addition, ultrasonic cleaning of the object to be cleaned can be performed by operating the ultrasonic vibrator during this operation. By changing at least one of the oscillation mode, the frequency and the output of the ultrasonic wave in accordance with the transition from the heating step to the ultrasonic cleaning step, irregular cleaning can be prevented.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic oscillator is operated by a single oscillation mode of a single frequency in at least the heating step of the water supply step and the heating step, and in the ultrasonic cleaning step, a dual oscillation mode and a frequency And the output of the single oscillation mode in the heating step is set to be larger than the output of the dual oscillation mode and the FM oscillation mode in the ultrasonic cleaning step Wherein the ultrasonic cleaner is an ultrasonic cleaner according to claim 5.

According to the invention defined in claim 6, the ultrasonic vibrator is operated at least during the heating process during the water supply process and the heating process. In addition, since the ultrasonic cleaning is performed in the single oscillation mode, relatively strong ultrasonic vibration can be imparted. Thus, the object to be cleaned can be preliminarily cleaned before the ultrasonic cleaning step. Further, by using the dual oscillation mode and / or the FM oscillation mode in the subsequent ultrasonic cleaning step, it is possible to effectively wash at least the single oscillation mode performed in the heating step. In addition, since the output of the single oscillation mode in the heating process is set to be larger than the output of the dual oscillation mode and the FM oscillation mode in the ultrasonic cleaning process, the object to be cleaned can be preliminarily cleaned before the ultrasonic cleaning process.

According to the ultrasonic cleaner of the present invention, it is possible to perform effective cleaning effectively utilizing characteristics of each oscillation mode, cleaning with a change in oscillation, and cleaning according to needs. In addition, during the ultrasonic cleaning, the flow of the retentate is changed, and the contamination from the retentate to the retentate can be smoothly performed.

1 is a schematic view showing an ultrasonic cleaner of an embodiment of the present invention, and a part thereof is shown in section.
2 is a flow chart showing an example of a method of operating the ultrasonic cleaner of Fig.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the ultrasonic cleaning process in Fig.

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a schematic view showing an ultrasonic cleaner 1 of an embodiment of the present invention, and a part thereof is shown in cross section.

The ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes a cleaning tank 2 in which objects to be cleaned are contained, a cleaning nozzle 3 provided in the cleaning tank 2, water supply means 4 into the cleaning tank 2, A drainage means 5 from the inside of the cleaning tank 2, a chemical liquid supply means 6 into the cleaning tank 2 and a circulating means for liquid from the bottom of the cleaning tank 2 to the cleaning nozzle 3 A heating means 8 for heating the stored liquid in the cleaning tank 2; an ultrasonic vibrator 9 provided below the cleaning tank 2; an ultrasonic oscillator 10 for operating the ultrasonic vibrator 9; And control means (not shown) for controlling the respective means (4 to 8) and the ultrasonic oscillator (10).

The object to be cleaned is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a medical instrument such as a forceps. In the cleaning tank 2, cleaning nozzles 3 are provided at upper and lower plural stages, but the objects to be cleaned are arranged between the upper and lower cleaning nozzles 3. At this time, the objects to be cleaned are loaded in a washing rack (not shown) provided at a plurality of upper and lower stages in the washing tub 2. Further, the object to be cleaned may be accommodated in a basket or the like if desired.

The cleaning tank 2 is a hollow container for containing the object to be cleaned. The cleaning tank 2 has a substantially rectangular hollow box shape in this embodiment. The washing tub 2 can be opened and closed by a door (not shown). The object to be cleaned can be made to go into and out of the cleaning tank 2 by opening the door. The door is provided on the front surface of the cleaning tank 2, but may be provided on both the front surface and the rear surface of the cleaning tank 2.

The cleaning nozzle 3 functions as a liquid jetting portion to the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank 2. The cleaning nozzles 3 are installed in upper and lower plural stages in the cleaning tank 2. In this embodiment, the base end portion of the arm-shaped support member 11 is held on one side portion of the washing tub 2 at a plurality of upper and lower ends and each of the support members 11 is connected to the left- Lt; / RTI > A longitudinal center portion of the cleaning nozzle 3 is rotatably held around the vertical axis at the proximal end portion thereof. The cleaning nozzle 3 has a plurality of nozzle holes (not shown) for jetting a fluid supplied through the inside of the supporting member 11. [ When the fluid is supplied into the cleaning nozzle 3 through the support member 11, the fluid is jetted from the nozzle hole of the cleaning nozzle 3. By this sorting (jet flow), the cleaning nozzle 3 rotates about the bearing portion of the end portion of the support member 11. [ The cleaning nozzle 3 provided at the upper end of the cleaning tank 2 injects the fluid only downward and the cleaning nozzle 3 provided at the lower end of the cleaning tank 2 injects the fluid only upward, The cleaning nozzles 3 other than the upper and lower ends discharge the fluid both upward and downward.

The liquid storage portion 12 is connected to the lower portion of the cleaning tank 2 in succession. In other words, the cleaning tank 2 has the liquid storage portion 12 at the lower portion thereof. In the present embodiment, the lower wall of the washing tub 2 is formed in an inclined surface 2a whose both left and right ends are inclined downward as it goes inward in the left and right direction, and the central portion in the right and left direction is recessed downwardly in a substantially rectangular shape , And the lower part in the cleaning tank (2) including the concave part serves as the liquid storage part (12).

The water supply means (4) supplies water into the washing tub (2) through the water feed line (13). A water supply valve (14) is provided in the water supply line (13). It is possible to supply water into the washing tub 2 by opening the water supply valve 14. The water supply means 4 may be configured to be capable of supplying water selected from plural kinds of water (for example, tap water, hot water, membrane filtration water, etc.).

A liquid level detector 15 is provided in the washing tub 2. The liquid level detector 15 does not particularly concern the configuration thereof, but is constituted by, for example, a pressure sensor portion provided at the bottom of the liquid reservoir portion 12. [ In this case, the liquid level is grasped by using the fact that the water pressure is changed in accordance with the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 12 and the washing tub 2.

The drain means 5 discharges the water from the cleaning tank 2 or the liquid storage portion 12 through the drainage passage 16. A drain valve 17 is provided in the drainage passage 16. The water can be drained from the washing tub 2 or the liquid storage portion 12 by opening the drain valve 17. [

The chemical liquid supply means 6 supplies the chemical liquid from the chemical liquid tank 18 to the cleaning tank 2 or the liquid storage portion 12 through the liquid supply path 19. A chemical liquid pump (20) is provided in the liquid level path (19). The set amount of chemical liquid can be supplied into the cleaning tank 2 or the liquid storage portion 12 by operating the chemical liquid pump 20. [ The chemical liquid supply means 6 may be configured to be capable of supplying a chemical liquid selected from plural kinds of chemical liquids (for example, an alkaline detergent, an enzyme blending detergent, a lubricating rust inhibitor, a drying promoter, etc.).

The circulation means 7 circulates and supplies the liquid from the lower portion of the cleaning tank 2 to the cleaning nozzle 3. More specifically, the circulation means 7 includes a circulation pipe 21 and a circulation pump 22. The circulation pipe 21 is a pipe from the liquid reservoir 12 to the support member 11 of each cleaning nozzle 3 and a circulation pump 22 is installed in the middle thereof. In the illustrated example, the piping from the liquid storage portion 12 to the circulation pump 22 in the circulation piping 21 is a common pipeline to the drainage passage 16 on the upstream side. A check valve 23 is provided in the circulating pipe 21 at the outlet side of the circulating pump 22. When the circulation pump 22 is operated, the liquid in the lower part of the cleaning tank 2 can be supplied to the cleaning nozzle 3 through the circulation pipe 21 and the support member 11 and returned to the cleaning tank 2 .

The heating means 8 is means for heating the stored liquid in the washing tub 2. In this embodiment, the heating means 8 is constituted by a heater 24 provided in the liquid storage portion 12. [ The heater 24 is an electric heater in the illustrated example, but it may be a steam heater in some cases. In the case of an electric heater, on / off control is typically performed, but the output may be adjusted in some cases. On the other hand, in the case of a steam heater, steam can be supplied into the steam pipe, and the condensed water of the steam is discharged to the outside through the steam trap. Thus, the opening / closing or opening of the surge valve installed in the surge path is controlled.

In addition, a temperature sensor 25 is provided in the liquid reservoir 12. The temperature of the stored liquid in the liquid storage portion 12 and the cleaning tank 2 can be adjusted by controlling the heater 24 based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 25. [

The ultrasonic transducer 9 is installed at the lower portion of the washing tub 2. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducers 9 are provided on the left and right inclined surfaces 2a of the lower wall of the cleaning tank 2, respectively. The ultrasonic transducer 9 is connected to the ultrasonic oscillator 10. The ultrasonic oscillator 9 can be oscillated as desired by supplying the ultrasonic oscillator 9 with the setting operation mode (set oscillation mode, frequency, output, etc.) from the ultrasonic oscillator 10. The ultrasonic vibration caused by this is applied to the stored liquid in the washing tub 2 through an ultrasonic diaphragm (not shown). The object to be cleaned can be cleaned by applying ultrasonic vibration to the stored liquid in a state where the object to be cleaned is immersed in the liquid stored in the cleaning tank 2. The oscillation mode of the ultrasonic wave can be changed by controlling the ultrasonic oscillator 10 as will be described later in detail. Further, the frequency (Hz) and / or the output (W) of the ultrasonic wave may be changed by desirability. At that time, the frequency and / or the output may be automatically determined by changing the oscillation mode.

The control means is a controller connected to the respective means (4 to 8) and the ultrasonic oscillator (10), the liquid level detector (15), the temperature sensor (25) and the like. Specifically, the water supply valve 14, the drain valve 17, the chemical liquid pump 20, the circulation pump 22, the heater 24, the ultrasonic oscillator 10, the liquid level detector 15 and the temperature sensor 25 Is connected to the controller. Then, as described below, the controller cleans the object to be cleaned in the washing tub 2 according to a predetermined procedure (program).

First, as a premise, in the ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the operation mode of the oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator 10 can be switched by the control means during operation. The operation mode includes at least one of an oscillation mode, frequency, and output of ultrasonic waves. Particularly, it is preferable to include at least the oscillation mode as the operation mode, and to change the oscillation mode at least once during the operation. As the oscillation mode, for example, the following conventionally known oscillation modes can be mentioned. However, the oscillation modes listed here are examples, and oscillation modes other than these oscillation modes are also available.

(a) Single oscillation mode = oscillation mode of short-wave (output and frequency is constant). Generates strong cavitation, eliminating stubborn contamination.

(b) Dual oscillation mode = oscillation mode of two frequencies (two waves in close proximity). Suppresses the rectification of cavitation and propagates the ultrasonic waves to the far side.

(c) FM oscillation mode = oscillation mode with frequency modulation (ie FM modulation). The stationary wave position is moved to reduce irregularities in cleaning.

(d) Pulse oscillation mode = an oscillation mode in which a short-circuited frequency (typically one cycle) is intermittently oscillated. This is effective for accelerating the degassing to reduce the attenuation of the ultrasonic waves.

(e) AM oscillation mode = oscillation mode using amplitude modulation (output change) (i.e., AM modulation wave).

(f) FM / AM oscillation mode = oscillation mode with frequency modulation and amplitude modulation (ie simultaneous change of frequency and output).

(g) Multi-oscillation mode = oscillation mode in which three frequencies (for example, 28 kHz, 45 kHz, and 100 kHz) are sequentially repeated.

(h) DynaShock Modulation oscillation mode = oscillation mode that controls the power ratio of ultrasonic waves occurring at two frequencies.

In either case, it is preferable that the control means controls the ultrasonic oscillator 10 and oscillates by switching at least two oscillation modes alternatively. That is, the ultrasonic oscillator 10 is configured to enable ultrasonic oscillation in at least two oscillation modes among the various oscillation modes, and it is possible to determine which oscillation mode is oscillated or which oscillation is to be stopped, Lt; / RTI > In the present embodiment, for example, a single oscillation mode, a dual oscillation mode, and an FM oscillation mode are switched to be executable.

Hereinafter, an example of a method of operating the ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation method of the ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the ultrasonic cleaning process in Fig.

In the initial state, the valves 14 and 17 are closed, and the pumps 20 and 22, the heater 24, and the ultrasonic oscillator 10 are stopped. In this state, the object to be cleaned is contained in the cleaning tank 2, and the door of the cleaning tank 2 is airtightly closed. Then, when the start of operation is instructed by a predetermined operation, the controller sequentially executes the water supply step S1, the heating step S2, the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 and the drainage step S4 as shown in Fig. The content of each step will be described below.

«Watering process S1»

In the water supplying step S1, water is stored in the washing tub 2 up to the set water level by the water supplying means 4. [ At this time, the water is stored in the washing tub 2 up to a level at which the object to be cleaned is immersed (in other words, submerged). If the object to be cleaned is immersed, it is not always necessary to supply water to the upper part of the washing tub 2. The target water level at the time of water supply may be changed to a plurality of levels and the water may be stored up to the water level set in accordance with the amount of the object to be cleaned (the receiving height with respect to the cleaning tank 2). In the water supply step S1, the chemical liquid may be injected by the chemical liquid supply means 6 as desired.

In the water supply step S1, the ultrasonic vibrator 9 may be operated during water supply (that is, after a certain amount of water is collected). For example, the ultrasonic oscillator 9 may be operated when the oscillation start level (the level at which a part to be cleaned dips) becomes equal to or greater than the oscillation start level. The oscillation mode at this time is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the oscillation mode is a single oscillation mode (1200 W). By using the single oscillation mode, relatively strong ultrasonic vibration can be imparted, and the object to be cleaned can be sufficiently preliminarily cleaned before the ultrasonic cleaning step S3. In particular, as described later, even when shower washing by the operation of the circulation pump 22 is used in combination, adverse effects due to attenuation of ultrasonic waves can be prevented, and the effect of ultrasonic cleaning can be maintained. In the present embodiment, as described later, in the ultrasonic cleaning step S3, the dual oscillation mode and the FM oscillation mode are used, but the output of the single oscillation mode in the water supply step S1 It is possible to preliminarily clean the object to be cleaned more strongly.

In the water supply step S1, the circulation means 7 may be operated during water supply (that is, after a certain amount of water is collected). For example, when the circulation start water level (the water level exceeding the liquid storage portion 12) or more is reached, the circulation pump 22 may be operated. The water from the liquid storage portion 12 is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 3 through the circulation pipe 21 and the support member 11 by operating the circulation pump 22 and the water from the nozzle hole of the cleaning nozzle 3 It can be sprayed onto the object to be cleaned. In this way, the object to be cleaned can be cleaned (shower washing) by spraying the liquid to the object to be cleaned or flowing the retentate.

In the water supply step S1, the liquid level detector 15 monitors the liquid level in the cleaning tank 2, and if water is stored in the cleaning tank 2 to the set water level, the process proceeds to the next step. However, in the water supply step S1, if the cleaning tank 2 has reached the predetermined heating start water level, the heating step S2 of the next step may be started.

&Quot; Heating step S2 &

In the heating step S2, the heating means 8 heats the stored liquid in the cleaning tank 2 to a set temperature (for example, 40 DEG C). During this time, the ultrasonic vibrator 9 may be operated in the same manner as the water supply step S1. If the ultrasonic vibrator 9 is already operated in the water supply step S1, it may be operated in the heating step S2 continuously. (The modulation method in the case of FM modulation, that is, the shape of the FM modulation wave) and the output (in the case of AM modulation, the modulation method, that is, the AM modulation wave , But in this embodiment, the single oscillation mode in which the frequency and the output of the water supply step S1 are maintained is maintained. As described above, in this embodiment, the output of the single oscillation mode in the heating step S2 is set to be larger than the output of the dual oscillation mode and the FM oscillation mode in the ultrasonic cleaning step S3.

In the heating step S2, the circulation means 7 may be operated in the same manner as the water supply step (S1). When the circulation pump 22 is already operated in the water supply step S1, it is sufficient to continue the operation in the heating step S2. By operating the circulation pump 22, temperature unevenness of the stored liquid can be prevented. In addition, the liquid to be cleaned can be sprayed or the stored liquid can be flowed to clean the object to be cleaned.

During the heating step S2, the temperature sensor 25 monitors the water temperature of the stored liquid in the washing tub 2, and when the water temperature reaches the set temperature, the process proceeds to the next step. However, in the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 of the next step, it is also preferable to control the heating means 8 to maintain the stored liquid at the set temperature. For example, when the water temperature falls to a predetermined temperature, reheating to the set temperature may be repeated. In addition, the circulation pump 22 may be stopped in accordance with the transition to the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 in the next step, but the circulation pump 22 may be intermittently operated in order to prevent uneven temperature distribution in the ultrasonic cleaning step S3.

&Quot; Ultrasonic cleaning process S3 "

In the ultrasonic cleaning step S3, as shown in Fig. 3, the object to be cleaned is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning while switching the operation mode. As described above, in this embodiment, the operation mode includes the frequency (Hz) and / or the output (W) by a desired value in addition to the oscillation mode of the ultrasonic wave (the oscillation mode type as in the above- . It is not necessary to individually set the oscillation mode, the frequency and the output of the ultrasonic wave for each operation mode individually. As described above, for example, when the oscillation mode is set, the frequency and / or the output are automatically set . It is also preferable to change at least one of the oscillation mode, the frequency and the output of the ultrasonic wave during the transition from the heating step S2 to the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 when the ultrasonic vibrator 9 is already operated in the heating step S2 .

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning S31 of the first set time (for example, 30 seconds) in at least the first operation mode (for example, dual oscillation mode, 800W) and the second operation mode The ultrasonic cleaning S32 of the second set time (for example, 29 seconds) in the mode (for example, mode 800W) is performed. It is also possible to add ultrasonic cleaning S33 (or ultrasonic cleaning of the fourth set time in the fourth operation mode) of the third set time in the third operation mode (for example, the single oscillation mode) The ultrasonic cleaning operation in the set number of operation modes can be executed sequentially in total. Then, when the operation mode of the set number is almost executed, the ultrasonic cleaning is performed again in order from the ultrasonic cleaning S31 of the first set time in the first operation mode.

In the ultrasonic cleaning operation (including the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 as well as the water supply step S1 or the heating step S2, when the ultrasonic vibrator 9 is operated), the oscillation mode is changed However, it is not necessary that the mode types of the respective operation modes (the first operation mode, the second operation mode, ...) are different from each other. For example, when the first operation mode is the dual oscillation mode, the second operation mode is the FM oscillation mode, the third operation mode is the single oscillation mode, and the fourth operation mode is the FM oscillation mode like the second operation mode. At this time, the both FM oscillation modes may have the same frequency (same change) and the same frequency (frequency) or different output (s).

In addition, the adjacent operation modes (that is, the operation modes to be performed and the operation modes immediately thereafter) in the same ultrasonic cleaning operation may be the same oscillation mode (that is, the same mode type) if they have different frequencies or outputs. For example, if the first operation mode is a dual oscillation mode, the second operation mode is a single oscillation mode, and the third operation mode is a single oscillation mode (only frequency and / or output is different) as the second operation mode .

As described above, at least one of an oscillation mode of an ultrasonic wave, a frequency (a modulation method in the case of FM modulation) and an output (a modulation method in the case of AM modulation) are set to be different between the front and rear operation modes.

Either way, in the ultrasonic cleaning step S3, the ultrasonic cleaning is repeated while switching a plurality of operation modes in time. In this embodiment, every time the operation modes (that is, the operation mode of the set number) (For example, set at 1 to 5 seconds, and in this embodiment, 1 second). That is, in Fig. 3, after the ultrasonic cleaning S32 of the second set time in the second operation mode (when the ultrasonic cleaning S33 of the third set time in the third operation mode is performed, etc.), the ultrasonic oscillator 10 ) Is stopped for the set idle time, and then returns to the first first oscillation mode.

Thus, in the ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the ultrasonic oscillator 10 and further the ultrasonic oscillator 9 are temporarily stopped during the ultrasonic cleaning performed while switching the operation mode. This makes it possible to smoothly transfer the contamination from the object to be cleaned to the storage liquid by giving a change (flow) to the storage liquid in the cleaning tank 2.

However, the stop of the ultrasonic vibration (the temporary interruption of the ultrasonic wave oscillation during the ultrasonic wave oscillation) is not limited to every time when the plurality of operation modes are almost finished, At the time of switching from the first operation mode to the second departure operation mode, and / or at the time of switching from the second operation mode to the third operation mode). Alternatively, during the oscillation in the predetermined operation mode, the ultrasonic oscillator 10 may be stopped by the set idle time. For example, during the ultrasonic cleaning of the first set time in the first operation mode, the ultrasonic oscillation may be temporarily stopped by the set rest time, and then resumed. This is also the case during oscillation in the second operation mode, oscillation in the third operation mode, and during ultrasonic oscillation in the water supply step S1 or the heating step S2 described above.

Either way, as shown in FIG. 2, after the ultrasonic cleaning is performed while switching the operation mode for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), the ultrasonic oscillator 10 and the heater 24 are stopped, .

«Drainage process S4»

In the drainage step S4, the drainage means 5 discharges the stored liquid in the cleaning tank 2 to the outside. When the liquid detector 15 detects that the water has been drained from the cleaning tank 2, the drain valve 17 is closed and the series of steps is completed.

As described above, in the ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the oscillation mode by the ultrasonic oscillator 10 is changed during the ultrasonic cleaning operation. Specifically, in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the mode is changed from the single oscillation mode in the water supply step S1 or the heating step S2 to the dual oscillation mode at the transition from the ultrasonic cleaning step S3 to the FM The mode is changed to the oscillation mode. The cleaning effect can be improved by adopting the oscillation mode depending on the object to be cleaned or the process. In addition, even with a low output power, a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained by the combination method. In addition, it is possible to freely change the cleaning mode to meet the needs of the user (user).

For example, a controller (for example, a touch panel) is also connected to the controller, and the presence or absence of ultrasonic oscillation in the water supply step S1 or the heating step S2 can be set prior to the start of operation. At this time, when ultrasonic oscillation is performed, one or more of the oscillation mode, the output, and the frequency may be changed. In the ultrasonic cleaning step S3, the output or frequency for each operation mode can be set by the type of the oscillation mode in each operation mode in Fig. This makes it possible to perform optimum cleaning in accordance with the object to be cleaned.

The ultrasonic cleaner 1 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration (including the control) of the embodiment described above, and can be changed appropriately. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic oscillator (10) for operating the ultrasonic oscillator (9), an ultrasonic oscillator (9) provided in the cleaning tank (2) And control means for ultrasonically cleaning the object to be cleaned by controlling the ultrasonic oscillator 10. If the control means is ultrasonic cleaning the object to be cleaned while switching the operation mode by the ultrasonic oscillator 10, The outside configuration is suitably changeable. Further, if the ultrasonic oscillator 10 is to be stopped by the set rest time during the ultrasonic cleaning operation, the other constitutions can be appropriately changed.

For example, in the above embodiment, the shower cleaning from the cleaning nozzle 3 is also possible, but this is not essential. That is, in the above embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 3 and the circulation means 7 can be omitted in some cases. The cleaning nozzle 3 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the support member 11 in the above embodiment even if the cleaning nozzle 3 is provided on the support member 11. However, You can also install it. That is, it is sufficient to provide a jetting portion of the liquid to the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank 2, and to circulate and supply the liquid in the liquid storage portion 12 to the jetting portion by the circulation means 7. In addition, in the above embodiment, the heater 24 may be omitted in some cases.

In the above-described embodiment, the opening of the front surface (and the back surface) of the cleaning tank 2 is openable and closable by the door, but the upward opening may be openable and closable by the door. That is, the cleaning tank 2 is a hollow container which is open only upward, and the upper opening thereof may be openable and closable by a door.

Further, in the above embodiment, a blower may be further provided to dry the object to be cleaned after the ultrasonic cleaning. In this case, the wet object to be cleaned after cleaning is dried by hot air supplied to the cleaning tank 2.

In the above embodiment, the object to be cleaned is taken in and out of the net shelf in the cleaning tank 2, but the cleaning rack can be housed in the cleaning tank 2 and the object to be cleaned can be accommodated in the net shelf of the cleaning rack . In this case, the cleaning nozzles 3 (particularly, cleaning nozzles other than the uppermost and / or lowermost cleaning nozzles) provided at the upper and lower plural stages are installed in the cleaning rack. As in the above embodiment, the cleaning rack is provided at one side thereof with a plurality of upper and lower arms-shaped support members 11, and the cleaning nozzle 3 is rotatably held on each of the support members 11. In the state where the cleaning rack is accommodated in the cleaning tank 2, the liquid (or the air from the blower) from the circulation pump 22 can be supplied to the cleaning nozzle 3 of the cleaning rack, The fluid supply port to the fluid supply port 11 and the fluid discharge port of the pipe from the circulation pump 22 on the side of the cleaning tank 2 are detachably connected. Further, the cleaning rack may have a wagon shape provided with a caster at the lower end. In the above embodiment, one or both of the cleaning nozzles 3 provided at the upper and lower ends of the cleaning tank 2 may be provided on the side of the cleaning tank 2 instead of the cleaning rack.

1: ultrasonic cleaner 2: cleaning tank (2a: inclined surface)
3: cleaning nozzle (jetting part) 4: water supply means
5: drainage means 6: chemical liquid supply means
7: circulation means 8: heating means
9: Ultrasonic oscillator 10: Ultrasonic oscillator
11: support member 12: liquid reservoir
13: Water line 14: Water supply valve
15: liquid level detector 16:
17: drain valve 18: chemical tank
19: liquid level 20: chemical pump
21: Circulation piping 22: Circulation pump
23: check valve 24: heater
25: Temperature sensor

Claims (6)

An ultrasonic oscillator provided in the cleaning bath, an ultrasonic oscillator for operating the ultrasonic oscillator, and control means for ultrasonically cleaning the object to be cleaned by controlling the ultrasonic oscillator Respectively,
Wherein the controller controls ultrasonic cleaning of the object to be cleaned while switching the operation mode of the ultrasonic oscillator. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the switching of the operating mode of the ultrasonic oscillator includes switching of the oscillation mode by the ultrasonic oscillator. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the controller stops the ultrasonic oscillator for a set idle time during the ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic oscillator repeats while switching a plurality of operation modes to time. However, when the plurality of operation modes are almost terminated, or at predetermined times during switching of the respective operation modes or in a predetermined operation mode And stops the ultrasonic oscillator by the set rest time during the oscillation of the ultrasonic oscillator. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Further comprising a circulation means for circulating and supplying the liquid to the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank and the liquid below the cleaning tank,
It is possible to sequentially carry out the water supply step into the cleaning tank, the heating step of the stored liquid in the cleaning tank, the ultrasonic cleaning step of the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank, and the drainage process to the outside of the cleaning tank,
The circulation means is operated in at least the heating process during the water feed process and the heating process, and the ultrasonic vibrator is operated,
And changing an oscillation mode, frequency and an output of the ultrasonic wave in accordance with the transition from the heating step to the ultrasonic cleaning step. 6. The method of claim 5,
At least in the heating step of the water supply step and the heating step, the ultrasonic vibrator is operated by the single oscillation mode of the single frequency,
In the ultrasonic cleaning process, the ultrasonic oscillator is operated by one or both of a dual oscillation mode using two frequencies and an FM oscillation mode using frequency modulation,
Wherein the output of the single oscillation mode in the heating step is set larger than the output of the dual oscillation mode and the FM oscillation mode in the ultrasonic cleaning step.

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