WO2014051414A1

WO2014051414A1 - Circular disk cleaning arrangement for washing disks and a method of cleaning said disks thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2014051414A1
Application number: PCT/MY2013/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaifulbahari MAHMUD; Mohammad Shuhir Amri ZAHARI
Original assignee: Kobe Precision Technology Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-01-31
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Also published as: AU2013257497A1; AU2013257497B2; MY166140A

Abstract

A circular disk cleaning arrangement for washing aluminium substrate disks having a central mount adapted to rotatably support a disk for cleaning, a pair of opposing cleaning brushes adapted to -engage the respective sides of the disk; said cleaning brushes each supported on an assembly including a main support shaft for the brush wherein the support shaft includes at least three definable positions, a first position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is in a retracted position, a second position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is extended to a predetermined position in close proximity but without engaging the sides of a disk mounted upon the central mount and a third position characterised in being incrementally transitional across the defined gap.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: CIRCULAR DISK CLEANING ARRANGEMENT fOR WASHING DJSKS AND A METHOD OF CLEANING SAID DISKS THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inyeniion-ielates to the cleaning of aluminium circuter ¾¾ks^{^}subsequent io grinding and more particularly for a cleaning and scrubbing arrangement to ensure cleanness across the disk surface regardless of the state of cleaning brushes used during the process.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION Aluminium substrate disks undergo a grinding process in the preparation of their required application.

When the grinding process is completed upon the disks there is the requirement io make sure that the surface of the overall disk is completely clean which requires a suitable clamping of cleaning brushes about the disk which will allow the disk to rotate once the cleaning brushes are put into rotation.

In the past in order to complete the cleaning task an arrangement included two cleaning brushes which would be brought together in a clamping type arrangement on the respective sides of the disks. If cleaning was to be adequate across the disk surface when the brushes commenced the circular scrubbing action there also was the requirement for disk rotation to simultaneously be taking place.

During the washing process the thickness of the cleaning brushes which were involved in the scrubbing of the disks during cleaning can begin to wear and this gap may then result in less pressure being applied by the cleaning brushes up against the sides of the disks which once again leads to the problem of the disks no longer rotating and more importantly the actual surface of the brushes not engaging the side of the disks appropriately to comptete adequate scrubbing during the cleaning process.

Present -cleaning arrangements rely upon a mechanical stopper mechanism whereby the shaft responsible for placing the cleaning brushes up against the respective sides of the disk, normally under pneumatic pressure, aFe designed with two acknowledged positions.

The first being the retracted position wherein the cleaning brushes are withdrawn away from the disk that would be rotatably supported as part of the arrangement so that individual disks can be placed on the relevant rotatable support for cleaning and then removed subsequently thereafter without being interfered with by the cleaning brush arrangement.

Once the disk to be cleaned is placed upon the rotatable support the two opposing cleaning brushes can be brought together in a clamping arrangement by moving to an extended second position. This second extended position is simply determined by the use of a one step clamping action or a mechanical stopper which will decide where the extended movement of the clamping together of the cleaning brushes will terminate.

This is all generally achieved at a consistent standard fixed pressure.

The problem with such an arrangement is that as the clamping mechanism is only a single step whereby the cleaning brushes are brought into what is intended to be appropriate engagement with the respective sides of the disk to allow cleaning to take place by one movement from its retracted to its extended position means that any changes during the continuous cleaning process cannot be automatically adjusted. Therefore in a sense the one step clamping action cannot in real time adjust itself to any changing in conditions of the cleaning environment in which the disks are being washed.

Throughout the cleaning process as would be expected as the cleaning brushes are involved in scrubbing there will be the wear and tear resulting in a reduced thickness of the brushes which then will provide a gap between the cleaning brushes and the sides of the disks which means this inadequate engagement not only reduces the degree of scrubbing applied by the cleaning brushes but also as the gap is increased between the cleaning brushes and the disk this reduction in the pressure applied by the cleaning brushes to the disk may also result in the disk no longer rotating.

Accordingly there needs to be a mechanism in place that can not only automatically adjust the cleaning brushes to be appropriately positionable about the disk at the start of the cleaning process but also continuously throughout the cleaning -cycle as further disks are automatically removed and then placed between the cleaning brushes for cleaning wherein such cleaning arrangement can also automatically take into account the wear and -tear on the cleaning brushes so that any reduction in the thickness of the cleaning brushes during the cycle of washing can be in real time instantaneously compensated for such that the cleaning brushes remain in the appropriate position to maintain adequate enough pressure upon the disk to make sure that it is rotating but also not too much pressure so as to almost clamp the disk in place thereby stopping rotation of the disk.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to make available a circular disk cleaning arrangement that is able to self adjust during the cleaning process of the surfaces of aluminium substrate disks continuously taking into account wear and tear on the surface and thickness of the cleaning brushes responsible for the scrubbing of the disks during the washing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly in one form of the invention there is provided a circular disk cleaning arrangement for washing aluminium substrate disks, said arrangement including; a central mount adapted to rotatably support a disk for cleaning; a pair of opposing cleaning brushes adapted to engage the respective sides of the disk; said cleaning brushes each supported on an assembly including a main support shaft for the brush wherein the support shaft includes at least three definable positions; a first position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is in a retracted position away from the central mount adapted for rotatably supporting a disk for cleaning such that a disk to be cleaned or to be removed once cleaned from the arrangement may be completed without engagement with the pair of cleaning brushes; a second position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is extended to a predetermined position in close proximity but without engaging the sides of a disk mounted upon the central mount ready for cleaning such that a gap is established between the selected extended position of the cleaning brushes support shaft and between each of the respective sides of the disk to be cleaned; a third position characterised in being incrementally transitional across the defined gap established between the second position and each of the respective sides of the disk to be cleaned wherein an incremental extension of the cleaning brush support shaft is determined by a sensed pressure difference recognised between a brush holder header and each side of the disk being cleaned.

In preference the cleaning brush support shaft is extended into the second position by a selected regulated pressure.

An advantage of such an arrangement in that in the cleaning operation of the disk rather than simply clamping together the pair of cleaning brushes through a mechanical stopper action, whereby no initial consideration is established as to whether or not the disk to be cleaned is rotating, and/or a change in the status of the thickness of the cleaning brushes due to wear and tear throughout the washing process, means that in this arrangement the actual positioning of the cleaning brushes about the disk is completed through a self-adjusting process.

The two step arrangement firstly allows the -cleaning brushes to be brought within close proximity of the disk to be cleaned then through pressure regulation which is sensed by the rotation sensor it can be recognised whether or not the actual brushes are applying enough pressure to the respective sides of the disk so scrubbing can take place.

In preference the arrangement further includes a disk rotation sensor. In preference the disk rotation sensor is in communication with a pressure regulator adapted to apply pressure to the cleaning brush support shaft such that when the disk rotation sensor senses there is no rotation of the disk that information is sent to the pressure regulator so as to apply pressure to the cleaning brushes support shaft when in the third position so as to incrementally increase the extension such that the established gap so that the brushes continually make contact with the respective sides of the disk to maintain rotation during the washing and cleaning process.

Unlike the traditional circular disk cleaning arrangements wherein the positioning of the cleaning brushes about the disk is simply determined through a mechanical assembly through the use of a mechanical stopper and the clamping pressure is fixed and established with a one step clamp, advantageously with the arrangement provided for in this invention for cleaning the disks the cleaning brushes and their appropriate positioning about the respective sides of the disk will have an inherent self-adjustability by virtue of a two step clamping mechanism wherein cylinder pressure is regulated according to a feedback once the cleaning brush support shaft has been extracted out to the third position.

In preference each cleaning brush support shaft is retracted and extended between the first, second and third positions by being in communication with a pneumatic drive. In preference the pneumatic drive includes a first piston driveable cylinder and a second piston driveable cylinder.

In preference the second piston driveable cylinder is characterised in the extension of the piston rod in the cylinder results in the respective -cleaning brushes support shafts attached to each of the cleaning brushes which will engage the respective sides of the disks is responsible for moving the cleaning brush support shaft from the first position to the second position.

In preference the first piston driveable cylinder is responsible for providing transitional incremental extensions regulated from the feedback determined from the disk rotation sensor.

In preference the cleaning brushes are substantially circular in configuration and of a comparable dimension to the disks being cleaned.

In preference the cleaning brushes include a central hollow chamber wherein the central hollow chamber is adapted to mount over the central mount adapted for rotatably supporting the disks during cleaning.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that the cleaning brushes supported by the brush holders mounted to the extendible and retractable support shaft are able to comfortably come together in the general clamp configuration required so as to encapsulate the disk for cleaning. Nonetheless by the virtue of this invention this clamping arrangement through the two step clamping process is very much self adjusting such that the cleaning brushes will engage the disk allowing it to rotate but not the extent that a gap is created between the cleaning brushes and the disk thereby either causing rotation to stop or mean that the surface of the disk is not being properly scrubbed as the brush thickness has been reduced, for example by way of wear and tear, and adequate cleaning is not taking place.

Through the use of the first piston driveable cylinder means that once the third position of the support shaft has been reached there is the ability then for an incremental extension so that pressure can be regulated to the piston rod of the cylinder incrementally bringing the cleaning brushes in further contact with the disk to be cleaned such that there is still continued rotation of the disk, which is being sensed by the disk rotation sensor, but at the same time -damping of the cleaning brushes on the respective sides of the disk is not so dramatic as to stop the rotation, which is prevented as the pressure regulator is programmed to effect the appropriate pressure adjustment to bring the cleaning brushes in that appropriate contact engagement so that scrubbing is applied at a constant pressure during the washing process regardless of the wear rate of the surface brush thickness during cleaning. In preference the arrangement includes a programmable logic controller.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that depending on the disks to be cleaned and the brushes used and the requisite thickness in order to maintain adequate scrubbing at the constant pressure throughout a continuous cleaning process, means that alternative inputs and selections can be established so that pressure increases can be gradual or incremental as required.

As there is no stopper it will be the applied pressure to the cylinder wherein the piston rod will be extended which will decide upon the finishing stroke movement of the support shaft for example between the first position where it is in a retracted configuration to the second position before incremental increases can be provided as the support shaft for the cleaning brushes remains withinside the third position which is characterised in being transitional across the gap established once the support shaft has been extended out into the second position from the retracted position.

In preference brush holder studs are mounted on the brush holder header to engage the cleaning brushes.

In preference the arrangement includes a rear surface of the disk brush assembly and a front surface of the disk brush assembly. In preference the first piston driveable cylinder and the second piston driveable cylinder for each of the respective rear and front surfaces of the disk are of the same construction.

In preference the first and second piston driveable -cylinders of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly are arranged such that the piston rods move in the same direction towards the rear surface of the disk during the clamping steps.

In preference the first and second piston rods of the first and second cylinders for the front surface of the disk brush assembly move in the opposing direction to the piston rods of the first and second cylinders of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that the overall assembly of the cleaning arrangement is easy to construct.

The components used being made up of the driveable pistons within the respective cylinders can be of the same configuration but simply repositioned such that their extended and retracted positions provide for an alternative movement against the corresponding shaft such that the two brush holders are brought together in a clamping arrangement about the disk so that the brushes supported on the brush holder can be comfortably configured about the disk to be cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a preferred embodiment will be illustrated with the assistance of the following figures and accompanying text.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a side and part cross-sectional view showing the general components that make up the cleaning arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic representations of a side and part cross- sectional view showing the general components that make up the cleaning arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention for the retracted position, second position and third position.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a side and part cross-sectional view showing the general components that make up the cleaning arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the clamping position for brush wear.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a side and part cross-sectional view showing the general components that make up the cleaning arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the clamping position for disk rotation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings now in greater detail wherein a circular disk cleaning arrangement for washing aluminum substrate disks is generally shown as (10) in Figure 1. The arrangement includes what could be considered a rear surface of the disk brush assembly generally shown as (14) and a front surface of the disk brush assembly generally shown as (16) wherein the rear (14) and front (16) assemblies have main rotatable support shafts (18) and (20).

The main rotatable support shafts (18) and (20) provide support for respective brush holders (30) (32) to which therein brush holder studs (40) (41) are able to secure the cleaning brushes (36) and (38).

Cylinder 1 referred to as (23) in the illustrations and cylinder 2 referred to as (21) in the illustrations of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly (14) enclose the respective piston rods (22) and (24) which are then able to engage plate (19) which is in communication with the main rotatable shaft (18) in order to place the rear surface disk brush assembly (14) in either the retracted or extended positions details of which will be discussed shortly. In the -case of the front surface of the disk brush assembly (16) the main support shaft (20) is extendible and retractable through cylinder-2 shown as (27) and cylinder 1 shown as (25) by virtue of the enclosed pistons (26) and 28) which engage plate <17) and to which support block (15) holds the brush holder (32) to which the brush holder stud (40) is able to engage the cleaning brushes (36).

Firstly from a general operation it is the rear surface of the disk brush assembly (14) which moves in a general forward direction when extended so that the cleaning brushes (38) are able to engage the rear surface (9) of the disk (12) and conversely the front surface of the disk brush assembly (16) moves in the opposing direction so that the cleaning brushes (36) are able to scrub and wash the front surface (11) of the disk (12).

As could be seen the first and second cylinders (23) (21) of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly (14) and the cylinder 1 and cylinder 2 that being {25) and (27) of the front surface of the disk brush assembly (16) are for the most part the same componentry however they have simply been orientated such as to allow the clamping arrangement to bring both cleaning brushes (36) and (38) together.

Referring to Figure 2a wherein the arrangement is in its original undamped or retracted position. Cylinder 2 (21) is at the origin position SO referred to as (40) in the illustrations wherein cylinder 1 (23) is at the original S2 position referred to as (42) in the illustrations.

For the most part cylinder 2 (21) functions extend the rear surface of the disk brush assembly (14) first extension of clamping position and wherein cylinder 1 (23) and its enclosed piston rod (24) provides the general functionality of the incremental increases during the transitional position of the clamping arrangement in a two step process of bringing the cleaning brushes (38) and (36) in an appropriate encapsulating position about the disk (12) so that not only is there disk rotation but also in the event that the cleaning brushes (36) and (38) undergo wear and tear and thereby could lose disengagement with the disk (12) causing the disk to stop rotation due to the disk rotation sensor (82) and the electro-pneumatic regulator (76) to be discussed in relation to Figure 4, there can then be incremental transitional movement of both the rear surface of the disk brush assembly (14) and the front surface of the disk brush assembly (16) so that continual scrubbing contact is available to both sides of the disk (12) as required and to also keep the disk (12) rotating.

As best seen in Figure 2b wherein the rear surface assembly (14) and the front surface of the disk brush assembly (16) moved to the first clamping position by the respective cylinders 2 (21) and (27) and their enclosed piston rods <22) and (28) move the front and rear brush assemblies (14) and (16) to the intermediate -clamping position referred to precedingly as the second position.

As best seen in Figure 2b each of the cylinder 2 (21) and (27) move from position "SO to S1 shown respectively in the drawings as (40) and (41) and the pushing cylinders 1 that being (23) and 25) in the drawings through pistons (24) and (26) move from position S2 to S3 shown in the illustrations as (42) and (43).

Figure 2C shows the further clamping step wherein the respective cylinder 1 (23) of the rear surface brush assembly (14) and the cylinder 1 shown as (25) in the front surface brush assembly (16) and their respective pistons (24) and (26) function as a clamping mechanism to ensure a zero gap between the front (11) and rear (9) surfaces of the disk (12) and the corresponding cleaning brushes (36) and (38).

Constant pressure being applied to each of cylinder 1 (23) and (25) result in the movement from S3 to S4 shown in illustrations as (43) and (44).

Figure 3 shows the clamping arrangement pictorially when there is brush wear taking place and the action that is taking place shown in this case in relation to the rear surface brush assembly (14) however such adjustment is also available as required in the front surface brush assembly (16) however for description purposes, comment is made here in respect to the rear surface brush assembly (14) where it can be noted that the piston head (24) of cylinder 1 (23) will be at position S4 referred to as (44) in the illustrations and if there is any wear and tear on the brushes {38) which would provide a gap between the tip of the cleaning brush {38) and the rear surface (9) of the disk (12) there will then be an incremental - 'movement of the piston (,24) in cylinder 1 *(23) to position S4 + shown in the illustrations as {44 A). Once the gap has been removed constant pressure is then again applied to cylinder 1 {23) to maintain appropriate scrubbing of the cleaning brushes (38) against the rear sui ace-{9) of the disk (12).

The same scenario would exist in relation to the front surface brush assembly (16) where any gap between the tip of the cleaning brushes {36) and the front surface (1 1 ) of the disk (12) will see an incremental increase provided by cylinder 1 {25) and its associated piston rod {26).

Figure 4 introduces the aspect of the programmable logic controller (80) so that the system can be programmed to effect pressure which not only needs to be originally applied to cylinders 2 (27) and (21 ) but also incremental pressure requirements and regulations for the respective cylinder 1 's (25) and (23). Disk rotation sensor (82) will be monitoring whether or not disk (12) rotation is taking place and this is generally shown by way of arrow (85) indicating a degree of rotation. Arrows (87) and (89) show the rotational direction imparted on the respective cleaning brushes (36) and (38). Nonetheless the gap spacing indicated by the Delta symbol pointed to by arrows (84) and (86) if it develops as introduced above cylinder 1 pressure will increase gradually which can be controlled by the programmable PLC (80) signal from the sensor which will affect pressure adjustment by the electro- pneumatic regulator (76) which is working in communication with the pneumatic line (78). Hence disk rotation also requires a degree of contact between the cleaning brushes (38) and (36) and if the pressure placed upon the cleaning brushes (38) and (36) does not instigate rotation of the disks ( 2) therefore in order to rotate the disk (12) cylinder 1 (23) and (25) pressure will increase gradually wherein the pressure increases for each of cylinder 1 (23) and (25) and its associated piston rod (24) and (26) will move from the position S4 to position S4+A brush referred to as (44B) in the illustrations.

Claims

1. A circular disk cleaning arrangement for washing aluminium substrate disks, said arrangement including; a-central mount adapted to rotatably support a disk for cleaning; a pair of opposing cleaning brushes adapted to engage the respective sides of the disk; said cleaning brushes each supported on an assembly including a main support shaft for the brush wherein the support shaft includes at least three definable positions; a first position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is in a retracted position away from the central mount adapted for rotatably supporting a disk for cleaning such that a disk to be cleaned or to be removed once cleaned from the arrangement may be completed without engagement with the pair of cleaning brushes; a second position wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is extended to a predetermined position in close proximity but without engaging the sides of a disk mounted upon the central mount ready for cleaning such that a gap is established between the selected extended position of the cleaning brushes support shaft and between each of the respective sides of the disk to be cleaned; a third position characterised in being incrementally transitional across the defined gap established between the second position and each of the respective sides of the disk to be cleaned wherein an incremental extension of the cleaning brush support shaft is determined by a sensed pressure difference recognised between a brush holder header and each side of the disk being cleaned.

2. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning brush support shaft is extended into the-second position by a selected regulated pressure.

3. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in -claim 2 further including a disk rotation sensor.

4. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 3 wherein the disk rotation -sensor is in communication with a p essure regulator adapted to apply pressure to the cleaning brush support shaft such that when the disk rotation sensor senses there is no rotation of the disk that information is sent to the pressure regulator so as to apply pressure to the cleaning brushes support shaft when in the third position so as to incrementally increase the extension such that the established gap so that the brushes continually make contact with the respective sides of the disk to maintain rotation during the washing and cleaning process.

5. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 1 wherein each cleaning brush support shaft is retracted and extended between the first, second and third positions by being in communication with a pneumatic drive.

6. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 5 wherein the pneumatic drive includes a first piston driveable cylinder and a second piston driveable cylinder.

7. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 6 the second piston driveable cylinder is characterised in the extension of the piston rod in the cylinder results in the respective cleaning brushes support shafts attached to each of the cleaning brushes which will engage the respective sides of the disks is responsible, for moving the cleaning brush support shaft from the first position to the second position.

8. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 7 the first piston driveable cylinder is responsible for providing transitional incremental extensions regulated from the feedback determined from the disk rotation sensor.

9. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the arrangement includes a programmable logic controller.

10. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 1 wherein brush holder studs are mounted on the brush holder header to engage the cleaning brushes.

11. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 1 having a rear surface of the disk brush assembly and a front surface of the disk brush assembly.

12. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 13 wherein the first piston driveable cylinder and the second piston driveable cylinder for each of the respective rear and front surfaces of the disk are of the same construction.

13. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 14 wherein the first and second piston driveable cylinders of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly are arranged such that the piston rods move in the same direction towards the rear surface of the disk during the clamping steps.

14. The circular disk cleaning arrangement as in claim 15 wherein the first and second piston rods of the first and second cylinders for the front surface of the disk brush assembly move in the opposing direction to the piston rods of the first and second cylinders of the rear surface of the disk brush assembly.