# US 10,441,980 B2 · Nozzle cleaning device and nozzle drying method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,980 B2 - Document ID: US10441980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/304,739 - Filed: 2014-04-22 - Published: 2017-02-09 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-22 - Assignees: Fuji Corporation - Applicants: Fuji Corporation - Inventors: Kazumi Hoshikawa; Kenji Shimosaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441980B2 ## CPC - B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays - B01D 35/02: Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) - B08B 3/14: Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid - C02F 1/00: Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage (C02F3/00 - C02F9/00 take precedence) - H05K 13/04: Mounting of components {, e.g. of leadless components} - H05K 13/0409: {Sucking devices} - H10P 52/00: Grinding, lapping or polishing of wafers, substrates or parts of devices - B01D 2201/00: Details relating to filtering apparatus - C02F 2303/24: Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A nozzle cleaning device for cleaning suction nozzle 62, wherein the jetting direction of water jetted towards the tip section of the suction nozzle is changed by a tapered second internal surface 374 of socket 370. Accordingly, for example, not only is it possible to appropriately remove items adhering to the lower surface of the tip of the suction nozzle, it is possible to remove items adhering to the side surfaces of the tip of the suction nozzle by applying water. The suction nozzle is cleaned while being supported by nozzle pallet 152; after the suction nozzle is cleaned, the suction nozzle is held by a holding tool and removed from the nozzle pallet. Accordingly, the suction nozzle removed from the nozzle pallet is individually dried by the nozzle drying device. Thus, it is possible to appropriately dry the suction nozzle after cleaning. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle cleaning device comprising: a nozzle support tool that fixedly supports suction nozzles along a two-dimensional plane in a cleaning box such that a tip of each of the suction nozzles is exposed; a water jetting apparatus that jets water at the tips of the suction nozzles supported by the nozzle support tool so as to clean the suction nozzles; and a jetting direction changing mechanism that changes a jetting relative direction of the water jetted from the water jetting apparatus to the nozzle support tool along the two-dimensional plane, wherein the tips of the suction nozzles face toward the water jetting apparatus, wherein the nozzle support tool includes a base plate, and a cover plate which is slidably provided on the base plate, and wherein the jetting direction changing mechanism is fixed to a lower surface of the base plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the jetting directing changing mechanism includes a through-hole, in which an internal surface of the through-hole includes a first internal surface which is constant in a vertical direction and which is positioned at a lower side of the internal surface of the through-hole, and a second internal surface which is tapered such that an internal diameter is smaller at a top end of the second internal surface than at a bottom end of the second internal surface, and the jetting direction changing mechanism changes the jetting relative direction of the water jetted from the water jetting apparatus by the water jetted from the water jetting apparatus contacting the second internal surface of the through-hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the jetting direction changing mechanism is a tube arranged so as to surround the surface of the suction nozzle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the jetting direction changing mechanism includes a drainage path formed at a location adjacent to a portion of the suction nozzles not extending beyond the tips of the suction nozzles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the water jetting apparatus jets a curtain of water, and the nozzle cleaning device further comprises a water jetting apparatus moving device that moves the water jetting apparatus in a direction perpendicular to an axis line of the suction nozzles supported by the nozzle support tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom section of the cleaning box functions as a water storage tank for storing water jetted from the water jetting apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 6, further comprising: a water drainage path that extends down and towards an opening at a lower section of the water storage tank, a filter device provided on the water drainage path that removes impurities from water flowing through the water drainage path, and an expulsion pump that expels water from which impurities have been removed by the filter device towards the water jetting apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 6, further comprising: an air jetting apparatus that jets air to the suction nozzle cleaned by the nozzle cleaning device, and a separating plate provided between the bottom section of the cleaning box that functions as the water storage tank and the nozzle support tool.