US 4,635,666 AGranted

Batch cleaning apparatus

OwnerFrank E. Daley, Richard H. Wilhelminventors

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Abstract

An apparatus that cleans printed wiring assemblies. A plurality of assemblies are positioned in a rack on their respective edges so that each of them is maintained in a substantially vertical plane. A spray header member mounted for reciprocation between an uppermost and a lowermost position has a plurality of horizontally disposed support members that are positioned in staggered relation to the assemblies to be cleaned so that when the header member travels downwardly, the support members enter into the spaces between the rows of assemblies. A plurality of nozzles are formed on the support members, and direct a fan-shaped spray onto the assemblies both during the downward travel time of the spray header member and its upward travel time. The spray impinges the assemblies at a forty five degree angle. Depending upon the cycle being undergone, the nozzles discharge a caustic cleaning solution, domestic potable water, or a dionized water rinsing solution. If required, a solvent type cleaning solution may be used alone or jointly with the aqueous cleaning solution. The apparatus includes a separate hot air distribution system.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cleaning articles, such as printed wiring assemblies, in a batch fashion, comprising:

an action chamber having enclosing walls,
a spray header assembly arranged for vertical movement within said action chamber walls,
guide means for controlling the movement of said spray header assembly,
a plurality of elongated support members mounted in spaced rows on said spray header assembly,
a plurality of spray nozzles arranged in spaced relation on said support members,
a holding device for holding the articles to be cleaned, said holding device arranged to receive and hold the articles vertically in separate spaced rows, the spacing between the rows being sufficient to receive said support members in between the rows of articles to be cleaned so that said spray nozzles can move progressively along the surfaces of the articles,
spray header controlling means for advancing and retracting said spray header inside said action chamber,
said spray header including means for changing the spacing between said support members to allow the cleaning of assemblies having different widths,
apparatus cycling means for operating said apparatus in a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, a deionizing cycle, and a drying cycle,
a purging means for purging the spray header between cycles to substantially eliminate cross-contamination between the wash, rinse and de-ionizing cycles,
an air distribution header positioned in closely spaced relation to said spray header,
a plurality of elongated support members mounted in spaced rows on said air distribution header,
and said support members having a plurality of slots formed therein so that air can be blown therethrough to impinge upon and dry said articles.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/725,989Filed 22 Apr 1985
Granted: 13 Jan 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H05K 3/26
Secondary treatment of printed circuits: cleaning or polishing of the conductive pattern
H05K 2203/075
Methods for applying liquids, e.g. spraying: global treatment of printed circuits by fluid spraying, e.g. cleaning a conductive pattern using nozzles
H05K 2203/0786
Characterised by the specific liquids involved: using an aqueous solution, e.g. for cleaning or during drilling of holes
H05K 2203/0793
Using an aqueous solution, e.g. for cleaning or during drilling of holes: aqueous alkaline solution, e.g. for cleaning or etching