Apparatus and method for removing sludge from filter for use in electric discharge machine

A method for removing sludge attached on a surface of a generally cylindrical filter element, said filter element being adapted to remove sludge from a process solution flowing from an inner periphery surface to an outer periphery surface and/or said outer periphery surface to said inner periphery surface of said filter element, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a filter element support device for holding said filter rotatively with the central axis thereof inclined by a predetermined angle to the horizontal direction, said filter element support device including cams for providing rotational driving force and successive impactive force to said filter element;
• providing a motor imparting rotational driving force to said cams;
• providing sludge storage for receiving said sludge falling from said filter element;
• drying said sludge remaining on said filter element;
• and
• dropping said dried sludge from said filter element into said sludge storage by applying successive impactive force to said filter element.

A method for removing sludge attached on a surface of a generally cylindrical filter element, said filter element being adapted to remove sludge from a process solution flowing from an inner periphery surface to an outer periphery surface and/or said outer periphery surface to said inner periphery surface of said filter element, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a filter element support device for holding said filter rotatively with the central axis thereof inclined by a predetermined angle to the horizontal direction, said filter element support device including cams for providing rotational driving force and successive impactive force to said filter element;
• providing a motor for providing rotational driving force to said cams;
• and
• providing sludge storage for receiving said sludge falling from said filter element, said apparatus further comprising a mechanism for inverting an inclined direction of said filter element by rotating said filter element support device with an axis perpendicular to said central axis of said filter element;
• drying said sludge remaining on said filter element;
• dropping said dried sludge from said filter element by applying vibrations to said filter;
• and
• rotating said filter element about said perpendicular axis on a predetermined cycle.

A method for removing sludge attached on a surface of a generally cylindrical filter element, said filter element being adapted to remove sludge from a process solution flowing from an inner periphery surface to an outer periphery surface and/or said outer periphery surface to said inner periphery surface of said filter element, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing:
• i) a front plate arranged at a front edge side of said filter element;
• ii) a back plate arranged at a rear edge side of said filter element;
• iii) a drive shaft disposed rotatively between said front and back plates;
• iv) a plurality of cams mounted on front and rear edge portions of said drive shaft, said cams contacting with front and rear edge portions of an outer periphery of said filter with a certain frictional force;
• v) a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting rotational force of said motor to said drive shaft;
• vi) a pair of auxiliary shafts arranged on both sides of said drive shaft between said front and back plates;
• vii) a plurality of rollers mounted on front and rear edge portions of said auxiliary shafts for supporting rotatively said front and rear edge portions of said outer periphery of said filter;
• viii) a bearing arranged on a plane of said back plate opposing to said rear edge portion of said filter for holding a rear edge surface of said cylindrical filter rotatively and up/down movably;
• and
• ix) a plurality of legs for supporting said front and back plates and said drive and auxiliary shafts inclined by a predetermined angle to the horizontal direction;
• b) drying said sludge remained on said filter element;
• and
• c) dropping said dried sludge from said filter element by applying vibrations to said filter.