U.S. patent number 3,769,992 [Application Number 05/204,910] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-06 for spray processing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fluoroware, Inc.. Invention is credited to Victor C. Wallestad.
United States Patent |
3,769,992 |
Wallestad |
November 6, 1973 |
SPRAY PROCESSING MACHINE
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for washing, etching or otherwise
spray processing various substrates or photographic plates, and for
spin drying the objects at the termination of the processing. The
objects to be cleaned or otherwise processed are carried by a
rotatable platform mounted above an elevated bottom portion of a
treatment chamber. Nozzles for directing various liquids onto the
articles are mounted on conduits for movement from a position
proximate the chamber walls to a position extending inwardly over
the rotatable platform. The lengths of the conduits carrying the
nozzles are alternately varied in order to facilitate storage of
the nozzles most proximate the cylinder wall. When the nozzles are
retracted against the cylindrical wall they are located over a
ledge provided in the walls.
Inventors: |
Wallestad; Victor C.
(Minneapolis, MN) |
Assignee: |
Fluoroware, Inc. (Chaska,
MN)
|
Family
ID: |
22759989 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/204,910 |
Filed: |
December 6, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/144; 134/153;
134/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C23F
1/08 (20130101); G03D 5/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C23F
1/08 (20060101); G03D 5/00 (20060101); G03D
5/04 (20060101); B08b 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;134/138,141,144,153,172,180,181,140,148,173,174 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bleutge; Robert L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for wetting and spin drying various articles,
comprising:
a. a housing defining a chamber, said chamber having a
substantially closed lower end, side walls, and an upper end
defining an opening therein;
b. a rotatable platform mounted within said chamber above said
lower end for carrying articles inserted into said chamber through
said opening in said upper end;
c. nozzle means attachable to a remotely positioned liquid source
for spraying the articles carried by said rotatable platform;
d. means mounting said nozzle means within said chamber for
movement to a first position extending inwardly over said rotatable
platform for the spraying of said articles and for movement to a
second position proximate one of said chamber walls;
e. drain means in liquid communication with said chamber adjacent
said lower end thereof for exhausting the liquid introduced into
said chamber; and
f. cover means for substantially closing said opening in said upper
end of said chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said nozzle
means includes a liquid carrying conduit having a first portion
extending vertically upward into said chamber and a second portion
extending perpendicularly to said first portion and mounting said
nozzle in a downward direction at an end thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 including means for rotating said first
portion of said conduit about a longitudinal axis thereof, thus
effecting the movement of said nozzle means to said first and
second positions.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
a. said apparatus includes a double-action air cylinder attachable
to said housing and containing a piston having attached thereto a
rod; and
b. means attaching said rod to said first portion of said conduit
for rotation of said first portion of said conduit when said piston
is moved by air within said cylinder.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
a. said substantially closed lower end of said chamber includes an
elevated portion extending vertically upwardly from generally the
central part of said lower end; and
b. said rotatable platform is mounted above said elevated
portion.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
a. said chamber walls generally define a cylindrical lower portion
having a first diameter and a cylindrical upper portion having a
second diameter greater than said first diameter, said cylinder
portions defining a horizontally extending ledge therebetween;
b. said first portion of said conduit extends vertically through
said ledge; and
c. said nozzle is located proximate said cylindrical upper portion
wall and over said ledge, when said nozzle is in said second
position.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a plurality of nozzle means
each attached to a conduit wherein, for alternate conduits, the
part of said vertically extending portion of said conduit which
extends above said ledge is of a sufficient length, facilitating
movement of said nozzles proximate said cylinder upper portion when
said nozzle is in said second position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to appratus for treating various
types of articles with a liquid and for drying them after the
wetting operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For numerous industrial purposes, it is common practice to subject
various types of articles (e.g., substrates, photographic plates,
etc.) to a spray of liquid for cleaning, etching or otherwise
treating the articles. During the treating operation, the articles
are normally carried by a rotatable supporting rack positioned
within a liquid-tight treatment chamber. The supporting racks are
preferably of an open design for fully exposing the articles to the
liquid spray provided by one or more nozzles located within the
treatment chamber. After the termination of the liquid spray, the
articles are spun dry on the rotating support rack.
The article treatment apparatus presently available has a
disadvantage in that the rotating support rack establishes air
currents within the treatment chamber drawing air toward the center
of the rack. Such air currents interfere with the desired operation
of the spray-forming nozzles by drawing liquid therefrom after the
termination of the spraying operation. This effect prolongs the
spraying phase of operation resulting in incomplete drying of the
articles during the time alloted for the spin dry operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides apparatus for treating various
articles with a liquid spray and for spin drying the same articles.
The apparatus includes a treatment chamber having a rotatable
article supporting rack mounted therein and at least one
spray-forming nozzle located within the treatment chamber. In the
preferred embodiment, a plurality of similar, circumferentially
spaced nozzles are provided on conduits which are moveable from a
position proximate the cylinder walls to a position extending
inwardly over the rotatable article supporting rack. When the
nozzles are located proximate the cylinder walls they overlap each
other and are over a ledge provided in the cylinder walls.
The present apparatus substantially overcomes the disadvantage of
the commercially available spin dryer apparatus. By mounting the
spray-forming nozzles such that they may be located over the
article supporting rack for spraying and may be recessed proximate
the cylinder walls during the drying operation, the effect of the
air currents created by the rotating support rack on the nozzle is
substantially reduced. Thus, no further wetting of the articles
occurs after the termination of the spraying process. Also the
addition of a ledge located under the nozzles when they are in
their recessed position further blocks the nozzles from the effects
of air currents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for treating various
articles with a liquid spray and drying same;
FIG. 2 is a view in top plan of the treatment chamber with the lid
open;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 with the
lid down;
FIG. 4 is view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1 the numeral 10 generally designates apparatus for
processing various types of articles (e. g., substrates, printed
circuit boards, photographic plates, etc.) by wetting the article
with a liquid spray and then spin drying the article after the
spraying operation. As explained subsequently, various liquid
sprays can be utilized in either a concurrent or sequential manner
depending upon the mode of operation desired. Apparatus 10 includes
treatment chamber apparatus 12, an electric motor 14, and a control
panel 16. The electric motor 14 is connected to treatment chamber
apparatus 12 by a flexible drive shaft 18. Liquid conduits 20 are
connected to apparatus 12 from control panel 16 which receives the
liquid from a separate liquid source (not shown). Air conduits 22
are connected to apparatus 12 from control panel 16 which receives
its air supply from a separate air source (not shown). As shown,
control panel 16 is electrically connected to motor 14 by an
electrical conduit 24. A plurality of buttons 26 and dials 28 on
control panel 16 allow selection of various wetting and spin drying
modes within the treatment apparatus 12.
Frequently, the liquids used during the wetting operation are
flammable. For example, flammable solvents are used for cleaning
purposes. The potentiality of an electrical spark igniting such
liquids (or the fumes therefrom) is significantly reduced by
positioning the electrically energized motor 14 remote from the
treatment chamber 12 as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now additionally to FIG. 2 the treatment apparatus 12 is
shown in top plan with its lid 30 open. Lid 30 is hinged to
treatment chamber top portion 32 by conventional hinge mechanism
34. A latch 36 is provided opposite the hinges 34 for the opening
of lid 30. A button switch 38 is provided under lid 30 for
detecting the closing of lid 30.
Referring now additionally to FIG. 3, apparatus 12 includes an
outer housing or casing 40 having a closed bottom portion 42. An
inner housing 44 defining a generally cylindrical-shaped treatment
chamber 46 is mounted within outer housing 40. This cylindrically
shaped chamber 46 is frequently referred to as a spin dryer bowl.
As shown, interior housing 44 includes a lower cylindrical portion
48 having a first diameter and an upper portion 50 having a
diameter greater than the diameter of the lower portion 49. As
shown, inner housing 44 includes the horizontally extending
treatment chamber top portion 32 which defines a top or cover for
outer housing 40. Top portion 32 projects outwardly beyond the
vertical walls of casing 40 and is inclined vertically downward to
define a portion 52 outwardly spaced from housing 40. An insulating
member 54 is attached to the vertically extending outer housing 40
and engages the vertically extending portion 52 of top portion 32.
A circular opening 56 is defined by the innermost edge of the top
portion 32. Opening 56 communicates with treatment chamber 46 and
lid 30 is provided to substantially close opening 56.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ledge 58 extends horizontally between
cylinder bottom portion 48 and cylinder top portion 50. Extending
vertically upward through ledge 58 and through rubber grommets 60
are liquid carrying conduits 62.
Conduits 62 have a vertically extending portion 64, and
perpendicularly thereto, a horizontally extending portion 66.
Located on the end of conduit portion 66 and directed downwardly
are fluid nozzles 68. For alternate conduits, the part of the
vertically extending portion 64 which is above the ledge 58 is of
varying lengths which facilitates the placement of the nozzles as
close as possible to the cylinder upper portion 50.
Nozzles 68 are conventional nozzles and are connected through
conduits 62 to the liquid conduits 20. Upon proper activation
within the control panel 16 each nozzle introduces a generally
conically shaped spray of liquid onto the treatment chamber 46.
Depending upon the desired mode of operation for the treatment
apparatus 12, the liquid exhausted by each of the nozzles 68 can be
either different liquids or the same liquids. When different
liquids are utilized, the nozzles provide sprays either
simultaneously or sequentially dependent upon the mode of operation
desired.
The bottom portion of inner housing 44 integrally defines an
elevated center member or post 70 and a channel 72 which extends
about post 70 and has located therein a drain 74. Post 70 has a
hole 71 located at its center. A conduit (not shown) communicates
with drain 74 so as to carry the liquids discharged from chamber 46
to a remote disposal point.
A drive shaft 76 extends vertically upward through an opening 78 in
the bottom portion 42 of outer housing 40 into conventional
journalling means 80, rigidly attached to the center post 70, and
through the opening 71. As shown, a flat, disk-like platform 82 is
mounted on shaft 76 above center post 70. Portions 84 extend above
platform 82 so as to receive an article carrying basket (not
shown). The shaft 76 includes coupling means 86 for attaching rigid
shaft 76 to the flexible shaft 18.
Referring now additionally to FIG. 4 which is a view along line
4--4 of FIG. 1, there is shown generally the apparatus used to
supply liquid to the conduits 62 and the apparatus used to rotate
the vertically extending portion 64 of conduit 62 about its
longitudinal axis so as to rotate nozzles 68 from a position
proximate the upper cylindrical portion 50 to a position extending
inwardly over the platform 82. Liquid conduit 20 is shown
attachable to a fitting 88 for supplying liquid to conduit 62 and
air conduits 22 are shown supplying air to double-action air
cylinders 90.
For a more complete understanding of the double-action air cylinder
90 reference should now be had additionally to FIG. 5 which is a
view along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. Cylinder 90 is attached by means of
lug 92 to a post 94. Pin 92 is able to rotate about post 94. Post
94 is fixedly insertable within bottom portion 42. Within air
cylinder 90 is a piston 96 which is movable with respect to
cylinder 90 by means of air being supplied to an end of air
cylinder 90 through an appropriate one of the air conduits 22.
Attachable to piston 96 is rod 100 which moves longitudinally with
respect to air cylinder 90 when piston 96 is moved by air pressure.
Rod 100 has a bifurcated end 102 for the insertion therein of a
connecting rod 104. Rod 104 is securely attached to a fitting 88
and rotatable within bifurcated end 102 about pin 106. An
adjustable stop 108 limits the movement of the bifurcated end 102
of piston rod 100 and is adjustable within slot 110 of bottom
portion 42 by means of an adjustable screw 112 mounted to a
protrusion 114 on bottom portion 42.
In operation, the articles which it is desired to process are
inserted into treatment chamber 46 through opening 56 and
positioned within an article carrying basket mounted on platform
82. After properly inserting the article, the lid 30 is positioned
to close opening 56. The desired treatment cycle is then selected
by pushing the appropriate buttons 26 and turning the proper dials
28 on remote control panel 16. This supplies air from air conduits
22 to an appropriate side of piston 96 in air cylinder 90, causing
piston 96 to move with respect to cylinder 90 thus rotating
cylinder 90 about post 94 and causing rod 100 with its bifurcated
end 102 to move connecting rod 104 which in turn rotates fitting
88. The rotation of fitting 88 causes the rotation of conduit 62.
The rotation of conduit 62 about its longitudinal axis rotates
nozzle 68 inwardly over the platform 82. After this movement has
occurred, liquid is transported through liquid conduit 20, into
fitting 88, and through conduit 62 for exhaustion through nozzles
68. The spray exhausted from nozzles 68 is directed downwardly so
as to set or spray the articles carried by the article carrying
basket.
After the spraying process, when it is desired to spin dry the
articles by means of rotating drive shaft 76, air is supplied to
air cylinder 90 in order to move pistion 96 in an opposite
direction thus providing for the movement of nozzles 68 outwardly
to their position proximate the walls of upper cylindrical portion
50. The positioning of nozzles 68 against the upper cylindrical
portion 50 and over the ledge 58 substantially shelters the nozzles
from exposure to the air currents established within chamber 46 by
the rotating platform 82 during the spin drying process. This
prevents the liquids remaining in the nozzles from being drawn
outwardly therefrom into the treatment chamber 46 and interfering
with the spin drying operation.
* * * * *