Crucible cleaning device
By designing a crucible cleaning device with a rotatable cleaning head and crucible holding elements, the problems of large size, heavy weight, high energy consumption, and poor adaptability in existing technologies have been solved, achieving efficient, energy-saving, and flexible crucible cleaning results.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STOVECO
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing crucible cleaning devices are large, bulky, energy-intensive, poorly adaptable, and noisy, making it difficult to efficiently remove residues from crucibles of different sizes.
A device comprising a rotatable cleaning head and a crucible holding element is designed. The cleaning head rotates along a vertical axis and is controlled by a motor for rotation and descent. Precise control is achieved by combining a servo motor and a trapezoidal lead screw. A releaseable locking device and a debris collector are employed to reduce moving parts and energy consumption.
It achieves efficient, energy-saving, and flexible crucible cleaning, adapts to different amounts of residue, reduces equipment footprint and noise, and improves cleaning efficiency and adaptability.
Smart Images
Figure CN122070181A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing residues from a crucible. Background Technology
[0002] Crucibles are used to transport molten metal (such as aluminum) at high temperatures. A crucible is a cylindrical container, with or without an attached lid, that allows material to be transferred to be easily placed inside. The molten metal can then be poured out or pressurized into a mold, furnace, or otherwise utilized. After a crucible has been used to transfer molten metal, metal residue remains inside. This residue occupies space within the crucible and can negatively impact its performance (metal yield), therefore it must be removed periodically to optimize metal transfer. The crucibles described herein are for industrial use and can hold up to 1 cubic meter or more of molten metal.
[0003] Various devices exist for removing residues from crucibles, but most are large, bulky, and very inefficient in terms of energy. Known devices for cleaning crucibles can include small, rotating cleaning heads. These heads are typically guided circumferentially around the inside of the crucible by rotating it. The rotating head grinds the residues into small pieces. As the head is guided upwards, the inner walls of the crucible are cleaned. While cleaning the walls, the head is further guided into the crucible until the bottom is cleaned. In most cases, the crucible is positioned upside down in these machines. Besides powering the rotating head, which can move in at least two directions within the crucible, such devices require considerable power to rotate the heavy crucible. This necessitates robust mechanical components, and the device is both large and energy-intensive.
[0004] Other devices for removing residues from a crucible may include a full-profile cleaning head. A full-profile cleaning head is a cleaning head whose diameter spans the inner diameter of the crucible to be cleaned. Therefore, instead of being guided circumferentially along the inside of the crucible, the cleaning head's axis of rotation can coincide with the central axis of the cylindrical crucible. Due to the weight and size of these devices, the axis of rotation of the cleaning head is horizontal or nearly horizontal to allow the ground debris to be discharged from the crucible. Full-profile cleaning heads typically include a helical element to convey debris to the outside of the crucible. The crucible is held in place within the device, and the cleaning head is fed into the crucible.
[0005] The crucibles are heavy, and fixing them at an angle to hold the residue-containing crucibles requires robust and therefore heavy equipment. This equipment must also withstand the impacts and vibrations from the rotating cleaning head. Known devices for cleaning crucibles typically include hydraulic systems, which are robust and reliable, but are costly to install and operate. Hydraulic systems also have slow response times. Known devices are poorly adaptable to crucibles of varying sizes (i.e., inner diameter and depth) and are not energy efficient. Common devices for removing residue from crucibles consist of a motor and cleaning head that operate at a fixed speed and for a fixed cleaning cycle duration, regardless of the amount of residue inside the crucible. Therefore, such known devices are excessively large and power-intensive for most of the work they perform and are poorly adaptable. Known devices for removing residue from crucibles are also very noisy due to the movement of heavy components and the pneumatic and hydraulic operation.
[0006] KR101938570B1 describes a ladle metal removal device. The ladle metal removal device includes: a base frame supported from the bottom; a cylindrical member protruding from the upper surface of the base frame; a circular cutter mounted around the edge of the cylindrical member; and a buffer cylinder supporting the cylindrical member.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an improved apparatus for removing residues from a crucible to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks of known technologies. The object of this invention is to achieve this objective and to provide further advantages over the prior art. Summary of the Invention
[0008] The purpose of this invention is to alleviate, reduce or eliminate one or more of the aforementioned defects and disadvantages in the prior art, and at least solve the aforementioned problems.
[0009] According to a first aspect, a crucible cleaning apparatus is provided, comprising:
[0010] A cleaning head, rotatably controlled about a vertical axis, is used to remove residue from a crucible, which includes an edge and a bottom; and
[0011] A crucible holding element is used to mate with the crucible and fix the crucible with its edge located below the bottom, so that the central axis of the crucible coincides with the vertical axis.
[0012] The crucible holding element includes horizontal support elements connected to vertical guide elements to prevent movement in the horizontal plane;
[0013] The crucible holding element includes a releasable locking device for securing the crucible to the crucible holding element and preventing the crucible from rotating and moving in the horizontal plane;
[0014] The crucible holding element is connected to at least one vertical control device for controlling the crucible holding element and the crucible along a vertical axis to lower the crucible onto the cleaning head and raise the crucible from the cleaning head.
[0015] In one embodiment, the cleaning head is vertically connected to a motor, which controls the rotation of the cleaning head.
[0016] According to one implementation, the motor is controlled by torque monitoring.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the crucible cleaning device includes a debris collector located below the cleaning head and above the motor.
[0018] According to one embodiment, the crucible holding element includes a flange for mating with the edge of the crucible.
[0019] According to one embodiment, at least one vertical control device is connected to the crucible holding element via a vertical translation element.
[0020] According to one embodiment, at least one vertical control device is a servo motor, and the vertical translation element is a trapezoidal lead screw.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the cleaning head includes a plurality of replaceable fixed blades disposed on a base.
[0022] According to one embodiment, a plurality of fixed blades protrude from the base in a radial direction relative to the vertical axis, thereby forming a gap between the base and the ends of the fixed blades.
[0023] According to one embodiment, the base includes openings for allowing residue to pass from above the base to below it.
[0024] According to one embodiment, the releasable locking device includes a clamp controlled by an electric motor.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the crucible cleaning device includes a vertically extending panel that forms a generally enclosed housing when the crucible is engaged with a crucible holding element to cover the upper part of the crucible cleaning device.
[0026] According to a second aspect, a method for removing residues from the inside of a crucible using a crucible cleaning device is provided, comprising the following steps:
[0027] The crucible is fitted onto the crucible holding element of the crucible cleaning device;
[0028] Secure the crucible to the crucible holding element;
[0029] Rotate the cleaning head;
[0030] The crucible holding element and the crucible are lowered along the vertical axis onto the cleaning head until the crucible is cleaned.
[0031] Raise the crucible holding element and the crucible;
[0032] Release the crucible from the crucible holding element; and
[0033] Remove the crucible from the crucible cleaning device.
[0034] According to one embodiment, the descent speed of the crucible holding element and the crucible is controlled by the amount of torque on the motor. Attached Figure Description
[0035] Various aspects of the invention (including its specific features and advantages) will be readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. These drawings are provided to illustrate the general structure of the invention. The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout.
[0036] Figure 1 An isometric view of one embodiment of a crucible cleaning apparatus with a crucible is shown.
[0037] Figure 2 An isometric exploded view of the crucible cleaning apparatus is shown.
[0038] Figure 3a A cross-sectional view of the crucible cleaning apparatus is shown, with the crucible in the upper position.
[0039] Figure 3b A cross-sectional view of the crucible cleaning apparatus is shown, with the crucible positioned below. Detailed Implementation
[0040] The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0041] It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that the articles “a” and “an” as used in the specification and appended claims are intended to mean the presence of one or more elements or steps, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, references to “unit” or “the unit” can include multiple means, etc. Furthermore, the words “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and similar wording do not exclude other elements or steps.
[0042] First see Figure 1 and Figure 2, Figure 1 An embodiment of the crucible cleaning device 1, in which the crucible 2 is mounted, is shown, while Figure 2 An exploded view of the crucible cleaning apparatus 1 is shown. The crucible cleaning apparatus 1 includes a cleaning head 3, which is rotatable about a vertical axis Z. The vertical axis Z can be approximately vertical, meaning it can deviate from a true vertical axis by a certain degree. The vertical axis Z is closer to a truly vertical axis than a truly horizontal axis. The cleaning head 3 is stationary relative to the crucible cleaning apparatus 1, meaning it can rotate about the vertical axis Z but is fixed and cannot move in any direction. The cleaning head 3 is a full-contour cleaning head, meaning its diameter corresponds to the internal cleaning diameter of the crucible 2. The internal cleaning diameter is the diameter of the cleaned crucible, which may differ from the actual inner diameter of a new crucible. As is known in the art, the full-contour cleaning head typically leaves an 8-10 mm gap with the inner circumference of the crucible to avoid damaging it.
[0043] The cleaning head 3 includes a base 4 and a plurality of replaceable fixed blades 5. The base 4 may be a generally horizontal base on which the fixed blades 5 are replaceably mounted. Therefore, the fixed blades 5 can be replaced, but are fixed when mounted on the base 4. The fixed blades 5 are easily worn and torn, and the horizontal base 4 facilitates the replacement and attachment of new fixed blades 5. The fixed blades 5 are stationary on the base 4 to reduce the number of moving parts and ensure lifespan. For example, the fixed blades 5 can be fixed to the base 4 by a threaded connection. The fixed blades 5 include an end 6 for grinding residue inside the crucible 2 into easily removable debris. The end 6 may be sharp and contain carbide.
[0044] The fixed cutter head 5 protrudes from the base 4 in an upward direction (i.e., approximately along the vertical axis Z). However, the fixed cutter head 5 may deviate from the vertical axis Z by a certain degree. The fixed cutter heads 5 are distributed on the base 4 such that when the cleaning head 3 rotates, the ends 6 of the fixed cutter heads 5 are evenly distributed across the entire diameter of the cleaning head 3. Multiple fixed cutter heads 5 may also protrude from the side of the base 4 (i.e., in a generally radial direction relative to the vertical axis Z). Therefore, the ends 6 are positioned at a certain distance from the base 4 in a radial direction relative to the vertical axis Z. Thus, when the cleaning head 3 is located inside the crucible 2, a gap is formed between the outer diameter of the base 4 and the inner diameter of the crucible 2. This gap allows debris to be easily discharged from inside the crucible 2 through the cleaning head 3.
[0045] The base 4 may further include an opening 7. The opening 7 extends through the base 4 and reduces the amount of material on the base 4. The opening 7 further allows debris to be discharged from the inside of the crucible 2 through the cleaning head 3. The opening 7 may be located on a horizontal portion of the base 4. Figure 3a and Figure 3bAs shown, the opening 7 can also be provided on the base frame of the base 4. The opening 7 on the base frame of the base 4 reduces air resistance when the cleaning head 3 rotates and reduces the impact on the downward flow of dust and debris.
[0046] The crucible cleaning device 1 further includes a motor 8. The motor 8 controls the rotation (e.g., speed and torque) of the cleaning head 3. The motor 8 is preferably an electric motor, more preferably an electric variable speed motor. The variable speed capability allows the rotation of the cleaning head 3 to adapt to the amount of residue in the crucible 2. The more residue, the greater the friction, and the higher the rotational speed of the cleaning head 3 can be, for example, increased. For crucibles 2 with less residue, the speed can be reduced, thereby reducing energy consumption and wear on the equipment. The cleaning head 3 is preferably vertically connected to the motor 8, so that the motor 8 is positioned below the cleaning head 3. This vertically connected crucible cleaning device 1 can be made very compact and has a small footprint. It is also very energy-efficient because it utilizes gravity to lower the crucible 2 onto the cleaning head 3. The motor 8 is preferably controlled by torque monitoring, such as in conjunction with… Figure 3a and Figure 3b Further described.
[0047] Motor 8 is connected to cleaning head 3 via connecting assembly 9. Connecting assembly 9 transmits rotational force from motor 8 to cleaning head 3 and may include a subframe comprising shafts and gears for supporting and transmitting rotational force. In one embodiment, connecting assembly 9 may include reduction gears and may also include one or more axial bearings. While a significant force is applied as the rotating cleaning head 3 grinds residue off the crucible 2, the assembly comprising cleaning head 3, motor 8, and optional connecting assembly 9 is stationary in space (i.e., does not move relative to each other), allowing for a very robust structure with few parts.
[0048] The crucible cleaning device 1 further includes a crucible holding element 10. The crucible holding element 10 holds the crucible 2 and prevents the crucible 2 from moving relative to the crucible holding element 10. The crucible holding element 10 is fixed in the horizontal plane XY, thus preventing its movement within the horizontal plane XY and also preventing its rotation within the horizontal plane XY. The horizontal plane XY can be substantially horizontal, i.e., the plane can deviate from a true horizontal plane by a certain degree. The horizontal plane XY is perpendicular to the vertical axis Z and should be horizontal enough to support the crucible 2 even if the crucible 2 is not fixed to the crucible holding element 10. The crucible holding element 10 mates with and holds the crucible 2 such that the longitudinal axis C of the cylindrical crucible 2 coincides with the vertical axis Z of the cleaning head 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the crucible holding element 10 is a circular element that includes a circular flange 11 such that the central axis extending perpendicular to the crucible holding element 10 also coincides with the vertical axis Z.
[0049] The crucible holding element 10 is configured to mate with the edge 27 of the crucible 2, such as Figure 1 As shown. More specifically, the flange 11 of the crucible holding element 10 is configured to mate with the edge 27 of the crucible 2. If the crucible 2 includes a lid, the edge 27 may also include a connecting device (not shown) for the lid. Furthermore, the edge 27 may include, for example, a nozzle (not shown) to facilitate the pouring of molten metal from the crucible 2. The crucible 2 may rest on the circular flange 11, and the crucible holding element 10 may be configured such that the crucible 2 is centrally positioned on the crucible holding element 10. Therefore, the longitudinal axis C of the crucible 2 coincides with the vertical axis Z of the cleaning head 3. The crucible holding element 10 may include an upwardly projecting outer flange 12, thereby further providing support and facilitating the mating of the crucible 2 with the crucible holding element 10.
[0050] The crucible holding element 10 may include a horizontal support element 13. The horizontal support element 13 is configured to interact with a vertical guide element 14 to prevent horizontal movement and rotation of the crucible holding element 10. Preferably, the horizontal support element 13 may be a low-friction element (such as a bearing or roller), but in a simpler embodiment, the horizontal support element 13 may be a pin, guide ring, or similar element. The horizontal support element 13 may be formed part of the crucible holding element 10, or may be threaded, welded, or otherwise connected to the crucible holding element 10. The vertical guide element 14 may be a strut or rail configured to interact with a bearing or roller, but may also be a slot or track if they are part of a structure serving other functions.
[0051] The vertical guide element 14 is fixed and may be part of or supported by the frame 15. The crucible cleaning device 1 may include the frame 15 as a structural element, and the vertical guide element 14 may be disposed on or part of the frame 15. The motor 8 may also be connected to or fixed to the frame 15. The vertical guide element 14 provides compact, stable, and low-friction guidance for the crucible holding element 10 along the vertical axis Z.
[0052] Horizontal support elements 13 and vertical guide elements 14 can be arranged in pairs, preferably equidistant from the crucible holding element 10. Preferably, the crucible cleaning device 1 includes at least three horizontal support elements 13 and corresponding vertical guide elements 14. In a preferred embodiment, the crucible cleaning device 1 includes four horizontal support elements 13 and four vertical guide elements 14. The frame 15 can be a generally square or rectangular frame, and a vertical guide element 14 can be provided at each corner of the frame 15. Since the horizontal support elements 13 are connected to the vertical guide elements 14, movement or rotation of the crucible holding element 10 in the horizontal plane XY is prevented, but control of the crucible holding element 10 in the vertical direction Z is allowed.
[0053] In order for the edge 27 of the crucible to mate with the crucible holding element 10, the crucible 2 must therefore be inverted (i.e., the bottom 28 of the crucible 2 is in the upper position, and the edge 27 of the crucible 2 is in the lower position) and positioned on the crucible holding element 10. A forklift, crane, or similar lifting device can be used to lift the crucible 2 onto the crucible cleaning device 1. Figure 1 As shown, the crucible 2 may include, for example, openings 16 on the bottom 28 for engaging with the forks of a forklift.
[0054] The crucible holding element 10 includes a releasable locking device 17 for securing the crucible 2 to the crucible holding element 10. When the crucible 2 is secured to the crucible holding element 10, rotation and movement of the crucible 2 relative to the crucible holding element 10 are prevented. The releasable locking device 17 can be any device known in the art for releasably locking two flanges together, but in a preferred embodiment it can include a clamp. The releasable locking device 17 may further include an electric motor 18 for controlling the clamp. The electric motor 18 is small in size, highly efficient, and capable of precise control. The electric motor 18 can be a servo motor. The servo motor connected to the clamp provides a secure grip and allows for remote control of locking and releasing of the crucible 2.
[0055] The crucible holding element 10 can be controlled along the vertical axis Z, which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane XY. The crucible holding element 10 can be connected to at least one vertical control device 19 so that the crucible holding element 10 can be controllably lowered and raised approximately along the vertical axis Z. In a preferred embodiment, the crucible holding element 10 is connected to at least two vertical control devices 19.
[0056] Preferably, the vertical control device 19 is an electric motor. Electric motors, such as servo motors, respond very quickly and are capable of excellent control and synchronization of the vertical movement of the crucible holding element 10. As in the illustrated embodiment, the crucible holding element 10 is preferably connected to at least two vertical control devices 19. The at least two vertical control devices 19 are synchronized to fully control descent and elevation. Preferably, the vertical control devices 19 are equidistantly spaced around the crucible holding element 10. The vertical control devices 19 may also be fixed to the frame 15. Preferably, the vertical control device 19 is a servo motor, thereby allowing precise control of the vertical movement of the crucible holding element 10. If abnormal behavior is detected (such as a sudden increase in torque in motor 8), the servo motor can immediately stop the descent of the crucible holding element 10, slow its movement, or slightly raise it again.
[0057] The vertical control device 19 can be connected to the crucible holding element 10 via a vertical translation element 20. The vertical translation element 20 transmits the vertical action from the vertical control device 19 to the crucible holding element 10, allowing the crucible holding element 10 to move smoothly upwards or downwards. Therefore, the vertical control device 19 can be positioned at a certain distance from the crucible holding element 10, while the vertical translation element 20 allows the crucible holding element 10 to make sufficient vertical movement. The vertical translation element 20 can be a trapezoidal lead screw, which provides high precision in vertical translation. Therefore, the vertical translation element 20 allows for lower power consumption of the vertical control device 19, requiring less energy, while still enabling precise control of the descent and ascent of the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2. Thus, the vertical translation element 20 allows heavier masses to be lifted and lowered with relatively less energy input and also provides fine-tuning of the vertical movement of the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2.
[0058] The crucible cleaning device 1 may further include a debris collector 21. The debris collector 21 is located below the cleaning head 3, and since the motor 8 is vertically connected to the cleaning head 3, the debris collector 21 may preferably be located above the motor 8. A portion of the connecting assembly 9 may extend through the debris collector 21. Therefore, the debris collector 21 covers the motor 8 and collects falling debris, preventing debris, dust, etc., from contaminating the motor 8 and also collecting them. The debris collector 21 may include a protrusion 22 to simultaneously cover most of the connecting assembly 9. The inclined sides of the protrusion 22 may also allow debris to accumulate at the bottom of the debris collector 21. The bottom of the debris collector 21 may be slightly inclined and may be connected to a debris box 23 for collecting debris and dust. Shaking and vibration occur when the cleaning head 3 rotates and grinds debris from the crucible 2. These vibrations also affect the debris collector 21 and help guide dust and debris from the debris collector 21 to the debris box 23. If the vibrations naturally generated by the crucible cleaning device 1 are insufficient to move the debris from the debris collector 21 to the debris box 23, the debris collector 21 may preferably be connected to at least one debris collector motor to provide vibration to the debris collector 21.
[0059] In a preferred embodiment, the vertical control device 19 may be a screw jack, and the vertical translation element 20 may be a trapezoidal lead screw. The crucible cleaning device 1 may include four vertical control devices 19, each connected to a vertical translation element 20. At least one vertical control device 19 may preferably be positioned at a distance above the bottom of the crucible cleaning device 1, and more specifically, may preferably be positioned above the motor 8 to prevent dirt from accumulating at at least one vertical control device 19. In one embodiment, at least one vertical control device 19 may be positioned at a distance above the debris collector 21.
[0060] The crucible cleaning device 1 may include a vertically extending panel 24, and a debris collector 21 may extend through the vertically extending panel 24. Therefore, a debris box 23 may be positioned outside the vertically extending panel 24 and may be a separate element from the crucible cleaning device 1. The vertically extending panel 24 may surround the crucible cleaning device 1 and may preferably be connected to the frame 15.
[0061] As previously mentioned, the frame 15 can be generally square or rectangular, thus including four vertical sides. In the illustrated embodiment, a vertically extending panel 24 covers the four vertical sides. Figure 1 As shown, when the crucible 2 is engaged with the crucible holding element 10, the crucible 2 can substantially cover the upper part of the crucible cleaning device 1. Therefore, a substantially enclosed space can be formed between the vertically extending panel 24 and the interior of the crucible 2. This enclosed space protects the environment from debris and dust. The vertically extending panel 24 also physically protects the environment from damage by moving parts inside the crucible cleaning device 1 and also serves to reduce noise.
[0062] The vertically extending panel 24 may also include a suction port 25. The suction port 25 allows for the generation of a small negative pressure within the generally enclosed housing formed by the vertically extending panel 24 and the crucible 2. This negative pressure prevents dust and fine particles from escaping the crucible cleaning device 1. Even flue gas from the crucible cleaning device 1 can be significantly reduced through this suction port 25. Due to the small volume inside the vertically extending panel 24 and the crucible 2, sufficient negative pressure can be easily achieved in an energy-efficient manner. The suction port 25 can be connected to a suction pump, a bag filter dust collection chamber, or other devices known in the art for generating negative pressure for clean air.
[0063] See now Figure 3a and Figure 3b The diagram shows a crucible cleaning device 1, in which a crucible 2 is fixed to a crucible holding element 10 in an inverted position. Figure 3a The crucible holding element 10 is shown in a first position, wherein the crucible holding element 10 is in the upper position; Figure 3bA crucible holding element 10 is shown in a second position, with the crucible holding element 10 positioned below. In the first position, the crucible holding element 10 may be located at or slightly above the height of the top of the cleaning head 3. Therefore, the crucible 2 positioned on the crucible holding element 10 will not contact the cleaning head 3 until the crucible holding element 10 has slightly descended. The crucible cleaning device 1 may include a control device 26, and the depth of the crucible is known in advance and can be programmed into the crucible cleaning device 1. Therefore, the crucible holding element 10 stops when the cleaning head 3 is a predetermined distance from the inner side of the bottom 28 of the crucible 2. This is known in the field of crucible cleaning. The inner side of the bottom 28 may be a generally flat area as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or it may be a curved area.
[0064] If motor 8 is controlled via torque monitoring, the rotational speed of cleaning head 3 can be adjusted based on feedback from motor 8 to optimize speed and provide the most energy-efficient performance possible. Motor 8 can also cooperate with vertical control device 19, thereby controlling the descent speed as well. Control device 26 can connect to and control the various components of crucible cleaning device 1. The descent speed of crucible holding element 10 can be slower at the beginning and then accelerate as cleaning head 3 enters crucible 2. For example, if the amount of residue inside crucible 2 is small (e.g., less friction), the descent speed can also be increased. Therefore, crucible cleaning device 1 is highly adaptable and can clean crucible 2 with less residue more energy-efficiently compared to crucible 2 with more residue.
[0065] Similarly, if friction increases, the descent speed can be reduced. If needed, the vertical control device 19 can even be programmed to reverse the vertical movement. That is, if the friction between the cleaning head 3 and the crucible 2 exceeds a predetermined threshold, for example, when the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2 are descending, the vertical control device 19 can be programmed to completely stop the descent, or even slightly raise the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2 to restart the cleaning process, or allow, for example, an operator to inspect the cleaning head 3. Factors such as the torque of the motor 8 and the speed of the vertical control device 19 can be easily customized for different users and different crucibles 2. Therefore, the crucible cleaning device 1 can be operated very flexibly and energy-efficiently.
[0066] Because the crucible holding element 10 of the crucible cleaning device 1 is controlled in the vertical direction, the weight of the crucible 2 fixed to the crucible holding element 10 helps to press the crucible 2 against the cleaning head 3 during cleaning. Due to this design, less energy is required to clean the crucible 2 using gravity. Because less energy is required, all motors and control devices can be electrically controlled, further making the crucible cleaning device 1 energy-efficient and compact. Even if the vertical axis Z deviates from the true vertical axis by a certain degree, the effect of lowering the crucible onto the cleaning head 3 using gravity can still be achieved. When the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2 rise from the cleaning head 3, a large amount of residue has been removed from the crucible 2, and less energy is required to lift the crucible holding element 10 and the cleaned crucible 2.
[0067] Therefore, at the end of the cleaning cycle, the crucible holding element 10 and the crucible 2 can move upward to the first position relatively quickly. The releasable locking device 17 is released, and the crucible 2 can be removed from the crucible cleaning device 1 for cleaning and is ready for use. An indicator on the control device 26 can indicate that the cleaning cycle has been completed and that the crucible 2 has been unlocked and can be removed from the crucible cleaning device 1.
Claims
1. A crucible cleaning device (1), comprising: A cleaning head (3), rotatably controlled about a vertical axis (Z), is used to remove residue from a crucible (2) including an edge (27) and a bottom (28); and A crucible holding element (10) is used to mate with the crucible (2) and fix the crucible (2) such that the edge (27) is located below the bottom (28) and the central axis (C) of the crucible (2) coincides with the vertical axis (Z); The crucible holding element (10) includes a horizontal support element (13) connected to a vertical guide element (14) for preventing movement in the horizontal plane (XY); The crucible holding element (10) includes a releasable locking device (17) for securing the crucible (2) to the crucible holding element (10) and preventing the crucible (2) from rotating and moving in the horizontal plane (XY); The crucible holding element (10) is connected to at least one vertical control device (19) for controlling the crucible holding element (10) and the crucible (2) along the vertical axis (Z) to lower the crucible (2) onto the cleaning head (3) and to raise the crucible (2) from the cleaning head (3).
2. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning head (3) is vertically connected to the motor (8), the motor (8) being used to control the rotation of the cleaning head (3).
3. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the motor (8) is controlled by torque monitoring.
4. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the crucible cleaning device (1) further comprises: Debris collector (21) is located below the cleaning head (3) and above the motor (8).
5. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crucible holding element (10) includes a flange (11) for engaging with the edge (27) of the crucible (2).
6. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one vertical control device (19) is connected to the crucible holding element (10) via a vertical translation element (20).
7. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one vertical control device (19) is a servo motor, and the vertical translation element (20) is a trapezoidal lead screw.
8. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning head (3) comprises a plurality of replaceable fixed blades (5) disposed on a base (4).
9. The crucible cleaning apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the fixed blades (5) protrude from the base (4) in a radial direction relative to the vertical axis (Z), thereby forming a gap between the base (4) and the end (6) of the fixed blades (5).
10. The crucible cleaning apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the base (4) includes an opening (7) for allowing residue to pass from above the base (4) to below the base (4).
11. The crucible cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable locking device (17) comprises a clamp controlled by an electric motor (18).
12. The crucible cleaning apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crucible cleaning apparatus (1) comprises: The vertically extending panel (24) forms a generally enclosed housing when the crucible (2) is engaged with the crucible holding element (10) to cover the upper part of the crucible cleaning device (1).
13. A method for removing residues from the inside of a crucible (2) using a crucible cleaning apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: The crucible (2) is fitted onto the crucible holding element (10) of the crucible cleaning device (1); The crucible (2) is fixed to the crucible holding element (10); Rotate cleaning head (3); The crucible holding element (10) and the crucible (2) are lowered along the vertical axis (Z) onto the cleaning head (3) until the crucible (2) is cleaned. Raise the crucible holding element (10) and the crucible (2); Release the crucible (2) from the crucible holding element (10); and Remove the crucible (2) from the crucible cleaning device (1).
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the descent speed of the crucible holding element (10) and the crucible (2) is controlled by the amount of torque on the motor (8).