A cleaning apparatus and method for electroplating copper strips

Abstract

This invention discloses a cleaning device and method for electroplating copper strips, relating to the field of pre-plating treatment technology. The cleaning device includes a cleaning tank and a cleaning solution within it. An array of ultrasonic transducers and an electrolytic anode plate are arranged alternately on the sidewalls of the cleaning tank, allowing the ultrasonic field and the electrolytic microbubble field to superimpose on the surface of the copper strip, which serves as the cathode, forming a synergistic cleaning field. The combined effect of ultrasonic cavitation stripping and deep microbubble scouring thoroughly removes residual grease from the micro-grooves. A sloping sedimentation collection area is provided at the bottom of the tank, with a continuous slag discharge mechanism that automatically scrapes and removes sediment under negative pressure, enabling continuous slag removal without stopping the machine and preventing secondary contamination. This invention also discloses a corresponding cleaning method. This device and method significantly improve the quality of pre-plating cleaning and ensure stable and efficient continuous production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electroplating pretreatment technology, specifically to a cleaning device and cleaning method for electroplating copper strips. Background Technology

[0002] In the electroplating process of copper strips (such as lead frames and connectors), pre-plating cleaning and activation is a crucial step, as its effectiveness directly determines the adhesion between the subsequent plating layer and the substrate. Copper strips, especially electronic terminals after stamping, often have grease such as stamping oil and rust-preventive oil adhering to their surfaces, and their surfaces may also have complex micro-groove structures.

[0003] Currently, common pretreatment cleaning methods mainly include chemical immersion cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning. Chemical immersion cleaning relies primarily on the chemical emulsification and saponification effects of the cleaning agent, but it is often incomplete in removing firmly attached deep-seated grease and residual grease hidden in micro-grooves. These residual contaminants can become a barrier layer during subsequent electroplating, leading to poor adhesion between the plating layer and the copper substrate, and easily causing quality defects such as blistering and peeling. Although ultrasonic cleaning can enhance the cleaning effect by utilizing the cavitation effect, for micro-grooves with a large depth-to-width ratio, the micro-jets generated by ultrasonic cavitation mainly act on the groove opening and the upper part of the sidewall. Grease particles and debris peeled off at the bottom of the groove lack effective discharge power due to limited fluid exchange and weak local eddies. They are easily re-adsorbed at the bottom of the groove during the cavitation negative pressure recovery phase, forming a cycle of peeling and deposition. Therefore, the cleaning efficiency of existing technologies for micro-grooves is actually far lower than theoretically expected.

[0004] For cleaning equipment, impurities such as grease and metal particles that detach from the workpiece surface continuously accumulate in the cleaning tank. If these impurities are not drained in time, they will suspend or settle in the cleaning solution, causing "secondary pollution" to subsequent work entering the tank and affecting the uniformity and stability of the cleaning effect. Existing cleaning devices mostly adopt periodic shutdowns for manual cleaning or simple bottom drainage designs, which cannot achieve real-time, automatic cleaning of sediment during continuous production, affecting the sustainability of production efficiency and cleaning quality.

[0005] Specifically, how to enhance the cleaning effect of pollutants within microstructures and how to achieve efficient slag discharge without affecting continuous production are technical problems that need to be further solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings in the aforementioned background technology, the present invention provides a cleaning device and cleaning method for copper plate and strip electroplating, thereby solving the technical problems in the prior art where incomplete removal of grease from the deep layers and microstructures of the workpiece surface leads to poor adhesion of the electroplated layer, and where the inability to automatically and continuously clean sediment in the tank during continuous production results in secondary pollution and the need for frequent shutdowns for slag removal.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a cleaning device for electroplating copper strip, comprising a cleaning tank containing a cleaning solution; an ultrasonic transducer array and an electrolytic anode plate are arranged alternately on the side wall of the cleaning tank; a sloping sedimentation collection area is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank, and a continuous slag discharge mechanism is provided above the sloping sedimentation collection area for discharging slag along the sloping sedimentation collection area.

[0008] Preferably, the cleaning device further includes a conductive mechanism for connecting the workpiece to be cleaned and using it as the electrolytic cathode; the ultrasonic transducer array includes several groups of ultrasonic transducers arranged at equal intervals along the workpiece conveying direction, with an electrolytic anode plate disposed between adjacent groups of ultrasonic transducers on the same side of the workpiece. This alternating arrangement along the workpiece conveying direction allows the ultrasonic field and the electrolytic microbubble field to be effectively superimposed on the workpiece surface. Upon energization, a reaction occurs on the workpiece surface, resulting in the release of a large number of hydrogen microbubbles, while also having a certain reduction and activation effect on surface oxides.

[0009] Preferably, the continuous slag discharge mechanism includes tracks arranged on both sides of the inclined sedimentation collection area, with sliding platforms mounted on the tracks. A cover with an open bottom is fixed on the sliding platform, and the cover is connected to an external suction device via a pipe. The suction device provides a stable negative pressure, allowing the slag collected on the inclined surface, along with a small portion of liquid, to be sucked in and discharged through the opening in the cover. To drive the sliding platform, a linear drive module is provided on the cleaning tank. The input end of this module is connected to a drive motor, and its output end is fixedly connected to the sliding platform. When the drive motor operates, the linear drive module precisely drives the sliding platform and its cover to reciprocate along the tracks, achieving continuous scanning slag suction operation on the inclined sedimentation collection area.

[0010] Preferably, a scraper is provided in the middle of the slide, and the position of the scraper corresponds to the opening in the middle of the cover. During the reciprocating movement of the slide, the scraper can first scrape up and loosen the sediment attached to the inclined surface or accumulated, making it easier for it to be sucked away by the negative pressure generated by the cover that follows, realizing the integration of "scraping and suction" for more thorough cleaning.

[0011] Preferably, the suction device includes a fluid pipe connected to the housing, a negative pressure pump mounted on the fluid pipe, and a filter tank connected to the fluid pipe. The filter tank contains a filter screen for separating liquid and solid waste. The bottom of the filter tank is connected to the cleaning tank via a return pipe. The clarified liquid after separation can be returned to the cleaning tank through the return pipe, realizing the recycling of the cleaning liquid, while the solid waste is collected and treated centrally, reducing waste liquid treatment costs and material losses.

[0012] Preferably, a support rod is fixedly installed on the side wall of the cleaning tank, and a hinge seat is provided at the end of the support rod. The electrolytic anode plate is connected to the support rod through the hinge seat. This hinge design allows the angle of the electrolytic anode plate to be adjusted. Preferably, the electrolytic anode plate is set at an angle, for example, 15° to 30°, with the plane of the workpiece passing perpendicularly. The inclined anode plate helps to enhance the rinsing effect and also facilitates the escape of air bubbles, reducing shielding.

[0013] Preferably, the cleaning tank may also be equipped with an oil-absorbing box filled with oil-absorbing cotton to absorb floating oil on the liquid surface and keep the liquid surface clean.

[0014] The present invention also provides a cleaning method using the above-described cleaning device, comprising the following steps: S1: Several cleaning devices are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the workpiece to form a multi-stage cleaning section. During the cleaning process, the continuously conveyed workpieces are used as cathodes through a conductive mechanism, allowing them to be immersed in the cleaning solution of each stage of the cleaning device.

[0015] S2: In each cleaning tank, the ultrasonic transducer array is simultaneously activated, and the electrolytic anode plate is energized, so that the workpiece surface is simultaneously subjected to ultrasonic cavitation and electrolytic microbubble scouring. The cavitation effect of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer array and the microbubble scouring effect generated by the electrolytic components on the workpiece surface work synergistically to achieve efficient composite cleaning of grease and contaminants on the surface and within microscopic defects.

[0016] S3: During the entire continuous cleaning process, the continuous slag discharge mechanism is started simultaneously to ensure uninterrupted operation, continuously discharging the particles that fall off the workpiece surface and settle at the bottom of the cleaning tank during the cleaning process, maintaining the cleanliness of the tank, and thus improving the final cleaning quality through continuous multiple cleaning processes.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the cleaning apparatus and method for workpiece electroplating provided by the present invention have the following advantages: 1. By spatially staggering the ultrasonic transducer array and electrolysis components, the ultrasonic field and the electrolytic microbubble field are effectively superimposed on the workpiece surface. Ultrasonic cavitation first breaks up and peels off large, firmly adhering grease layers; simultaneously, hydrogen bubbles generated by electrolysis are precipitated in situ on the cathode surface. These tiny bubbles can penetrate deep into the micro-grooves of the workpiece, creating micro-jet scouring of the groove walls and removing residual grease hidden within. The synergy of these two processes achieves highly efficient composite cleaning of large-area contaminants on the workpiece surface and microscopic residues within the micro-grooves. This solves the problem that chemical immersion and ultrasonic cleaning alone are insufficient to thoroughly clean residual grease at the bottom of the grooves, providing a highly clean and activated surface for subsequent electroplating. This significantly improves the adhesion and reliability of the plating layer and reduces the quality risks of blistering and peeling.

[0018] 2. Through the combined design of the inclined sedimentation collection zone and the continuous slag discharge mechanism, the solid particles settled at the bottom of the tank can be automatically and in real time discharged without stopping the cleaning device and while it is running continuously. This avoids the continuous accumulation of detached materials in the tank and secondary pollution caused by water flow disturbance, allowing the cleaning solution to maintain a high level of cleanliness for a long time and ensuring that each workpiece receives a consistent and excellent cleaning effect. At the same time, automated slag removal replaces the traditional manual periodic shutdown cleaning, significantly improving the continuous operation efficiency and automation level of the production line, and reducing the intensity and cost of manual operation.

[0019] 3. The electrolytic anode plate adopts an adjustable angle installation. By optimizing its angle with the workpiece, the electric field directionality and the scouring direction of microbubbles can be enhanced, further improving the collaborative cleaning efficiency. The continuous slag discharge mechanism is designed to thoroughly clean the slag by first scraping and then sucking it away. Furthermore, the slag liquid sucked away under negative pressure is filtered and can be returned, achieving the recycling of the cleaning medium and reducing waste. The entire device has a compact layout, good synergy among its functional modules, and stable and reliable operation, making it highly suitable for integration into modern continuous electroplating production lines. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the cleaning tank of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the cleaning tank of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the continuous slag discharge mechanism of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the continuous slag discharge mechanism of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the staggered arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer array 3 and the electrolytic component on one side of the workpiece of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a top view of the staggered arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer array 3 and the electrolysis component of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a bubble running path according to the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a particulate matter settling path according to the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Cleaning tank; 3. Ultrasonic transducer array; 4. Electrolytic anode plate; 5. Conductive mechanism; 6. Copper strip; 7. Inclined sedimentation collection area; 8. Track; 9. Slide table; 10. Cover; 11. Scraper; 14. Fluid pipeline; 15. Negative pressure pump; 16. Filter tank; 18. Return pipeline; 20. Oil suction box; 21. Synchronous belt; 22. Driven wheel; 23. Drive wheel; 13. Drive motor; 31. Support; 32. Support rod; 33. Clamp; 66. Bubble; 67. Particulate matter. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Example 1:

[0022] A cleaning device for electroplating copper strip, such as Figure 1 , 3 As shown, the cleaning tank includes a rectangular cleaning tank 1, which is welded from conventional corrosion-resistant sheet metal. The cleaning tank 1 is filled with an alkaline or neutral electrolytic cleaning solution, and the liquid level must be high enough to completely submerge the workpiece to be cleaned. In this embodiment, the workpiece is a copper strip 6.

[0023] To achieve more complete cleaning of the workpiece, ultrasonic transducer arrays 3 and electrolytic anode plates 4 are symmetrically and staggeredly installed on two opposite side walls of the cleaning tank 1. The ultrasonic transducer arrays are configured to emit ultrasonic waves of a specific frequency into the cleaning tank, utilizing their cavitation effect to initially impact and peel off contaminants from the workpiece surface. Simultaneously, the electrolytic anode plates in the cleaning tank are used to generate an electrochemical reaction when energized in the cleaning solution. The staggered arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer arrays and the electrolytic anode plates on the side walls of the cleaning tank allows the ultrasonic field generated by the ultrasonic transducer arrays to spatially superimpose with the microbubble precipitation field generated by the electrolytic components in the cleaning solution on the workpiece surface, thus forming a synergistic cleaning effect. The ultrasonic cavitation effect provides initial impact and peeling to the workpiece surface, while the electrolytic components precipitate microbubbles in situ on the workpiece surface, deeply scouring the interior of the micro-grooves. The staggered arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer array and the electrolytic anode plate on the sidewall allows the ultrasonic field and the electrolytic microbubble field to be spatially superimposed on the surface area of ​​the workpiece. The two work together to achieve composite cleaning of the workpiece surface and the interior of the micro-grooves, significantly improving the cleaning cleanliness of workpieces with complex structures.

[0024] The bottom of the cleaning tank 1 is equipped with an inclined sedimentation collection area. The inclined design facilitates the natural sliding down of solid particles (such as metal shavings, carbonized grease particles, etc.) under gravity. Above the inclined sedimentation collection area, a continuous slag discharge mechanism is installed. This mechanism can automatically and continuously discharge the slag that has slid down or settled along the inclined sedimentation collection area out of the tank while the cleaning device is running uninterrupted. This effectively avoids the continuous increase of contaminant concentration in the tank and secondary contamination of the workpiece by the slag, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the cleaning solution and the stability of the cleaning quality.

[0025] Specifically, in this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer array 3 consists of several groups of ultrasonic transducers fastened to the outer side of the tank wall according to a certain pattern (such as a rectangular array). The ultrasonic transducers can be selected from conventional piezoelectric ceramic transducers, and their operating frequency can be selected according to the cleaning requirements. The ultrasonic waves generated by the transducers are transmitted into the cleaning fluid, forming a uniform ultrasonic field in the tank, generating a cavitation effect, and violently impacting the surface of the copper strip 6. In addition, several parallel electrolytic anode plates 4 are arranged. The electrolytic anode plates 4 can be made of conventional corrosion-resistant electrode materials, and the electrolytic anode plates 4 are immersed in the cleaning fluid through insulating mounting parts. Figure 6 , 7 As shown, in this embodiment, an electrolytic anode plate is provided between two adjacent sets of ultrasonic transducers on the same side of the workpiece, so that the ultrasonic transducers and the electrolytic anode plates can be installed in an alternating manner with equal spacing along the conveying direction or length direction of the workpiece, thereby enabling the ultrasonic field generated by the ultrasonic transducer and the electrolytic microbubble field generated by the electrolytic anode plate to be effectively superimposed on the surface area of ​​the workpiece. Figure 8 As shown, the bubbles 66 generated by electrolysis move on the workpiece surface and within the micro-grooves under the action of an ultrasonic field. The ultrasonic cavitation effect and the scouring effect of the electrolytic microbubbles work together to perform a composite cleaning of grease residues on the workpiece surface and inside the grooves, improving the cleaning uniformity within the micro-grooves. The synergy of these two processes achieves highly efficient composite cleaning of the workpiece surface and microstructure. Once the microbubble flow is controlled, it acts like a miniature piston, actively carrying grease particles that have been peeled off but not yet discharged from the bottom of the grooves out of the groove openings, fundamentally breaking the secondary deposition cycle within the microstructure. This synergy achieves a three-stage composite cleaning process: macroscopic peeling, microscopic transport, and real-time discharge.

[0026] As the copper strip 6 to be cleaned passes through the cleaning tank, it is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply via a conductive mechanism 5. This conductive mechanism 5 can be a conductive roller fixedly mounted within the electrolytic tank, which conducts electricity in contact with the copper strip, thus serving as the electrolytic cathode. The positive terminal of the power supply is connected to the anode plate 4. When energized, a water reduction reaction occurs on the surface of the copper strip 6 (cathode), continuously generating a large number of fine hydrogen microbubbles. The staggered arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer array 3 and the electrolytic anode plate 4 on the sidewalls causes their generated physical fields (ultrasonic field and electrolytic bubble / electric field) to intertwine and superimpose in the spatial region where the copper strip 6 is located. The cavitation effect of the ultrasound first breaks up and peels off large, strongly adhered grease layers. Simultaneously, microbubbles precipitated from various parts of the microstructure on the surface of the copper strip 6, during their growth, merging, and detachment, generate continuous, directional micro-jet scouring within the relatively weaker micro-grooves and pits of the ultrasound, removing hidden grease residues. This creates a highly efficient synergistic cleaning mechanism.

[0027] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown, in order to handle the solid contaminants (such as metal oxide particles, carbonized grease particles, etc.) that continuously fall off the surface of the copper strip 6 during the cleaning process, an inclined sedimentation collection area 7 is designed at the bottom of the cleaning tank 1. The lowest point of this area is located at one end of the width direction of the tank, which facilitates the accumulation of particles at the lowest point under the action of gravity. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a deposition path for particulate matter 67. Above the inclined sedimentation collection area 7, a continuous slag removal mechanism is installed. When the ultrasonic transducer array operates at a frequency of 40kHz and a power density of 0.5W / cm², and the electrolysis current density is maintained at 2A / dm², the bubbles precipitated on the cathode surface undergo significant lateral oscillation and migration along the walls of the micro-grooves on the copper strip surface in the ultrasonic field. The synergistic effect of ultrasonic cavitation and electrolysis microbubbles can effectively improve the cleaning effect in the micro-grooves on the copper strip surface, making it easier for carbonized grease particles at the bottom of the grooves to detach from the grooves and enter the main fluid in the grooves, where they are then captured by the continuous slag removal mechanism.

[0028] In this embodiment, the continuous slag discharge mechanism includes two parallel tracks 8 fixed along the inner wall of the cleaning tank corresponding to the inclined sedimentation collection area 7, and a sliding table 9 that can slide along the tracks 8. The sliding table 9 is driven by a linear drive module. In this embodiment, the tracks are optical axes, which are parallel to each other inside the cleaning tank and fixed to the inner wall of the cleaning tank at both ends. Linear bearings are provided on the sliding table. Grease or conventional isolation lubricating material is coated between the optical axis and the linear bearing to provide isolation and reduce the impact of the cleaning liquid on the metal structure. The linear drive module specifically adopts a synchronous belt drive. The drive motor 13 (such as a stepper motor or servo motor) is installed at one end of the cleaning tank body, and its output shaft is connected to the transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is set perpendicular to one end of the optical axis and has a drive wheel 23. A driven shaft is set at the other end of the optical axis. The driven shaft is parallel to the transmission shaft and has a driven wheel. The annular synchronous belt 21 passes around the drive wheel 23 and the driven wheel 22 at the other end to form a closed loop. A portion of the synchronous belt 21 is fixedly connected to the sliding table 9. When the drive motor 13 rotates in both directions, it can precisely pull the slide table 9 along the track 8 in reciprocating linear motion via the synchronous belt 21. This drive method has a simple structure, runs smoothly, and has low noise, making it suitable for reciprocating motion scenarios with low loads in this example. Similarly, grease or conventional isolation lubricating materials are applied to both the drive wheel and the driven wheel to prevent the cleaning fluid from affecting the motion. Furthermore, sealing rings are installed between the cleaning tank and the drive shaft, and between the cleaning tank and the driven shaft, to achieve a sealing and leak-proof effect.

[0029] In a further specific embodiment, a cover 10 with a bottom opening is fixedly mounted on the slide table 9. The opening of the cover 10 faces the inclined sedimentation collection area 7, close to the inclined surface but with a small gap to allow for sliding. The upper part of the cover 10 is connected to an external suction system via a flexible or retractable fluid pipe 14. The suction system includes a negative pressure pump 15 and a filter tank 16 connected in sequence. The filter tank 16 is equipped with a replaceable filter screen, and its bottom is connected to the top opening or the area below the liquid surface of the cleaning tank 1 via a return pipe 18.

[0030] In the middle of the slide table 9, at the center of the opening of the cover 10, a scraper 11 made of rubber or plastic is vertically installed. The lower edge of the scraper 11 is in contact with or maintains a very small gap with the surface of the inclined sedimentation collection area 7, so as to scrape off the sediment.

[0031] The working process of this device is as follows: While the cleaning operation is underway, the drive motor 13 and negative pressure pump 15 are started. The drive motor 13 drives the slide table 9 to move slowly and continuously along the track 8 via the synchronous belt 21. As the slide table 9 moves, the scraper 11 first scrapes and agitates the solid sludge deposited on the inclined surface, causing it to detach from the inclined surface. Immediately afterwards, the cover 10, under the suction force generated by the negative pressure pump 15, sucks in the scraped sludge along with the cleaning liquid through the opening and transports it to the filter tank 16 via the fluid pipe 14. In the filter tank 16, the solid waste is trapped by the filter screen, while the clarified liquid flows back to the cleaning tank 1 through the return pipe 18 at the bottom under gravity or a small pressure difference, achieving the circulation of the cleaning liquid and solid-liquid separation. The dehydrated solid waste can be periodically cleaned from the filter screen, realizing a fully automatic continuous sludge discharge process of "movement – ​​scraping – negative pressure suction – liquid-solid separation – clear liquid return," ensuring the cleanliness of the tank bottom. Example 2:

[0032] Based on Example 1, a pair of insulating support rods are fixedly installed on the sidewalls of the cleaning tank. The ends of the insulating support rods are equipped with hinge seats and are hinged to the electrolytic anode plate 4 via these hinge seats. The tilt angle of the anode plate 4 can be adjusted via the hinge seats. The electrolytic anode plate 4 is adjusted so that its plane forms an acute angle with the plane of the horizontally conveyed copper strip 6, preferably between 15° and 30°. This tilted arrangement makes the electric field lines and bubble precipitation direction more inclined towards the surface of the copper strip 6, enhancing the scouring force and uniformity of the electrolytic bubbles on the workpiece surface, while also facilitating the rapid dissipation of bubbles and preventing their accumulation below the anode plate.

[0033] In addition, one or more oil-absorbing boxes 20 are fixedly placed near the liquid surface inside the cleaning tank 1, and the boxes are filled with oil-absorbing cotton. The oil-absorbing cotton can absorb the small amount of free oil droplets that float to the liquid surface during cleaning, which helps to keep the liquid surface clean and reduce the impact of oil film on observation and process.

[0034] In addition, such as Figure 2 As shown, as an optional implementation, a support 31 is provided on the cleaning tank, a support rod 32 is placed on the support 31, and a clamp 33 is provided on the support rod. The clamp 33 is fixedly connected to the copper strip 6, so that the copper strip can be supported and fixed in a suspended manner. The copper strip is suspended in the water to achieve batch cleaning in a static manner. Example 3:

[0035] Based on Example 2, this embodiment provides a continuous cleaning method using a cleaning device for copper strip electroplating, comprising the following steps. In a continuous electroplating pretreatment production line, three cleaning devices described in this invention (denoted as the first cleaning tank, the second cleaning tank, and the third cleaning tank) are arranged in series along the conveying direction of the copper strip 6. Each cleaning tank can contain conductive cleaning solutions with the same or different formulations. The copper strip 6 is held by the conveying mechanism of a conventional production line and passes through the three tanks in sequence. A wavy motion can be used, immersing the strip in water at the cleaning tank and raising it to cross the gaps between adjacent cleaning tanks as it is conveyed. Finally, it undergoes subsequent processing such as drying. When passing through each cleaning tank, the copper strip 6 is connected to the negative terminal of an independent DC power supply through the corresponding conductive roller, serving as the cathode for electrolytic cleaning in that tank.

[0036] The cleaning method and steps are as follows: S1: Connect the three cleaning devices in series, with copper strip 6 continuously passing through each tank. Adjust the liquid level, temperature, and other parameters of each tank to meet the process requirements.

[0037] S2: Activate the ultrasonic transducer array 3 and corresponding electrolytic power supply in all cleaning tanks. The ultrasonic waves begin to operate, generating a cavitation effect within each tank. Simultaneously, electrolysis begins, with the copper strip 6 acting as the cathode, continuously precipitating hydrogen microbubbles on its surface. In the first cleaning tank, a rough cleaning is performed to remove most of the grease and contaminants; in the second and third cleaning tanks, fine cleaning and rinsing are carried out to ensure thorough cleaning. In each tank, the cavitation effect of the ultrasonic waves and the scouring effect of the electrolytic microbubbles work synergistically on the surface of the copper strip 6, achieving deep cleaning of the surface and all micro-grooves.

[0038] S3: Simultaneously with the start of the cleaning process, the continuous slag discharge mechanism of each cleaning tank is also activated. The drive motor 13 of each tank drives the slide table 9 to reciprocate, and the negative pressure pump 15 works continuously to automatically suck out, filter and return the clear liquid to the tank all solid particles that fall off the copper strip 6 and settle in the inclined sedimentation collection area 7 during the cleaning process. This process is completely synchronized with the cleaning production and does not require machine shutdown.

[0039] Through the above-mentioned multi-stage series cleaning, synergistic cleaning, and continuous slag removal process, the present invention can provide stable, efficient, and clean pretreatment cleaning for high-speed continuous electroplating production lines, significantly improving the quality of electroplated products and the overall efficiency of the production line.

[0040] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0041] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for electroplating copper strips, characterized in that: The system includes a cleaning tank (1) containing a cleaning solution; the side wall of the cleaning tank (1) is provided with an ultrasonic transducer array (3) and an electrolytic anode plate (4), and the ultrasonic transducer array (3) and the electrolytic anode plate (4) are arranged alternately on the side wall of the cleaning tank (1). The bottom of the cleaning tank (1) is provided with an inclined sedimentation collection area (7), and a continuous slag discharge mechanism is provided above the inclined sedimentation collection area (7). The continuous slag discharge mechanism is used to discharge the sediment along the inclined sedimentation collection area (7).

2. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning device also includes a conductive mechanism (5), which is used to connect the workpiece to be cleaned and use it as an electrolytic cathode; the ultrasonic transducer array (3) includes several groups of ultrasonic transducers arranged at equal intervals along the workpiece conveying direction, and the electrolytic anode plate (4) is provided between two adjacent groups of ultrasonic transducers on the same side of the workpiece.

3. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 2, characterized in that: The continuous slag discharge mechanism includes tracks (8) set on both sides of the inclined sedimentation collection area (7), a slide (9) is provided on the track (8), and a cover (10) is provided on the slide (9). The cover (10) is connected to a suction device, which is used to provide negative pressure to suck up the sludge through the cover (10).

4. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cleaning tank (1) is equipped with a linear drive module. The input end of the linear drive module is connected to the drive motor (13). The moving end slide (9) of the linear drive module is fixedly connected, so that the slide (9) can be moved by the linear drive module when the drive motor (13) is working.

5. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 4, characterized in that: The slide (9) is provided with a scraper (11) in the middle. The scraper (11) corresponds to the opening in the middle of the cover (10). When the slide (9) moves back and forth, the scraper (11) can be used to scrape off the sediment in the inclined sedimentation collection area (7).

6. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 5, characterized in that: The suction device includes a fluid pipe (14) connected to the cover (10), a negative pressure pump (15) is provided on the fluid pipe (14), the fluid pipe (14) is connected to the filter tank (16), the filter tank (16) is provided with a filter screen, and the bottom of the filter tank (16) is connected to the cleaning tank (1) through a return pipe (18).

7. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: The cleaning tank (1) has a support rod fixedly installed on its side wall, and the end of the support rod is provided with a hinge seat. The electrolytic anode plate (4) is connected to the support rod through the hinge seat.

8. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 7, characterized in that: The angle between the electrolytic anode plate (4) and the workpiece is 15° to 30°.

9. The cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning tank (1) is equipped with an oil absorption box (20), and the oil absorption box (20) is equipped with oil-absorbing cotton.

10. A cleaning method using the cleaning apparatus for copper plate electroplating as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Several cleaning devices are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the workpiece, and the workpiece is used as the cathode and is sequentially immersed in the cleaning solution of several cleaning devices during the conveying process. S2: The ultrasonic transducer array (3) is started synchronously, and the electrolytic anode plate (4) is energized so that the surface of the workpiece is simultaneously subjected to ultrasonic cavitation and electrolytic microbubble scouring. S3: During the cleaning process, the particulate matter that has settled in the cleaning tank (1) is continuously discharged through the slag discharge mechanism.

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