Dry Ice Cleaning Chamber for Liquid-Free Electronics Refurbishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of effectively cleaning electronic devices without using liquids that could damage them, while ensuring they are restored to a near-new condition for resale, is not adequately addressed by existing methods, leading to high costs and inefficiencies in device repair and refurbishment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using dry ice for cleaning electronic devices, involving a chamber with a robot arm, dry ice machine, and pneumatic actuators to secure and clean devices, with controlled particle flow and airflow, ensuring thorough and safe cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If liquid cleaning methods are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but risk of device damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces liquid-based cleaning mechanisms with a dry ice blasting system that uses solid carbon dioxide particles accelerated through a nozzle. The dry ice particles impact and remove contaminants mechanically without leaving residual moisture, thus achieving effective cleaning while eliminating the damage risk associated with liquids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of dry ice from solid to gas (sublimation) as the cleaning mechanism. When dry ice particles contact the warmer device surface, they rapidly sublimates, creating a lifting effect that removes contaminants. The phase transition also ensures no liquid residue remains, preventing damage to electronic components
2Ease of operation
If manual cleaning processes are used, then flexibility is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates an automated robot arm that autonomously positions and maneuvers the device within the cleaning chamber, and automatically directs the dry ice blasting process. This self-service capability eliminates manual intervention while maintaining process flexibility through programmable movements, significantly increasing cleaning productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a pneumatic system to accelerate dry ice particles through a nozzle and deliver them to the device surface. The controlled airflow enables precise and consistent cleaning application without manual operation, improving both productivity and uniformity of the cleaning process
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized draining equipment is installed, then liquid cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid entirely from the cleaning process, replacing it with a dry ice blasting system. This elimination of liquids removes the need for draining equipment, sinks, and associated infrastructure, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective cleaning capability through the dry particulate method
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently cleans electronic devices using dry ice, preserving their condition and safety, reducing costs and enhancing the refurbishment process by providing a reliable and effective alternative to liquid-based cleaning methods.
Implementation Method 1
cleaned by a flow of dry ice
Implementation Method 2
cleaning an electronic device with dry ice
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for cleaning an electronic device with dry ice is shown and described. The Method includes placing an electronic device in a first location to be cleaned. Applying dry ice to each side of the electronic device. Applying air to each side of the electronic device. Removing the electronic device from the first location.