Inline Conveyor Cleaner Flood Box for Low Standoff PCBs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleaning methodologies for printed circuit boards with low-standoff components are either ineffective due to insufficient force in spray cleaning or too time-consuming in bath cleaning, failing to adequately clean underneath these components.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor belt system with an agitated reservoir of cleaning solution, featuring a flood box with sidewalls and opposing water jets, and spray nozzles to agitate the solution, ensuring thorough flooding and cleaning underneath low-standoff components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If spray cleaning is used, then cleaning speed is improved, but cleaning effectiveness underneath low-standoff components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines spray cleaning and bath cleaning into a single integrated system. The flood box creates a localized bath environment where cleaning solution pools underneath low-standoff components, while spray nozzles continuously agitate and replenish the solution. This merging allows the system to achieve both the speed of spray cleaning and the effectiveness of bath cleaning in the same apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning system is segmented into distinct functional zones: spray nozzles for solution delivery and agitation, a flood box for solution pooling, and a conveyor belt for board transport. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - sprays provide rapid solution application while the flood box maintains solution depth for effective soaking underneath components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If bath cleaning is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous agitation through spray nozzles that constantly replenish and circulate cleaning solution in the flood box. This continuous action prevents the solution from becoming stagnant or depleted, maintaining cleaning effectiveness throughout the process. Meanwhile, the conveyor belt enables continuous processing of multiple boards, eliminating the batch-by-batch operation of traditional bath cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static bath cleaning to a dynamic system where cleaning solution is continuously sprayed and agitated. The spray nozzles create moving streams of solution that actively penetrate underneath low-standoff components, while the conveyor belt moves boards through the cleaning zone. This dynamic approach maintains both effectiveness and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If cleaning solution is allowed to soak underneath low-standoff components, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hydraulic principles by creating a flood box that pools cleaning solution to a sufficient depth, allowing solution to naturally flood underneath low-standoff components through capillary action and gravity. The spray nozzles then agitate this pooled solution, enhancing penetration and cleaning effectiveness without requiring extended soaking times. This hydraulic approach enables rapid yet thorough cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

This approach allows for quick and effective cleaning of circuit boards, including underneath low-standoff components, balancing speed and thoroughness by using a combination of water curtains and spray nozzles to maintain solution agitation and prevent spills.

Implementation Method 1

agitated by a plurality of spray nozzles shooting high flows of cleaning solution into the reservoir from above or within the flood box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid agitation: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

the sprayed cleaning solution usually does not provide enough force to overcome the surface tension under the low-standoff components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

opposing jets of water (dubbed water curtains) at the entrance and exit of the conveyor belt to and from the flood box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS10518295B2Method for containing a fluid volume in an inline conveyorized cleaner for cleaning low standoff components

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 ALLIANCE MFG

AI summary

In one embodiment, the disclosed apparatus features a conveyor belt though an agitated reservoir of cleaning solution that is pooled by a flood box defined by sidewalls along the sides of the conveyor belt and opposing jets of water dubbed water curtains at the entrance and exit of the conveyor belt to and from the flood box, and, agitated by a plurality of spray nozzles shooting high flows of cleaning solution into the reservoir from above or within the flood box. The conveyor belt may be horizontal or slightly angled from the horizontal relative to the flood box.