Soldering Iron Tip Cleaner Chamber for Collision-Free Solder Blow-Off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing iron tip cleaner devices for soldering irons often require manual adjustment of air nozzle direction and pressure, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential collisions between the iron tip and the air nozzle, especially when dealing with iron tips of varying shapes.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates air jetting holes in the wall of a cylindrical cleaner chamber, eliminating the need for a protruding nozzle and allowing for adjustable hole arrangements, sizes, and pressures to accommodate different iron tip shapes, thereby ensuring efficient solder removal without manual adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a protruding air nozzle is used to jet air to the iron tip, then air can be jetted to remove solder, but the iron tip may collide with the nozzle and the nozzle position and angle require manual adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic cleaning operationVSAvoidcollision-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the air jetting function from a protruding nozzle and integrates it into the wall surface of the cleaner box. Multiple air jetting holes are formed directly in the wall, eliminating the need for a separate protruding nozzle structure. This prevents collision between the iron tip and nozzle while maintaining effective air jetting capability for solder removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-point air jetting approach (protruding nozzle) to a distributed multi-dimensional air jetting system. Multiple air jetting holes are arranged at different positions and angles on the wall surface, enabling air to be jetted from various directions simultaneously. This dimensional distribution ensures comprehensive coverage for iron tips of various shapes without requiring precise manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of nozzle position and angle is performed, then cleaning can be adapted to different iron tip shapes, but the position and angle settings vary depending on worker ability and require frequent program changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of various iron tip shapesVSAvoidprogram adjustment frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a universal cleaning structure where multiple air jetting holes in the wall serve multiple functions: they can clean various iron tip shapes, provide air jetting from different directions, and eliminate the need for manual adjustment. The fixed multi-hole configuration replaces the need for adjustable single nozzles, making the system adaptable to different iron tip shapes without requiring program changes or manual repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If air pressure is increased to blow off solder effectively, then solder removal efficiency improves, but the risk of collision between iron tip and nozzle increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolder removal efficiencyVSAvoidcollision-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the air jetting function into multiple separate air jetting holes distributed on the wall surface, rather than using a single high-pressure nozzle. This segmentation allows air to be jetted from multiple lower-pressure sources simultaneously, achieving effective solder removal without the collision risk associated with high-pressure protruding nozzles. Each hole can be positioned to optimize local cleaning while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution prevents collisions between the iron tip and the air nozzle, allows for efficient removal of solder from iron tips of various shapes, and reduces the need for frequent program changes in automated soldering systems.

Implementation Method 1

air jetting holes, through which air is jetted to an iron tip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir jetting: Jet

Implementation Method 2

creating a partial vacuum at an opening of the inner bore so as to suck air from around the opening together with molten drops of solder into the inner bore

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPartial vacuum suction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3939732B1Iron tip cleaner device for soldering iron
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 SHORITSU ELECTRIC IND CO LTD
  • EP3939732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939732B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is to provide a mechanism that does not cause a situation such as corrosion of the iron tip with an air nozzle during work of blowing off solder from the iron tip of the soldering iron, and a mechanism capable of coping with various shapes of iron tips. In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an iron tip cleaner device for a soldering iron includes a cleaner chamber including a wall surface and an air jetting holes that is provided in the wall surface and jets air for blowing off solder on an iron tip. The solder on the iron tip is blown off by convection air generated when the air jetted from the air jetting holes collides with the wall surface.