Vertical Axis Basket Rotation for Printed Circuit Board Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing washing and cleaning devices for industrial components, particularly printed circuit boards, require simplification in structure and handling while maintaining effective cleaning results, as the previous designs are complex and prone to collisions during tub changes.

Innovation Solution

A simplified washing and cleaning device with a robust support frame, a vertically movable carriage system, and a basket that rotates only around a vertical axis, eliminating the need for a pivoting motion, which allows for standalone or combined system use, and utilizes a pumpless design with a silo for efficient rinsing liquid management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the basket is made pivotable about a horizontally extending pivot axis to improve cleaning effectiveness, then cleaning result is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning resultVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the pivoting mechanism about a horizontal axis from the basket design. The basket is made rotatable only about a vertical axis, eliminating the complex dual-axis movement system while maintaining effective cleaning through vertical rotation alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of allowing the basket to pivot horizontally and rotate vertically as in previous designs, the invention inverts the approach by making the basket rotatable only about a vertical axis, achieving cleaning effectiveness through this simplified rotational movement pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a dual-axis rotation system is implemented to enhance cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to collision risks during tub changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the horizontal pivoting capability from the basket system, leaving only vertical rotation. This eliminates collision risks during tub changes while preserving cleaning effectiveness through the simplified single-axis rotation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If a complex lifting and lowering device is used for the basket, then vertical movement capability is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical movement capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is designed to be lowered into and lifted from the tub using its own weight and the rotational mechanism, without requiring a separate complex lifting and lowering device. The system serves itself through the inherent mechanical advantages of the rotation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution provides a stable, easy-to-handle device that achieves effective cleaning without the complexity of previous designs, reduces rinsing liquid consumption, and prevents separation of water-alcohol mixtures during cleaning, ensuring efficient and uniform cleaning of components.

Implementation Method 1

the rinsing liquid in the inner tub is also set into a twisting movement, which leads to a specifically formed whirlpool movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex movement: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

the carriage can be moved along the vertical stand in the height direction, whereby the basket can be lowered into the tub or moved out of it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3733316B1Washing and/or cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 WIWOX SURFACE SYST
  • EP3733316B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3733316B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3733316B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a washing and/or cleaning device for industrial components or workpieces, in particular printed circuit boards, with a tub (2) providing a washing and/or cleaning chamber (27) and a basket (3) serving for receiving the components and/or workpieces, wherein the basket (3) is designed to be movable in the vertical direction (4) relative to the tub (2) and rotatable about a basket vertical axis (5), characterized by a support frame (6) which has a support frame (7) receiving the tub (2), a vertical stand (8) arranged on the support frame (6) and a slide (9) arranged movable on the vertical stand (8), wherein the slide (9) provides a coupling unit (10) for the rotatable arrangement of the basket (3).