Apparatus and method for cleaning a flux station of a soldering system
First Claim
1. An improved cleaning system for a spray fluxing apparatus of the type including a tank for holding a bath of flux, a supply of compressed air, a manifold having a number of holes appearing therein, means for rotating a thin film of flux over the holes, and means for delivering the compressed air through the holes to blow the thin film of flux appearing over the holes in a spray, wherein the improvement comprises:
- means for delivering a predetermined amount of solvent through the holes in the manifold into the tank; and
control means for automatically controlling the compressed air delivering means and the solvent delivering means, such that, after the control means has allowed a predetermined amount of solvent to be delivered to the previously empty tank through the holes in the manifold, the solvent supply delivering means is closed, the compressed air supply delivering means is opened, and the rotating means is rotated through solvent to clean the flux spraying apparatus as it comes in contact with the solvent and the compressed air.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Spray flux apparatus (10) of a soldering system is automatically cleaned by delivery of a predetermined amount of solvent to the apparatus. A control system (50) transmits signals for controlling the delivery of air or solvent through holes (33) in an air manifold (32) located in a flux tank (21). After a predetermined amount of solvent is delivered to the tank (21), the control system (50) signals a solenoid valve (62) to close to stop the flow of solvent to the tank (21) and then signals another solenoid valve (52) to open to allow compressed air to enter the tank (21) to aid in the cleaning of the apparatus (10).
39 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An improved cleaning system for a spray fluxing apparatus of the type including a tank for holding a bath of flux, a supply of compressed air, a manifold having a number of holes appearing therein, means for rotating a thin film of flux over the holes, and means for delivering the compressed air through the holes to blow the thin film of flux appearing over the holes in a spray, wherein the improvement comprises:
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means for delivering a predetermined amount of solvent through the holes in the manifold into the tank; and control means for automatically controlling the compressed air delivering means and the solvent delivering means, such that, after the control means has allowed a predetermined amount of solvent to be delivered to the previously empty tank through the holes in the manifold, the solvent supply delivering means is closed, the compressed air supply delivering means is opened, and the rotating means is rotated through solvent to clean the flux spraying apparatus as it comes in contact with the solvent and the compressed air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of cleaning a flux spraying station of the type including a tank for holding a bath of flux, a manifold having a plurality of holes connectable to a supply of compressed air, a squirrel cage screen for rotating a thin film of liquid over the holes, and means for rotating the screen, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) emptying the bath of flux from the tank; (b) delivering a predetermined amount of a solvent into the tank through the plurality of holes in the manifold; (c) rotating the squirrel cage screen through the solvent to clean the screen; (d) stoping the delivery of the solvent to the tank after a predetermined amount of solvent has been delivered; and
then(e) delivering compressed air to the tank through the holes in the manifold to aid in cleaning the screen as it passes over the holes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification