System for removing flux residues from printed wiring assemblies
First Claim
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1. A process for cleaning rosin flux residues from printed wiring assemblies, comprising the steps of:
- placing one or more printed wiring assemblies in a vacuum sealable processing chamber;
drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber to achieve a partial vacuum in order to promote the migration of flux residues out of confined spaces on said assemblies;
washing said wiring assemblies with solvent to remove flux residues which have migrated out of confined spaces on said assemblies; and
drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber to achieve a partial vacuum for a second time in order to evacuate any remaining solvent materials from on said assemblies.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for cleaning rosin flux residues off of printed wiring assemblies. In accordance with the invention printed wiring assemblies are placed within a processing chamber and a vacuum pump is used to draw a vacuum within the processing chamber. The rosin flux residues are then washed off of the printed wiring assemblies using a solvent for dissolving and removing the flux residues.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for cleaning rosin flux residues from printed wiring assemblies, comprising the steps of:
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placing one or more printed wiring assemblies in a vacuum sealable processing chamber; drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber to achieve a partial vacuum in order to promote the migration of flux residues out of confined spaces on said assemblies; washing said wiring assemblies with solvent to remove flux residues which have migrated out of confined spaces on said assemblies; and drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber to achieve a partial vacuum for a second time in order to evacuate any remaining solvent materials from on said assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for cleaning rosin flux residues from printed wiring assemblies, comprising:
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a sealable processing chamber adapted for holding a plurality of wiring assemblies and for maintaining a partial vacuum during processing operations; vacuum pump means for drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber in order to promote the migration of flux residues out of confined spaces on said wiring assemblies; and means for washing said assemblies with solvent in order to remove flux residues which have migrated out of confined spaces on said wiring assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for cleaning rosin flux residues from printed wiring assemblies having SMDs installed thereon, comprising the steps of:
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placing one or more wiring assemblies in a vacuum sealable processing chamber; drawing down the ambient pressure within said chamber by pumping air out of said chamber with a vacuum pump in order to promote the migration of flux residues out from under the SMDs installed on said assemblies; washing said wiring assemblies with solvent to remove the flux residues which have migrated out from under the SMDs. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification