Soldering iron cleaning apparatus

• US 6,604,255 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hayashi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/927,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 15/77, 15/88, 15/882, 15/931, 151/02, 151/040.3, 151/040.4, 451/211, 451/271, 451/466
• US Class Current: 15/93.1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/34 rotating about an axis parallel to the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 3/028 Devices for cleaning soldering iron tips B23K3/027 takes precedence

Abstract

This soldering iron cleaning apparatus comprises a main body having an introduction hole, a motor, a sensor mechanism which detects the insertion of the soldering head to the introduction hole and drives the motor, a cleaning member which removes solder remaining on the soldering head, a power transmission mechanism which drives the cleaning member by the driving force from the motor. The power transmission mechanism rotates the cleaning member, by the driving force of the motor, in such a way that the cleaning member scrapes the external surface of the soldering head from the base side to the tip side of the soldering head while turning the cleaning member around the soldering head.

Claims

1. A soldering iron cleaning apparatus which cleans a soldering head of a soldering iron, comprising:

a main body having an introduction hole through which the soldering head of the soldering iron can be inserted;

a motor;

a sensor mechanism which detects the insertion of the soldering head into the introduction hole and activates the motor;

a plurality of cleaning members which removes solder remaining on the soldering head;

a power transmission mechanism which drives a plurality of cleaning members by the driving force of the motor;

wherein the power transmission mechanism rotates a plurality of the cleaning members by the driving force of the motor in such a way that a plurality of the cleaning members scrapes the external surface of the soldering head from a base side to a tip side of the soldering head while revolving a plurality of the cleaning members around the soldering head.

2. A soldering iron cleaning apparatus which cleans a soldering head of a soldering iron, comprising:

a main body having an introduction hole through which the soldering head of the soldering iron can be inserted;

a motor;

a sensor mechanism which detects the insertion of the soldering head into the introduction hole and activates the motor;

a plurality of cleaning members which remove solder remaining on the soldering head;

a power transmission mechanism, which drives a plurality of cleaning members by the driving force of the motor, comprising at least one planet gear which revolves around the soldering head inserted into the introduction hole while rotating about its axis when receiving the driving force of the motor, a support member which is combined with the planet gear so as to revolve around the soldering head together with the planet gear, a shaft which supports a cleaning member holder in such a way that the cleaning member which freely rotates about the shaft; and

a second transmission mechanism, which turns the cleaning member about the shaft by transmitting the rotational force of the planet gear to the cleaning member, in which the axis of the shaft is perpendicular to a plane containing the turning axis of the support member;

wherein the power transmission mechanism rotates a plurality of the cleaning members by the driving force of the motor in such a way that a plurality of the cleaning members scrape the external surface of the soldering head from a base side to a tip side of the soldering head while revolving a plurality of the cleaning members around the soldering head.

3. A soldering iron cleaning apparatus which cleans a soldering head of a soldering iron, comprising:

a main body having an introduction hole through which the soldering head of the soldering iron can be inserted;

a motor;

a sensor mechanism which detects the insertion of the soldering head into the introduction hole and activates the motor;

a plurality of cleaning members comprising a flexible material which scrapes solder remaining on the soldering head;

a power transmission mechanism which drives a plurality of cleaning members by the driving force of the motor;

wherein the power transmission mechanism rotates a plurality of the cleaning members by the driving force of the motor in such a way that a plurality of the cleaning members scrape the external surface of the soldering head from a base side to a tip side of the soldering head while revolving a plurality of the cleaning members around the soldering head.

4. A soldering iron cleaning apparatus which cleans a soldering head of a soldering iron, comprising:

a main body having an introduction hole through which the soldering head of the soldering iron can be inserted;

a motor;

a sensor mechanism which detects the insertion of the soldering head into the introduction hole and activates the motor;

a plurality of cleaning members which remove solder remaining on the soldering head, wherein the cleaning members are radially fixed on a shaft, each of the cleaning members comprises a flexible material one end of which is fixed to a cleaning member holder which is supported by the shaft, and the other end of which scrapes solder from the soldering head;

a power transmission mechanism which drives a plurality of cleaning members by the driving force of the motor, the power transmission mechanism comprising;

at least one planet gear which revolves around the soldering head inserted into the introduction hole while rotating about its axis when receiving the driving force of the motor;

a support member which is combined with the planet gear so as to revolve around the soldering head together with the planet gear;

a shaft which supports a cleaning member holder in such a way that the cleaning member which freely rotates about the shaft; and

a second transmission mechanism, which turns the cleaning member about the shaft by transmitting the rotational force of the planet gear to the cleaning member,

wherein the axis of the shaft is perpendicular to a plane containing the turning axis of the support member;

wherein the power transmission mechanism rotates a plurality of the cleaning members by the driving force of the motor in such a way that a plurality of the cleaning members scrape the external surface of the soldering head from a base side to a tip side of the soldering head while revolving a plurality of the cleaning members around the soldering head.