Patent ID: 9174249
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A47L,B08B,G02B,H01J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a substantially circular tank comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall disposed therebetween, the tank being configured to contain a cleaning fluid and to receive a substantially planar article submerged in the cleaning fluid; a plurality of cleaning fluid inlets for delivering the cleaning fluid to the tank, each cleaning fluid inlet at least partially disposed in the sidewall proximate to the bottom portion of the tank; an intermediate support for receiving a substantially planar article, the intermediate support configured to maintain the substantially planar article in the tank above the plurality of cleaning fluid inlets and below a plurality of fluid outlet ports disposed in the sidewall proximate to the top portion of the tank; an ultrasonic generator coupled to the tank for generating ultrasonic waves in the tank and cleaning fluid received therein; wherein the intermediate support comprises an upper support surface and a base structure opposite the upper support surface, and is configured to define (i) a substantially continuous outer circumferential fluid gap between a substantial entirety of an outer circumference of the intermediate support and an inner circumference of the tank; (ii) a substantially discontinuous inner circumferential fluid gap between an intermediate circumference of the intermediate support and the substantially planar article supported by the upper support surface of the intermediate support; and (iii) a plurality of radial cleaning fluid passages extending through the base structure of the intermediate support from the outer circumference of the intermediate support to an inner circumference of the intermediate support; and wherein the apparatus is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid inlets, remove particles from the substantially planar article, and direct flow of the cleaning fluid such that removed particles are carried away from the substantially planar article and out of the tank through the fluid outlet ports.