Cleaning device

A cleaning device includes a cleaning solution tank filled to a predetermined height with an electrolyte solution, a negative electrode provided inside the cleaning solution tank, a metal jig mounted with a metal mask used to manufacture an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display to one side for guiding the metal mask to be connected to the negative electrode, positive electrodes installed at predetermined intervals inside the cleaning solution tank with along with a metal mask, and a rectifying device electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrodes.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The described technology relates generally to a cleaning device. More particularly, the described technology relates to a cleaning device for removing foreign particles attached to a cleaning target object.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a deposition process using a metal mask is applied when forming an organic material layer for an organic light emitting element in an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

To manufacture an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display of high quality, it is important to clean the metal mask. The reason for this is that, if contamination particles from the surrounding environment or the organic material coated in the deposition process are not completely eliminated and remain on the surface of the metal mask surface, the desired deposition process of the organic material is not normally executed such that the production yield may be affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a cleaning device capable of efficiently cleaning a cleaning target object.

A cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: an electrolyte cleaning solution tank filled to a predetermined height with an electrolyte solution; a negative electrode provided inside the electrolyte solution tank; a metal jig mounted with a metal mask used to manufacture an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display to one side, and guiding the metal mask so as to be connected to the negative electrode; positive electrodes installed at predetermined intervals inside the electrolyte cleaning solution tank along with the metal mask; and a rectifying device electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrodes.

The cleaning device may further include: a negative bus bar installed at a lower portion of the electrolyte solution tank for transmitting a negative voltage supplied by the rectifying device to the negative electrode; and an elastic member installed on the negative bus bar and contacting the negative electrode.

The upper portion of the metal jig may be connected to a catching bar which is slung over one side of the electrolyte cleaning solution tank.

The cleaning device may further include: a robot for horizontally and vertically moving the metal jig into a predetermined position to load and unload the metal jig inside the cleaning solution tank through an inlet formed in the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank; a remote control device for remotely controlling the rectifying device and the robot by means of a predetermined program; and a display device for displaying the state of the rectifying device and the remote control device.

The plurality of the positive electrodes may be installed on the inner surface of the cleaning solution tank at an interval from the metal jig, and may be disposed in correspondence to the metal mask.

The cleaning device may further include a cover for covering the upper inlet of the cleaning solution tank, the cover may be connected to an exhaust line for exhausting a gas generated in the cleaning solution tank, and the exhaust line may be installed with a gas densitometer for detecting the concentration of the gas passing through the exhaust line.

The gas densitometer may be a hydrogen densitometer for detecting the concentration of hydrogen.

The cleaning device may further include an insulating member interposed between the metal mask and the metal jig.

As described above, according to the present invention, the metal mask may be easily cleaned in a state in which the negative electrode contacts the cleaning target object.

In addition, by using the robot, the metal mask may be easily loaded at a predetermined position of the cleaning solution tank, that is, at the negative bus bar installed at the lower portion of the cleaning solution tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Parts that are irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

Furthermore, as the size and thickness of the respective constituent elements shown in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for better comprehension and ease of description, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the illustrations.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the cleaning device includes a positive electrode140, a metal mask100as a cleaning target object, a cleaning solution120, a negative bus bar150, an elastic member170, a cleaning solution tank130receiving a negative electrode180, and a rectifying device110electrically connected to the positive electrode140and the negative electrode180. A support197is installed on the bottom surface of the cleaning solution tank130, and a catching bar190supported by a stopper195is installed on the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank130.

The cleaning solution120is filled in the cleaning solution tank130to a predetermined height, and a metal jig105submerged in the cleaning solution120is installed. A metal mask100of a stainless or invar material as the cleaning target object is fixed and installed to the metal jig105. Here, the cleaning target object may be applied as the appropriate cleaning target object to remove the foreign particles, as well as a metal mask capable of being used in the manufacturing process of an electronic device such as the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

The negative bus bar150supported by the support197is fixed and installed at the inner lower portion of the cleaning solution tank130.

As shown in the drawing, one end of the support197is fixed to the bottom surface of the cleaning solution tank130and is installed inside the cleaning solution tank130. However, the one end thereof may be fixed to the side surface of the cleaning solution tank130.

The negative electrode180, elastically supported by the elastic member170, is disposed at an upper portion of the negative bus bar150, and the guide160may be disposed on both sides with respect to the elastic member170and the negative electrode180. This guide160may be selectively provided according to design specifications of the cleaning device.

To install the metal jig105installed with the metal mask100inside the cleaning solution tank130, if the metal jig105is moved in a direction from the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank130to the lower portion thereof, the lower cross-sectional surface of the metal mask100is adhered to the negative electrode180. An insulating member107for insulating the metal mask100and the metal jig105is disposed therebetween.

In this case, the elastic member170elastically adheres the negative electrode180to the metal mask100.

The catching bar190is provided at the upper portion of the metal jig105, and the catching bar190is supported by the stopper195formed on the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank130. Accordingly, the metal jig105is strongly supported at a predetermined position in the cleaning solution tank130.

In addition, the guide160guides the movement of the metal jig105when the metal jig105moves from the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank130to the lower portion thereof such that the metal mask100and the negative electrode180smoothly contact.

As shown inFIG. 1, the plurality of positive electrodes140are disposed on both sides of the metal jig105so as to be close or adhered to both inner side surfaces of the cleaning solution tank130. The present exemplary embodiment is a case wherein the plurality of positive electrodes140are close to the inner side surface of the cleaning solution tank130. Here, one positive electrode140is disposed so as to correspond to the metal mask100.

The rectifying device110electrically connected to the negative bus bar150and the positive electrode140is installed outside the cleaning solution tank130, and the rectifying device110applies a negative voltage to the negative bus bar150and a positive voltage to the positive electrode140.

The negative voltage applied to the negative bus bar150is transmitted to the metal mask100through the elastic member170and the negative electrode180.

FIG. 2is an overall system schematic diagram of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 2, a robot200is disposed on the upper portion of the cleaning solution tank130, and the robot200moves the metal jig105in the longitudinal and transverse directions in three-dimensional space so as to load the metal jig105at the predetermined position inside the cleaning solution tank130.

The rectifying device110is connected to the remote control device210, and the remote control device210is connected to the display device220for displaying the state of the rectifying device110and the remote control device210. In addition, the robot200may be controlled by the remote control device210according to a predetermined program.

As shown, the cover230may be installed at the upper inlet of the cleaning solution tank130, and the cover230may be installed by the robot200such that the upper inlet of the cleaning solution tank130is closed and sealed.

FIG. 3is an inner side view and a partial detailed view of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the elastic member170is installed on the negative bus bar150, and the negative electrode180is provided at an end of the elastic member170.

The elastic member170had a flat spring shape which is curved as a semi-circle, and thereby the negative electrode180is elastically adhered to the metal mask100.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the metal jig105enters the cleaning solution tank130and one end of the metal jig105contacts the negative bus bar150so as to be supported, the catching bar190contacts the stopper195such that the metal jig105is disposed in a durable state inside the cleaning solution tank130.

FIG. 4Ais an inner front view of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 4Bis a side view of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, it is preferable that the cover230installed at the upper inlet of the cleaning solution tank130has a structure for sealing the upper inlet such that the gas that may be generated inside the cleaning solution tank130does not escape.

In addition, the cover230is connected to an exhaust line400for exhausting a reaction gas generated inside the cleaning solution tank130, and the exhaust line400may be installed with a hydrogen densitometer410.

Accordingly, hydrogen gas generated in the cleaning solution120during the time that the cleaning solution120cleans the metal mask100is exhausted through the exhaust line400, the hydrogen densitometer410detects the concentration of hydrogen and transmits it to the remote control device210, and the display device220may display the value corresponding thereto.

In the exemplary embodiment, the cleaning device may detect the cleaning state of the metal mask by using the concentration of hydrogen moving through the exhaust line400.

As described above, by using the robot, the metal jig105may be easily loaded at a predetermined position of the cleaning solution tank130, that is, at the negative bus bar150installed at a lower portion of the cleaning solution tank130.

In addition, the elastic member170elastically adheres the metal mask100to the negative electrode180mounted on the negative bus bar150such that the voltage is stably applied, and the cleaning state may be easily confirmed by using the hydrogen densitometer410installed on the exhaust line400.