Patent Publication Number: US-2022236005-A1

Title: Air drying device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims a priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202120202391.0 filed in China on Jan. 22, 2021, a disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of electrochemical deposition technologies, and more particular, to an air drying device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the display field of Mini LED, micro LED, etc., since light emitting diode (LED) current is several tens of milliamps, thick Cu metal with high current carrying capability is required. Thus, electrochemically depositing thick copper can improve efficiency and reduce cost from an efficiency and cost perspective. After electrochemical deposition, residual electrochemical deposition chemical solution on a surface of a substrate will affect subsequent processes; therefore, it is necessary to remove the residual electrochemical deposition chemical solution on the surface of the substrate through water washing and air drying treatment, so as to ensure cleaning of the substrate surface and smooth progress of the subsequent processes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air drying device, which can ensure effects of washing and air drying of substrates and facilitate smooth progress of subsequent processes. 
     The technical schemes provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows. 
     In one aspect, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air drying device, including: 
     a base including opposing top and bottom portions, the top portion including at least one first bearing surface; and 
     at least one bearing plate disposed at the top portion of the base, the bearing plate including a second bearing surface, the first bearing surface being inclined relative to the second bearing surface. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of first hollowed-out holes is defined in the first bearing surface; and a liquid collection tank is provided inside the base; and the plurality of first hollowed-out holes are in communication with the liquid collection tank. 
     In one embodiment, the base is further provided with a liquid outlet in communication with the liquid collection tank. 
     In one embodiment, a bottom portion of the liquid collection tank has a V-shaped tank structure. 
     In one embodiment, the bearing plate further comprises a back surface opposite to the second bearing surface, the bearing plate is provided with a plurality of second hollowed-out holes that extend through the second bearing surface and the back surface, and the plurality of second hollowed-out holes are in communication with the liquid collection tank. 
     In one embodiment, the plurality of second hollowed-out holes are spaced apart and arranged in a matrix. 
     In one embodiment, an area of the first hollowed-out hole is smaller than an area of the second hollowed-out hole. 
     In one embodiment, the liquid collection tank has an opening toward the top portion, and the bearing plate is at a side of the opening away from the bottom portion. 
     In one embodiment, at least two first bearing surfaces are provided and located at two opposite sides of the opening of the liquid collection tank; and at least two bearing plates are provided and are inclined in opposite directions, and a bottom end of each of the bearing plates is connected to a corresponding one of the first bearing surfaces, and top ends of the at least two bearing plates are connected together to form a V-shaped structure. 
     In one embodiment, the at least two bearing plates span over the liquid collection tank. 
     In one embodiment, the at least two bearing plates and the liquid collection tank enclose a hollow cavity; and the hollow cavity is in communication with the plurality of second hollowed-out holes. 
     In one embodiment, the first bearing surface is provided with a positioning structure. 
     In one embodiment, the positioning structure is a positioning groove defined in the first bearing surface. 
     In one embodiment, the base is connected to the bearing plate as an integral structure. 
     In one embodiment, the bottom portion of the base is further provided with a moving wheel. 
     In one embodiment, the base further comprises a sidewall between the top portion and bottom portion, and the sidewall is connected to the bearing plate. 
     In one embodiment, a lateral side edge of the bearing plate and a lateral side surface of the base are connected by the sidewall. 
     In one embodiment, a handle is provided on the sidewall. 
     The beneficial effects of embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows: 
     The air drying device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be used for washing and air-drying a substrate after an electrochemical deposition process. The first bearing surface of the base and the second bearing surface of the bearing plate are inclined to each other, such that when the substrate is put on the air drying device, a bottom side edge of the substrate is supported by the first bearing surface, and the back surface of the substrate is supported by the second bearing surface, which allows the substrate to be obliquely placed on the air drying device. In such a way, the effect of washing and air-drying is ensured, which can effectively improve the efficiency and promote the smooth progress of subsequent processes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an air drying device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the air drying device in a state of bearing a substrate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In order to make objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent, the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. Obviously, the following embodiments are merely a part of, rather than all of, the embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on these embodiments, a person skilled in the art may obtain the other embodiments, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Unless otherwise defined, any technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the common meaning understood by a person of ordinary skills. Such words as “first” and “second” used in the specification and claims are merely used to differentiate different components rather than to represent any order, number or importance. Similarly, such words as “one” or “one of” are merely used to represent the existence of at least one member, rather than to limit the number thereof. Such words as “connect” or “connected to” may include electrical connection, direct or indirect, rather than being limited to physical or mechanical connection. Such words as “on/above”, “under/below”, “left” and “right” are merely used to represent relative position relationship, and when an absolute position of an object is changed, the relative position relationship will be changed too. 
     In order to solve the problem in the related art that the chemical solution on the surface of the substrate after the electrochemical deposition process affects the subsequent processes, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air drying device, which can ensure water washing and air drying effects of substrates, and promote the subsequent process to proceed smoothly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air drying device, including: 
     a base  100  including opposing top and bottom portions, the top portion including at least one first bearing surface  110 ; and 
     at least one bearing plate  200  disposed on the top portion of the base  100 , the bearing plate  200  including a second bearing surface  210 , the first bearing surface  110  being inclined relative to the second bearing surface  210 . 
     The air drying device in the above-mentioned scheme can be used for water washing and air drying a substrate after an electrochemical deposition process. AS shown in  FIG. 2 , when a substrate  300  after the electrochemical deposition is water washed and air dried, the substrate  300  (in  FIG. 2 , the substrate  300  is represented by a dotted line) is put on the air drying device in such a manner that a bottom side edge of the substrate is supported by the first bearing surface  110  and a back surface of the substrate is supported by the second bearing surface  210 . Since the first bearing surface  110  of the base  100  is inclined relative to the second bearing surface  210  of the bearing plate  200 , the substrate can be obliquely placed on the air drying device. When water washing is performed, firstly, a washing liquid (such as pure water) can be used to rapidly wash the substrate from top to bottom and from two lateral sides of the substrate, and then the substrate is dried by using compressed air from top to bottom and around. Since the substrate is obliquely arranged, the washing liquid can smoothly flow down from the substrate, thereby ensuring that there is no residual electrochemical deposition chemical solution on the surface of the substrate. In particular, there is no residual chemical solution on a top side edge of the substrate, thereby ensuring effects of water washing and air drying of the substrate and promoting the smooth progress of subsequent processes. 
     It should be noted that, in practical applications, the air drying device can be used not only for water washing and air drying the substrate after the electrochemical deposition process, but also for other applications. 
     In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of first hollowed-out holes  120  is defined in the first bearing surface  110 ; and a liquid collection tank  130  is provided inside the base  100 , and the plurality of first hollowed-out holes  120  are in communication with the liquid collection tank  130 . The base  100  is further provided with a liquid outlet  140  in communication with the liquid collection tank  130 . 
     With the above-mentioned scheme, since the first bearing surface  110  is provided with the first hollowed-out holes  120 , when the substrate is washed, the washing liquid can enter the liquid collection tank  130  from the first hollowed-out holes  120 , which facilitates the collection of the washing liquid for reuse. Furthermore, due to the presence of the first hollowed-out holes  120 , when the compressed air blows to the bottom portion of the substrate, the chemical solution does not rebound, which pollutes surfaces of samples. 
     In some embodiments, a positioning structure may further be provided on the first bearing surface  110  for positioning the substrate. The positioning structure may include a positioning groove  302  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or the like provided in the first bearing surface  110 . In some embodiments, the positioning groove  302  is reused as the first hollowed-out hole  120 . 
     In addition, referring to  FIG. 1 , in some exemplary embodiments, a bottom of the liquid collection tank  130  has a V-shaped tank structure. The V-shaped tank structure facilitates the collection of washing fluid at the bottom of the liquid collection tank. Of course, it is understandable that in practical applications, specific structure of the liquid collection tank  130  is not limited thereto. 
     In addition, referring to  FIG. 1 , in some exemplary embodiments, the bearing plate  200  further includes a back surface opposite to the second bearing surface  210 , the bearing plate  200  is provided with a plurality of second hollowed-out holes  220  that extend through the second bearing surface  210  and the back surface. The plurality of second hollowed-out holes  220  are in communication with the liquid collection tank  130 . 
     In the above-mentioned scheme, a plurality of second hollowed-out holes  220  are defined in the bearing plate  200 , and then residual liquid and pure water can be collected in the liquid collection tank  130  of the base  100  via the second hollowed-out holes  220 , thereby facilitating washing and air-drying the back surface of the substrate. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in some exemplary embodiments, the liquid collection tank  130  has an opening toward the top portion, and the bearing plate  200  is located at a side of the opening away from the bottom portion. 
     In the above-mentioned scheme, for example, when the air drying device is oriented as shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening of the liquid collection tank  130  is upwards, and the bearing plate  200  is arranged directly above the opening, so that the washing liquid can fall directly into the liquid collection tank  130 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in some exemplary embodiments, at least two first bearing surfaces  110  are provided and located at opposite sides of the opening of the liquid collection tank  130 . At least two bearing plates  200  are provided and are inclined in opposite directions, a bottom end of each of the bearing plates  200  is connected to a corresponding one of the first bearing surfaces  110 , and top ends of the at least two bearing plates  200  are connected together for form a V-shaped structure. 
     With the above-mentioned scheme, taking  FIG. 1  as an example, two first bearing surfaces  110  are provided, two bearing plates  200  are provided, and one inclined bearing plate  200  is arranged at a corresponding one bearing surface, so that two substrates can be washed and air-dried at the same time to improve the production efficiency. 
     It should be noted that the air drying device may also be provided with only one bearing plate  200 , and may also be provided with more than two bearing plates  200 , which are rationally selected according to practical application requirements. 
     Further, in some exemplary embodiments, the base  100  is connected to the bearing plate  200  as an integral structure. With regard to the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the base  100  further includes a sidewall  111  located between the top portion and the bottom portion. The sidewall  111  is connected to the bearing plate  200 , in such a manner that a lateral side edge of the bearing plate  200  and a lateral side surface of the base  100  are connected via the sidewall  111 , so that the bearing plate  200  and the base  100  cooperate together to form a hollow cavity. The bearing plate  200  and the base  100  may be integrally formed, and may be made of materials resistant to liquid corrosion. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in some exemplary embodiments, the bottom portion of the base  100  is further provided with moving wheels, so that the air drying device further functions to carry substrates. The moving wheels may include a directional wheel  151  and a guide wheel  152 , etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a handle  160  is provided on the sidewall to facilitate operators to carry or pull the entire air drying device through the handle  160 . 
     There are several things to explain: 
     (1) The drawings relate only to structures to which the embodiments of the present disclosure relate, and other structures may refer to general designs. 
     (2) In the drawings used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, the thickness of layers or regions is exaggerated or reduced for clarity, i.e., the drawings are not to scale. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” or “under” another element, it can be “directly on” or “directly under” the other element or intervening elements may be present. 
     (3) Without conflict, embodiments of the present disclosure and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other to provide new embodiments. 
     The above are optional embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be pointed out that, for persons having ordinary skill in the art, several improvements and changes may be made, without departing from the principle of the present disclosure. These improvements and changes should also be within the scope of the present disclosure.