Patent Publication Number: US-2012042911-A1

Title: Cleaning device and cleaning method using same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a cleaning device and a cleaning method using same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An assembly of a sensor and a printed circuit board (PCB) needs to be cleaned before it is packaged with a lens module. Generally, a cleaning pipe is used to spray cleaning fluid on the assembly. Then the assembly is placed in a drying machine to be dried. However, a little of the cleaning fluid can remain on the sensor or the PCB of the assembly and will form blemishes during the drying process, which will affect the image quality of the sensor. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cleaning device and a cleaning method using same that can overcome the above-mentioned limitations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments should be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a cleaning device, according to an exemplary embodiment, showing the cleaning device in a first state. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the cleaning device in a second state. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the cleaning device without a in a third state. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the cleaning device in a third state and a protective mask of the cleaning device being removed. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a cleaning method using the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a cleaning device  100  is used for cleaning a workpiece  200 . In this embodiment, the workpiece  200  is an assembly of a sensor fixed on a PCB. 
     The cleaning device  100  includes a rectangular loading plate  10 , a base  20 , a protective mask  21 , a first rectangular gate  22 , a second rectangular gate  23 , a circular rotary platform  24 , a middle conveyer  25 , a cleaning assembly  26 , a blowdown apparatus  27 , a first conveyer  30 , a second conveyer  40 , and a controller  50 . The loading plate  10  is used for fixing the workpiece  200  in the center and can slide between the first conveyer  30 , the middle conveyer  25 , to the second conveyer  40  in turn. 
     The protective mask  21  is substantially hollow cuboid in shape, and covers on the base  20  to form a working space cooperatively with the base  20 . The protective mask  21  includes two parallel first inner sidewalls  211  and a second inner sidewall  212  connecting the two first inner sidewalls  211 . One first inner sidewall  211  defines a first through hole  213 , the other first inner sidewall  211  defines a second through hole  214  corresponding to the first through hole  213 . The first gate  22  movably and hermetically seals the first through hole  213 , and the second gate  23  movably and hermetically seals the second through hole  214 . The protective mask  21  also includes a top wall  215  perpendicularly connecting the two first inner sidewalls  211  and the second inner sidewall  212 . The top wall  215  defines a circular opening  216  coaxial with the center of the rotary platform  24 . A circular cover  217  made of transparent material seals the opening  216 . 
     The rotary platform  24  is rotatably disposed on the base  20  and is received in the working space. 
     Also referring to  FIG. 4 , the middle conveyer  25  is fixed on the rotary platform  24  and extends from the first through hole  213  to the second through hole  214 . Two mechanic arms (not shown) are disposed on a bottom surface of the loading plate  10  opposite to the workpiece  200 . When the rotary platform  24  starts to rotate, the two mechanical arms firmly grasp the middle conveyer  25 , and thus the loading plate  10  can rotate with the rotary platform  24 . When the loading plate  10  arrives at the second gate  23 , the two mechanic arms release the middle conveyer  25 . 
     The cleaning assembly  26  is slidably disposed on the base  20 . The cleaning assembly  26  includes a main body  261  and a nozzle  263  protruding from the main body  261 . The main body  261  is slidably disposed on the base  20 . The nozzle  263  extends into the protective mask  21  along the radial direction of the rotary platform  24 , and faces the center of the rotary platform  24 . The nozzle  263  is used for spraying cleaning fluid or drying gas onto the workpiece  200 . In particular, the nozzle  263  spays cleaning fluid to wash the workpiece  200  for a predetermined period during which the rotary platform  24  rotates, and then the nozzle  263  spays drying gas to dry the workpiece  200 . When the rotary platform  24  rotates, the main body  261  slides toward or away from the center of the platform  24 , and thus the cleaning fluid or the drying gas can cover a large area of the rotary platform  24 . 
     The blowdown apparatus  27  is fixed on the base  20  and communicates with the working space. The blowdown apparatus  27  is used for blowing off the cleaning fluid and the drying gas. 
     The first conveyer  30  and the second conveyer  40  are fixed on the base  20  and are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the protective mask  21 . The first conveyer  30  is disposed opposite to the first through hole  213 , and is used for transporting the workpiece  200  to the middle conveyer  25  passing through the first gate  22 . The second conveyer  40  is disposed opposite to the second through hole  214 , and is used for transporting the workpiece  200  from the middle conveyer  25  passing through the second gate  23 . 
     The controller  50  is electrically connected to the first gate  22 , the second gate  23 , the rotary platform  24 , the cleaning assembly  26 , the middle conveyer  25 , the first conveyer  30 , and the second convey  40 . In addition, is used for controlling the first gate  22 , the second gate  23 , the rotary platform  24 , the cleaning assembly  26 , the middle conveyer  25 , the first conveyer  30 , and the second convey  40  to work in turn. 
     In use, the workpiece  200  is loaded on the loading plate  10 , the first conveyer  30  transports the loading plate  10  to the first gate  22 , the first gate  22  is opened, the first conveyer  30  transports the loading plate  10  to the middle conveyer  25 , then the first gate  22  is closed. When the loading plate  10  arrives at the center of the rotary platform  24 , the two mechanic arms (not shown) firmly seize the middle conveyer  25 . The rotary platform  24  starts to rotate, the main body  261  slides along the radial direction of the rotary platform  24 , the nozzle  263  sprays cleaning fluid onto the workpiece  200  for a predetermined period to wash the workpiece  200 , and then the nozzle  263  sprays drying gas to dry the workpiece  200 . The blowdown apparatus  27  blows off the cleaning fluid and the drying gas. When the middle conveyer  25  is aligned with the second gate  23 , the rotary platform  24  stops rotating. The middle conveyer  25  transports the loading plate  10  to the second gate  23 , the second gate  23  is opened, the middle conveyer  25  transports the loading plate  10  to the second conveyer  40 , and the second gate  23  is closed. The cleaning fluid can fly away from the workpiece  200  when the workpiece  200  rotates, and cannot remain on the workpiece  200 , and thus not form blemishes on the workpiece  200 . The drying gas will speed up the drying speed of the workpiece  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning method using the cleaning device  100  includes the following steps. 
     In S 101 , a rotary platform and a cleaning assembly is provided. In this embodiment, the cleaning device  100  with the rotary platform  24  and the cleaning assembly  26  is provided. 
     In S 102 , a workpiece is fixed on the rotary platform. In this embodiment, the workpiece  200  is loaded on the loading plate  10 , and the loading plate  10  is disposed on the first conveyer  30 , the first gate  22  is opened, the first conveyer  30  transports the workpiece  200  to the middle conveyer  25 . The first gate  22  is closed. Then the middle conveyer  25  transports the workpiece  200  to the center of the rotary platform  24 . 
     In S 103 , the rotary platform is rotated and the cleaning assembly is actuated to spray cleaning fluid on the workpiece to wash the workpiece for a predetermined period. In this embodiment, the rotary platform  24  starts to rotate, the cleaning assembly  26  sprays cleaning fluid onto the workpiece  200  to wash the work piece  200  for a predetermined period, the blowdown apparatus  28  blows off the cleaning fluid. In particular, the cleaning assembly  26  slides forward or away from the center of the platform along the radial direction of the rotary platform  24  to spray the cleaning fluid on large area of the rotary platform  24 . 
     In S 104 , the cleaning assembly is actuated to spray drying gas on the workpiece to dry the workpiece. In this embodiment, the cleaning assembly  26  slides forward or away from the center of the rotary platform  24  along the radial direction of the rotary platform  24  to spray the drying gas on large area of the rotary platform  24 , and the blowdown apparatus  27  blows off the drying gas. 
     In S 105 , the workpiece is transported outward from the rotary platform. In this embodiment, the second gate  23  is opened, the middle conveyer  25  transports the work piece  200  to the second conveyer  40 , then the work piece  200  can be packaged. 
     In other embodiments, the cleaning assembly  26  can also have two nozzles  263 , one of the two nozzles  263  sprays cleaning fluid, the other one of the two nozzle  263  sprays drying gas. 
     It will be understood that the above particular embodiments are shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the features of the present disclosure may be employed in various and numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.