Patent Publication Number: US-2016243595-A1

Title: Cleaning device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology relates to a cleaning device. 
     As the term suggests, cleaning devices are used for cleaning other objects or devices. There are various cleaning devices, such as a cleaning device having only one cleaning tank in which the cleaning liquid is provided for soaking and cleaning, or an ultrasonic cleaning unit with one cleaning tank on walls of which a generator and an energy transducer are provided. Hereinafter, an ultrasonic cleaning unit is taken as an example for describing the related arts. 
     It is well known that ultrasonic wave is inaudible for human ears. Due to its high frequency and short wavelength and hence its good propagating orientation and strong penetration, it is used in designing an ultrasonic cleaning unit. The principle for the ultrasonic cleaning unit is in that a transducer, which converts acoustic energy into mechanical vibration, radiates ultrasonic waves onto the cleaning liquid in a tank through the wall thereof. Under the ultrasonic wave, micro-bubbles in the liquid in the tank keep vibrating and thus cleaning is performed. 
     By referring to  FIG. 1 , the configuration of a conventional ultrasonic cleaning unit is described as follows. 
     The ultrasonic cleaning unit comprises a cube cleaning tank  1 . Cleaning liquid, e.g., de-ionized water, is placed in the cleaning tank  1 . A generator  2  and an energy transducer  3  are provided on the side wall or the bottom wall of the cleaning tank. The generator  2  creates a signal with high-frequency and high pressure and transmits it to the energy transducer  3  through a coupling cable, and then the energy transducer  3 , together with a vibrating plate, produces high-frequency resonance. A first drainage pipe  4  and a fourth drainage pipe  5  are provided on the side walls of the cleaning tank  1 , and an outlet of the first drainage pipe  4  is communicated with a pump  7 . An outlet of the pump  7  is communicated with the second drainage pipe  11 , and an outlet of the second drainage pipe  11  is communicated with a filter  8 . An outlet of the filter  8  is communicated with the third drainage pipe  12 , and the third drainage pipe  12  is communicated with an external liquid delivery pipe  6  and further communicated with the cleaning tank  1  through the liquid delivery pipe  6 . Thus, a circle passage for the cleaning liquid is formed. One end of the fourth drainage pipe  5  is communicated with the cleaning tank  1 , while the other end is communicated with the outside, and a drain valve  9  is provided on the fourth drainage pipe  5 . 
     When such an ultrasonic cleaning unit is used, the cleaning tank is connected with an external liquid delivery pipe which delivers cleaning liquid into the cleaning tank. After the cleaning tank is filled with the cleaning liquid, the objects to be cleaned, e.g., a framework  10  of a backlight source, is placed into the cleaning tank. Some of the contaminations on the framework will be removed after the framework is kept for a certain period in the cleaning liquid. The contamination particles with relatively larger surface will ascent up to the water surface due to surface tension and buoyancy force. On the contrary, the contamination particles with relatively smaller surface will fall onto the bottom inside the cleaning tank. Thereafter, where ultrasonic wave is applied, the contamination particles swing intensively and wander across the whole inner space of the cleaning tank due to the vortex. When the framework is extracted out of the cleaning liquid finally, many contamination particles will again adhere to the surface of the framework, resulting in an obviously poor cleaning effect. Although the contaminations at the bottom inside the cleaning tank can be filtered through the filter, the contaminations floating over the water surface is difficult to be removed. Therefore, the cleaning liquid has to be drained through the fourth drainage pipe after being used for several times due to excessive contaminations therein, which decreases the utilization rate of the cleaning liquid. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a cleaning device comprising a cleaning tank and a filter system, wherein, an overflow port is provided at the top of the cleaning tank, liquid in the cleaning tank can overflow through the overflow port toward an inlet of the filter system, and then flow back into the cleaning tank via an outlet of the filter system. 
     Another embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a cleaning device comprising a cleaning tank and a filter system, wherein, the cleaning tank has a funnel-shaped bottom, and an outlet is provided at the tip of the funnel-shaped bottom; and liquid in the cleaning tank can flow via the outlet at the bottom of the cleaning tank toward the inlet of the filter system and flow back into the cleaning tank via the outlet of the filter system. 
     Further scope of applicability of the disclosed technology will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosed technology, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed technology will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosed technology and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view of an ultrasonic cleaning unit in the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a structural schematic view of a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the disclosed technology; 
         FIG. 3  is a structural schematic view of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the disclosed technology; 
         FIG. 4  is a structural schematic view of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology; 
         FIG. 5  is a structural schematic view showing a design for an overflow port of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a design for an overflow port of a cleaning device according to en embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology now will be described more clearly and fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the embodiments of the disclosed technology are shown. Apparently, only some embodiments of the disclosed technology, but not all of embodiments, are set forth here, and the disclosed technology may be embodied in other forms. All of other embodiments made by those skilled in the art based on embodiments disclosed herein without mental work fall within the scope of the disclosed technology. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a cleaning device comprising a cleaning tank and a filter system. The connection between the filter system and the cleaning tank can employ one or both of the following arrangements. 
     First, liquid overflowing through an overflow port at the top of the cleaning tank flows toward an inlet of the filter system and then into the cleaning tank via an outlet of the filter system. 
     Second, the cleaning tank has a funnel-shaped bottom and is provided with an outlet at the tip of the funnel-shaped bottom. Liquid flowing from the bottom outlet of the cleaning tank flows to the inlet of the filter system and into the cleaning tank via the outlet of the filter system. 
     First Embodiment 
     The embodiment in which the filter system and the cleaning tank are connected with the first arrangement as mentioned above is described in detail hereinafter. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the filter system in a cleaning device according to the embodiment of the disclosed technology comprises a receiving tank  28 , a first pipeline assembly  22 , a first filter  23  and a first pump  24 . In the embodiment of the disclosed technology, an overflow port is provided at the top of the cleaning tank, and the receiving tank  28  of the filter system is located at the overflow port at the top of the cleaning tank  20  and receives liquid overflowing through the overflow port. In order to reuse the liquid overflowing through the overflow port, the outlet of the receiving tank  28  is communicated with the cleaning tank  20  through the first pipeline assembly  22  in the embodiment of the disclosed technology, and the first filter  23  and the first pump  24  are provided at the midway of the first pipeline assembly  22 . Thus, the number of contamination particles with relatively larger surface (i.e., those particles at the top surface of the cleaning liquid) in the cleaning tank  20  is decreased after the liquid overflowing through the overflow port is filtered through the filter system  21 . As such, when the objects to be cleaned is extracted out of the cleaning liquid after being cleaned, the number of the contamination particles adhering thereon is decreased, resulting in an improved cleaning effect. In addition, as the contaminations in the upper part of the cleaning liquid are filtered, the cleaning liquid can be used for longer time, and the utilization rate of cleaning liquid is increased accordingly. 
     The specific arrangement in which the first pipeline assembly and the cleaning tank are communicated in the embodiment of the disclosed technology is not particularly limited. For example, they can be communicated with each other as follows. The first pipeline assembly  22  comprises a first connecting pipe  25 , a second connecting pipe  26  and a third connecting pipe  27 . In the embodiment of the disclosed technology, an outlet of the receiving tank is communicated with an inlet of the first pump  24  through the first connecting pipe  25 , an outlet of the first pump  24  is communicated with an inlet of the first filter  23  through the second connecting pipe  26 , an outlet of the first filter  23  is communicated with the cleaning tank  20  through the third connecting pipe  27 . Thus, a cycle passage for filtering the cleaning liquid is created: the contamination particles with larger surface (i.e., those particles located at the top surface of the cleaning liquid) in the cleaning tank run into the receiving tank  28  with the liquid overflowing through the overflow port, the liquid is then pumped into the second connecting pipe  26  through the first pump  24  and then into the first filter  23  to be filtered, and the filtered liquid again flows back into the cleaning tank  20  through the third connecting pipe  27  so as to complete a filtering circulation. 
     The design for the overflow port according to the embodiment of the disclosed technology is not particularly limited, as long as it is located at the top of the cleaning tank so that the upper part of the cleaning liquid in which the contamination particle with relative larger surface accumulate can overflow through the overflow port. For example, the following arrangements for the overflow port can be employed. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the overflow port  46  is located at one corner of the top of the cleaning tank  20  which is lower than the other parts of the top edge of the cleaning tank  20 . In this way, the cleaning liquid can overflow once the liquid surface of it exceeds above the overflow port. The receiving tank  28  for receiving the overflowing cleaning liquid is arranged right below the overflow port, and guides the liquid into the filter system for filtering. 
     Second, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the overflow port  46  is arranged as a notch at one corner of the top of the cleaning tank, the operation principle of which is the same as that of the example in  FIG. 2 . 
     Third, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the whole of the top opening of the cleaning tank is used as an overflow port  46 , and a receiving tank  28  surrounds the outer periphery of the cleaning tank and is located below the overflow port. It is necessary for the receiving tank  28  to have an entire circle around the cleaning tank. In this way, the overflowing cleaning liquid from the overflow port falls directly into the receiving tank and flows into the filter system for filtering. 
     Second Embodiment 
     The embodiment in which the filter system and the cleaning tank are connected with the second arrangement as mentioned above is described in detail hereinafter. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the filter system in a cleaning device according to the embodiment of the disclosed technology comprises a second pipeline assembly  32 , a second filter  33  and a second pump  34 . In this embodiment of the disclosed technology, the cleaning tank has a funnel-shaped bottom and an outlet  38  is provided at the tip of the funnel-shaped bottom. In order to reuse the liquid drained from the bottom outlet of the cleaning tank, the outlet  38  is communicated with the cleaning tank  20  through the second pipeline assembly  32 , and the second filter  33  and the second pump  34  are provided at the midway of the second pipeline assembly  32 , thus creating a cycle passage for filtering the cleaning liquid. Thus, the number of the contamination particles with smaller surface (i.e., those particles falling down to the bottom of the cleaning liquid) is decreased after the liquid drained from the bottom outlet  38  of the cleaning tank is filtered through the filter system. As such, since the contamination particles with smaller surface would accumulate at the outlet at the tip of the bottom of the cleaning tank, they can run out with the drained liquid and be filtered. The number of the contamination particles in the cleaning liquid is decreased, resulting in an improvement of the cleaning effect and the utilization rate for the cleaning liquid. 
     The specific arrangement in which the second pipeline assembly and the cleaning tank are communicated in the embodiment of the disclosed technology is not particularly limited. For example, they can be communicated with each other as follows. The second pipeline assembly  32  comprises a fourth connecting pipe  35 , a fifth connecting pipe  36  and a sixth connecting pipe  37 . An inlet of the second pump  34  is communicated with the bottom outlet  38  of the cleaning tank through the fourth connecting pipe  35 , an outlet of the second pump  34  is communicated with the second filter  33  through the fifth connecting pipe  36 , an outlet of the second filter  33  is communicated with the cleaning tank  20  through the sixth connecting pipe  37 , thus a cycle passage for filtering the cleaning liquid is created. The contamination particles with smaller surface in the cleaning tank will accumulate at the outlet  38  at the bottom tip of the cleaning tank, the liquid is then pumped into the fifth connecting pipe  36  through the second pump  34  and then into the second filter  33  for filtering, and the filtered liquid flows back into the cleaning tank through the sixth connecting pipe  37  so as to complete the filtering circulation. 
     Both of the two arrangements for the connection between the filter system and the cleaning tank as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  can be applied simultaneously in a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. That is to say, the filter system for the top overflow port and the filter system for the bottom outlet can be designed in one cleaning device. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously filter the contaminations in the cleaning liquid at the top and the bottom of cleaning tank, which improves the filtration effect and increase the utilization rate of the cleaning liquid. 
     The filter system according to the embodiments described above can be applied in an ultrasonic cleaning unit but is not limited thereto. For example, as described in  FIG. 4 , a generator  40  is threaded onto an outside wall of the cleaning tank and an energy transducer  41  is threaded onto a bottom wall. The generator creates a signal with high-frequency and high pressure and transmits it to the energy transducer through a coupling cable so that the energy transducer, together with a vibrating plate, produces high-frequency resonance. In this way, it is possible to clean not only normal objections but also special objections or devices. 
     In the embodiments of the disclosed technology, in order to facilitate the drainage of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank when the cleaning liquid is not qualified, a drainage pipe  42  can be provided on the side wall or the bottom wall of the cleaning tank, and a control valve  43  is provided on the drainage pipe  42 . In this way, the cleaning liquid can be drained from the drainage pipe  42  if necessary. 
     In the embodiments of the disclosed technology, to facilitate the cleaning liquid to be added into the cleaning tank, a liquid delivery pipe  44  may be further provided and the liquid from an outlet of the liquid delivery pipe  44  can flow into the cleaning tank  20 , such that it is not necessary to add cleaning liquid by pouring into the cleaning tank manually. 
     In the embodiments of the disclosed technology, in order to facilitate the contaminations at the top of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank to be drained into the receiving tank with the cleaning liquid, a liquid delivery branch  45  is further provided. The liquid delivery branch  45  is communicated with an outlet of the liquid delivery pipe  44 , and the wall of the liquid delivery branch  45  is closely against the top of the inner wall of the cleaning tank  20 . The liquid from the outlet of the liquid delivery pipe can flow into the cleaning tank via delivery ports of the liquid delivery branch. The liquid delivery branch may be arranged horizontally so that the cleaning liquid entering into the cleaning tank through the liquid delivery branch can flow horizontally, which suppresses turbulence of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank and facilitates the contaminations at the top of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank to flow into the receiving tank with the cleaning liquid. 
     The embodiments of the disclosed technology may apply to cleaning apparatus for cleaning any objections, for example, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a backlight framework of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. 
     The operation of the cleaning device according to the embodiments of the disclosed technology is described as follows with an example in which a backlight framework of a LCD device is cleaned. Firstly, cleaning liquid, e.g., de-ionized water, is delivered into the cleaning tank through the liquid delivery pipe  44 ; then a framework  50  is placed into the de-ionized water. When the framework  50  is dipped in the de-ionized water, some contamination particles with larger surface will ascent up to the surface of the de-ionized water, while some contamination particles with smaller surface will fall onto the drainage port  38  at the tip of the bottom of the cleaning tank. Then the first pump  24  and the second pump  34  pump the liquid with contaminations into the first filter  23  and the second pump  33  for the filtering process. Thereafter, the generator  40  and the energy transducer  41  are turned on to perform ultrasonic cleaning, and the filtering process is continued by the first filter  23  and the first filter  33 . Finally, the framework  50  is extracted out of the cleaning liquid. 
     It should be noted that the above embodiments only have the purpose of illustrating the disclosed technology, but not limiting it. Although the disclosed technology has been described with reference to the above embodiment, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or alternations can be made to the solution or the technical feature in the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed technology.