Patent ID: 7829817

Claim:
Apparatus for removing solder material from a soldered joint with a capillary having a capillary opening, which material is applied to the soldered joint, said apparatus comprising: a melting device for melting the solder material; a negative pressure generating device, which generates a negative pressure in the capillary for suctioning the melted liquid solder material from the soldered joint, and an outlet channel leading out of the capillary for evacuating the suctioned solder material from the capillary; a protective device ( 23 , 24 ; 39 ) provided between the capillary opening ( 37 ) and the melting device ( 22 ), said protective device being adapted to prevent suctioned solder material from reaching the melting device ( 22 ), the protective device being formed by an outlet channel ( 24 ) and an inlet channel ( 23 ) communicating with the capillary ( 21 ); and means for supplying a gas under positive pressure to the inlet channel ( 23 ); wherein the inlet channel ( 23 ) and the outlet channel ( 24 ) direct gas flow transversely across the capillary ( 21 ); wherein the inlet channel ( 23 ), and the outlet channel ( 24 ), both are tapered in the wherein the cross-section of the inlet channel ( 23 ) is smaller than the cross-section of the outlet channel ( 24 ); and wherein either the inlet channel ( 23 ), or the outlet channel ( 24 ), or both are tapered in the form of a nozzle in their areas of connection with the capillary ( 21 ).