Appts. for cleaning and drying printed circuit boards

• Main Authors: P. W. CICCARELLI, C. SEAGER JR, R. HIMES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.06.2000
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CLEANING; CLEANING IN GENERAL; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; DRYING; DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINE TOOLS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL; PRINTED CIRCUITS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

A method of treating printed circuit boards or other items is provided, wherein a drying apparatus is specifically provided, generally for use as part of a cleaning or other treatment apparatus, but which can be separately provided, if desired. The drying apparatus employs preferably warm air discharge tubes, for drying items of varying thicknesses, and/or that have varying thicknesses of components mounted thereon. Generally, the printed circuit or other items are carried through the apparatus between upper and lower foraminous conveyor belts, with one of the belts, conforming to the varying thicknesses of the items, or components carried by the items. While some of the air discharge tubes may be stationarily mounted, at least some of them are pivotally mounted, such that their discharge opening zones can slide along and conform to variations in thickness. The discharge tube will pivot in response to the varying thicknesses. The pivotal motion of the tube may be provided with a means for balancing the same.