IP Library Granted Patent US 12678878
Granted Patent B2
US 12678878 · App. 18/734,774 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

System and method for determining whether to clean a reflow oven

Inventor: Shenghu Yan (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
B23K1/206B23K3/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12678878
App. No.
18/734,774
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed example systems for determining whether to clean a reflow oven include: an image acquisition device, a processing unit, and a determining unit. The image acquisition device acquires an image of the interior of the reflow oven when the reflow oven is in a closed state, and stores the acquired image. The image acquisition device is conveyed through a reflow oven chamber of the reflow oven to acquire the image of the interior of the reflow oven. The image of the interior of the reflow oven comprises an image of a surface of a reflow oven chamber device and/or an image of a rail adjustment device. The processing unit processes the stored image to obtain a cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven. The determining unit determines whether the reflow oven needs to be cleaned based on the obtained cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven.

Claims (30)

1 . A system for determining whether to clean a reflow oven, comprising:

an image acquisition device configured to acquire an image of an interior surface of the reflow oven when the reflow oven is in a closed state and storing the acquired image;

a reflow oven chamber configured to enable a workpiece to be transported through the reflow open chamber and processed in the reflow oven chamber, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to enable a workpiece to be transported through the reflow oven chamber of the reflow oven to acquire the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven;

a processing unit configured to process the stored image to obtain a cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether the reflow oven needs to be cleaned based on the obtained cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device is configured to be mounted to a conveying device of the reflow oven, such that the mounted image acquisition device configured to be conveyed through the reflow oven chamber of the reflow oven by the conveying device.

3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the reflow oven comprises a reflow oven chamber device and a reflow oven chamber, the reflow oven chamber device being configured to deliver a gas flow to the reflow oven chamber to process a workpiece in the reflow oven chamber, wherein the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven comprises an image of a surface of the reflow oven chamber device of the reflow oven.

4 . A system for determining whether to clean a reflow oven, comprising:

an image acquisition device configured to acquire an image of an interior surface of the reflow oven when the reflow oven is in a closed state and storing the acquired image;

a processing unit configured to process the stored image to obtain a cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether the reflow oven needs to be cleaned based on the obtained cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven, wherein the reflow oven comprises a rail adjustment device configured to adjust the width of a rail for a workpiece, wherein the image of the interior of the reflow oven comprises an image of the rail adjustment device.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device comprises:

a light source configured to illuminate the interior surface of the reflow oven;

an image acquisition unit configured to acquire the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven when the light source illuminates the interior surface of the reflow oven;

a controller configured to control operations of the image acquisition unit and the light source to cause the image acquisition unit to acquire the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven, and to store the image acquired by the image acquisition unit; and

a power source configured to supply power to the light source, the image acquisition unit and the controller.

6 . A system for determining whether to clean a reflow oven, comprising:

an image acquisition device configured to acquire an image of an interior surface of the reflow oven when the reflow oven is in a closed state and storing the acquired image, wherein the image acquisition device comprises:

a light source configured to illuminate the interior surface of the reflow oven;

an image acquisition unit configured to acquire the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven when the light source illuminates the interior surface of the reflow oven,

a controller configured to control operations of the image acquisition unit and the light source to cause the image acquisition unit to acquire the image of the interior surface of the reflow oven, and to store the image acquired by the image acquisition unit;

a power source configured to supply power to the light source, the image acquisition unit and the controller;

a housing configured to accommodate the light source, the image acquisition unit, the controller and the power source, and to insulate against the heat in the reflow oven; and

a mounting structure configured to support the housing and to be mounted to a conveying device of the reflow oven, so as to enable the image acquisition device to be conveyed through the reflow oven by the conveying device;

a processing unit configured to process the stored image to obtain a cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether the reflow oven needs to be cleaned based on the obtained cleanliness condition of the interior of the reflow oven.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises:

a transparent partition disposed above the light source and the image acquisition unit and configured to block heat transfer from the reflow oven to the light source and the image acquisition unit.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device is an integrated device.

9 . A reflow oven, comprising a system for determining whether to clean a reflow oven according to claim 1 .