IP Library Granted Patent US 10,137,483
Granted Patent B2
US 10,137,483 · App. 15/137,004 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

Ultrasonic cleaning method

Inventors: Yoshihiro Mori (Shunan, JP); Teruo Haibara (Hikari, JP); Etsuko Kubo (Hikari, JP); Masashi Uchibe (Hikari, JP)
Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
B08B3/12B08B3/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,137,483
App. No.
15/137,004
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning method for cleaning an object involves disposing the object in a cleaning liquid held in a cleaning tank; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid via an intermediate medium in contact with the cleaning tank, wherein the ultrasonically vibrating includes: ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with a first difference between respective sonic velocities allowable in the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with a second difference between the respective sonic velocities allowable in the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium, wherein the second difference is different from the first difference.

Claims (10)

1. A cleaning method for cleaning an object, the method comprising:

ultrasonically vibrating the object, in a cleaning tank including a cleaning liquid, via an intermediate medium disposed in a coupling tank and in contact with the cleaning tank, a bottom surface of the cleaning tank being inclined relative to a bottom surface of the coupling tank, wherein the cleaning tank is disposed in the coupling tank, the ultrasonically vibrating including (a) a first ultrasonic vibrating of the cleaning liquid with a first difference between respective sonic velocities allowable in the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium, and (b) a second ultrasonic vibrating of the cleaning liquid with a second difference between respective sonic velocities allowable in the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium; and

adjusting an intermediate medium temperature so as to set the first difference and the second difference differently from each other such that ultrasonic waves, generated by the ultrasonically vibrating and traveling in a first direction at a boundary portion between the cleaning liquid held in the cleaning tank and the intermediate medium in contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tank, are refracted in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the intermediate medium temperature includes:

using a heating member.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes:

modifying a retention time of the intermediate medium being in contact with the cleaning tank.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate medium comprises degassed water, and

wherein the adjusting includes modifying a retention time of the intermediate medium being in contact with the cleaning tank.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate medium comprises degassed water.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE DATE OF THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS FROM 03/12/2020 TO 12/03/2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056719 FRAME: 0881. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 1, 2021
From: SILTRONIC AG
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 057561/0451 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: SILTRONIC AG
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 056719/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2016
From: MORI, YOSHIHIRO; HAIBARA, TERUA; KUBO, ETSUKO; UCHIBE, MASASHI
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 038363/0363 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-015450 · Jan 27, 2012 · national
Continuity (3)
Division 13618426 · Sep 14, 2012
Division 14930777 · Nov 3, 2015
Related Publication 20160236242A1 · Aug 18, 2016