The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1998
Tohru Okuda, Nara, JP;
Taimi Oketani, Matsusaka, JP;
Masatoshi Hayashi, Matsusaka, JP;
Yasuhiro Matsushima, Kashihara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A cleaning apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention includes a first inflow section, provided on a first side surface of a cleaning tank having a substantially rectangular parallelopiped shape, having two inflow openings, a second inflow section, provided on a second side surface facing the first side surface, having inflow openings, and outflow openings for releasing a cleaning liquid flown in from the first and second inflow sections. The cleaning liquid flowing in from the inflow openings forms complex and strong flows in the cleaning tank, thus removing contaminants on a cleaning target evenly and efficiently without nonuniformity and preventing stagnation of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank. The cleaning liquid released in filtered by a circulatory section and is allowed to flow into the cleaning tank again through a pipe. As a result, it is possible to clean evenly and efficiently a large cleaning target such as a glass substrate used for liquid crystal display devices and other devices.