GAS KNIFE COOLING SYSTEM

摘要

A gas knife cooling system for reflow soldering cools soldered articles (12) by impinging a gas flow directly on the articles and as a result uses less cooling gas. A heater (32) is associated with the cooling system to remove flux deposits. The cooling system is installed in the cooling section (18) o f a reflow soldering apparatus and comprises at least one gas knife (24, 25) t o direct a gas stream at soldered products (12) passing through the cooling section (18) on a conveyor (14). A heater (32) is associated with the gas knife (24, 25) which is activated for predertermined cleaning cycles to heat the gas knife (24, 25) to a temperature above flux vaporization temperature of flux deposits from the soldered products (12).