Method and apparatus for CO2 cleaning with mitigated ESD

Claim 1

A method of cleaning an object, comprising the steps of: directing a first mist of water at the object at a first position while simultaneously imparting a first relative motion between the first water mist and the object so that the first water mist forms a substantially continuous film of water across a first major surface of the object; forming a stream of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) particles; directing a second mist of water into the stream of solid CO 2 particles to produce a combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles; and directing the combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles at the object at a second position while imparting a second relative motion between the combined stream and the object which motion is the same as the first relative motion imparted between the first mist and the object so that the object is displaced from said first position to said second position and the combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles contact the first major surface of said object having the substantially continuous film of water formed therein, said contact of CO 2 particles substantially removing residue present on the first major surface of said object, thereby cleaning the object.

Claim 2

A method of cleaning an object, comprising the steps of: directing a first mist of water at the object at a first position while simultaneously imparting a first relative motion between the first water mist and the object so that the first water mist forms a substantially continuous film of water across a first major surface of the object; forming a stream of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) particles; directing a second mist of water into the stream of solid CO 2 particles to produce a combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles; and directing the combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles at the object at a second position while imparting a second relative motion between the combined stream and the object which motion is the same as the first relative motion imparted between the first mist and the object so that the object is displaced from said first position to said second position and the combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles contact the first major surface of said object having the substantially continuous film of water formed therein, said contact of CO 2 particles substantially removing residue present on the first major surface of said object, thereby cleaning the object.

Claim 6

An apparatus for cleaning an object having at least a first surface, comprising: a means for transporting the object along a path from a first position to a second position; a first spray mechanism including a source of water for directing a first water mist at the first surface of the object as the object is transported along the path to said first position to form a substantially continuous film of water across the first surface of said object, said film having a given conductivity value; a means including a source of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) for forming a stream of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) particles; a second spray mechanism comprising: a) a means including said source of water for directing a second mist of water into the stream of said solid CO 2 particles to form a combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles in which the water droplets in the second mist combine with at least one of the CO 2 particles to produce carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ); and b) a means for contacting the combined stream with the substantially continuous water film formed on said first surface as said object is transported from said first position to said second position, wherein said carbonic acid dissociates into charged ions which distribute within the water film, thereby increasing the conductivity value of the water film formed on said first surface, said contact of CO 2 particles in the combined stream substantially removing residue present on the first surface of said object, thereby cleaning the object.

Claim 7

An apparatus for cleaning an object having at least a first surface, comprising: a means for transporting the object along a path from a first position to a second position; a first spray mechanism including a source of water for directing a first water mist at the first surface of the object as the object is transported along the path to said first position to form a substantially continuous film of water across the first surface of said object, said film having a given conductivity value; a means including a source of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) for forming a stream of solid carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) particles; a second spray mechanism comprising: a) a means including said source of water for directing a second mist of water into the stream of said solid CO 2 particles to form a combined stream of water mist and CO 2 particles in which the water droplets in the second mist combine with at least one of the CO 2 particles to produce carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ); and b) a means for contacting the combined stream with the substantially continuous water film formed on said first surface as said object is transported from said first position to said second position, wherein said carbonic acid dissociates into charged ions which distribute within the water film, thereby increasing the conductivity value of the water film formed on said first surface, said contact of CO 2 particles in the combined stream substantially removing residue present on the first surface of said object, thereby cleaning the object.