Abstract: A device for use in the cleaning of an endoscope having a body with a first end, a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therebetween, a seal affixed to the body between the first and second ends, and a transverse passageway formed in the body between the second end and the seal. The transverse passageway communicates with the longitudinal passageway. The body has a central body portion of greater diameter than a remainder of the body. The seal is positioned between the central body portion and the transverse passageway. The first end is adapted for connection to a suction line. The body has a section with a diameter adapted to be received within an air/water cavity of the endoscope. A seal is affixed around the section so as to have a diameter suitable for sealing engagement with the valve cavity. A sealing shoulder is formed on the body between the transverse passageway and the second end so as to restrict air flow between the air/water inlet line to the air/water nozzle line.

Abstract: An apparatus of cleaning a nozzle comprising a mounting table for mounting a substrate to be processed, a process liquid nozzle having a liquid output portion for outputting a process liquid toward the substrate mounted on the table, a nozzle cleaning mechanism having a fluid spray portion for spraying a cleaning fluid onto the liquid output portion of the process liquid nozzle to remove an attached material from the liquid output portion by the cleaning fluid sprayed from the fluid spray portion, and a nozzle moving mechanism for moving the process liquid nozzle between the mounting table and the nozzle cleaning mechanism.

Abstract: Drive mechanism suitable for a parts treating machine comprises a housing defining a chamber containing a rotatable carriage wheel with a fixture journalled for rotation thereon. A carriage wheel drive is provided for indexing the carriage wheel and a fixture drive for rotating fixtures carried by the carriage wheel at a predetermined position. The carriage wheel drive includes a motor and a gear reducer operatively connected to the carriage wheel. The fixture drive includes a motor and a gear reducer operatively connected to a gear on a shaft extending upwardly from the fixture by an endless belt. The carriage wheel may be moved from a load station to a treating station, where spray nozzles or the like may spray treating material onto the parts to be treated as they are rotated together with the fixture at the treating station.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for locking a wire basket or a pod carrier basket in a support base for cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaning bath are provided. In the apparatus, a support base is constructed of an open bottom panel and four vertical posts emanating upwardly from four corners of the bottom panel adapted for moving upwardly and downwardly in the cleaning bath. At last two locking means each mounted on a diagonally opposing vertical post are provided and each equipped with a hook or catch for locking onto one of the two horizontal handle bars provided on a wire basket that is positioned in the support base. The present invention novel locking means for locking a wire basket in a support base allows a wire basket that has lightened load to be positioned in the support base without causing bodily injury to a machine operator, and allows the wire basket to be securely locked in the support base during an ultrasonic cleaning procedure without the basket floating problem.

Abstract: A device and method for cleaning and sterilizing tubular structures particularly, long, narrow tubular structures such as lumens of a medical device such as an endoscope by reversing the flow of fluid in interconnected tubular structures. The device comprises a first and second valve in fluid communication with a first and second tubular structure. The valves selectively switch between a first and second position causing a first and second flow path within the tubular structures, at least a part of the second flow path opposite the first flow path.

Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus of the gantry type is adapted to reciprocate linearly along the length of a vehicle. Both upper washing mechanisms and side washing mechanisms are tiltably mounted on the gantry so as to tilt around the front and rear of the vehicle for optimal cleansing thereof. Pairs of fixed spray nozzles for delivering a pre-soak solution are positioned along each side and the top of the apparatus with one nozzle in each pair being angled rearwardly relative to a vehicle to spray the front and a side of the vehicle and another nozzle in each pair being angled forwardly relative to a vehicle to spray the rear and a side of the vehicle. An auxiliary delivery system for a paint conditioner or the like is disposed on the gantry for delivering the solution to the sides and top of the vehicle in horizontal rows and may be delivered in different colors for aesthetic purposes. The paint conditioner can be rinsed from the vehicle with the tiltable washing mechanisms.

Abstract: A washing machine lid having a lid frame is provided with the lid frame including a forward edge, a rear edge, at least first and second opposite side edges, and upper surface and a lower surface. A housing is detachably mounted to the lid frame by a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly retentively engages the lid frame. At least one isecuring member retentively engages the housing and also retentively engages the bracket assembly for attaching the housing to the lid frame.

Abstract: A washer-dryer having an improved efficiency of drying up; namely, the drying time is shortened and the unevenness of drying is alleviated. Furthermore, vibration during operations, especially during spin-drying, is reduced. An inner tub of approximately cylindrical shape rotating around a substantially vertical axis and receives a washing is housed in an outer tub. The inner tub is provided with freely rotatable agitating means at the bottom part for agitating the washing. A motor rotates the inner tub or the agitating means. The air to be supplied through a hot air supply channel into the inner tub is heated by heating means, which air is advanced by a drying air blower into the inner tub. Control means controls each of the washing, rinsing, spin-drying and drying processes by controlling respective operations of the motor, the heating means, the drying air blower, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a coating from an elongated metal part or a bundle of such parts is described. The disclosed system includes a soaking vessel that contains a solution suitable for degreasing the metal part and softening the coating thereon. An ultrasonic cleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning solution cleans the coating off of the metal part by ultrasonic agitation. The system further includes at least one rinsing vessel for rinsing the cleaning solution of the cleaned part, and a drying vessel for rapidly and thoroughly drying the part after it has been rinsed. In the disclosed process, the elongated metal part, or a bundle of such parts, is/are soaked in a solution that is maintained at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to soften the coating. The elongated metal part is then subjected to ultrasonic agitation in an aqueous cleaning solution bath at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to loosen and dislodge the coating from the elongated metal part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing and drying glasses for LCDs or PDPs while being free from leaving any spot on the glasses is disclosed. In the method of this invention, pressurized pure water is continuously sprayed onto the surface of each LCD/PDP glass when the glass is fed from a washing unit by a second conveyor unit and when the glass is loaded on a spin dryer unit by the glass holding finger of a robot. The method thus prevents the surface of the LCD/PDP glass from being partially dried, thus allowing the surface of the glass to be free from any spot due to washing water. The apparatus of this invention has first and second pure water supply pipes respectively arranged above the second conveyor unit and in the glass holding finger of the robot, with a plurality of nozzles being provided on each of the first and second pure water supply pipes.

Abstract: In a washer dryer in which a drum supported by a spider is rotatable in a tub, the rear wall of the tub is contoured such as by providing castellation-like recesses, and water may be fed over this rear wall via a water inlet so that, in a drying mode, when the drum is rotated and moist air is drawn from the drum, the moist air is agitated by being dragged by the rotation of the drum past the tortuous profile over which water is trickled, to promote efficient condensation before the air is heated and returned to the drum in a recirculating path.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting containers, such as elongated, walled containers, such as truck trailers, rail cars, airplane holds, or ship containers, generally comprises a rolling trolley which produces a disinfecting mixture of ozone and water at high pressure and delivers the disinfectant by a hose to a rolling dolly which enters into the container. The trolley supports the dolly at a height conductive for entry into the container. The dolly is manually pushed into the container. Rotating spray nozzles on the dolly deliver the disinfectant at high pressure to the inside walls of the container. The nozzles are directed at an angle fore or aft of their radius of rotation such that the spray strikes the wall of the container at a sheer angle. Hose retrieval apparatus on the trolley retrieves the hose so as to pull the dolly from the container at a desired speed, thereby controlling the cleaning/disinfecting rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning wafer edges is provided. The inventive wafer cleaner employs a transducer equal in length to the diameter of a wafer to be cleaned, and positioned to direct sonic energy in line with the wafer's edge. Supporting and rotating mechanisms are positioned along the wafer's edge, outside of the transducer's high energy field, and preferably such that approximately 50 percent of the wafer is positioned between the wafer supports and the transducer. Therefore, minimal sonic energy is blocked from reaching the wafer's surface. The transducer dimensions relative to the wafer, and the positioning of the wafer supports relative to the transducer enable the system to achieve an approximately 50 percent edge cleaning duty cycle as the wafer is rotated.

Abstract: A parts cleaning machine comprises a housing having a wheel with a fixture journalled for rotation thereon. The wheel comprises one or more pockets within which the fixtures may rotate. Drive mechanism comprising a wheel drive for indexing the wheel and a fixture drive for rotating the fixture at a predetermined location or locations during indexing of the wheel is provided in the housing. The wheel drive is actuated by a motor and a gear reducer operatively connected to the pocketed wheel. The fixture drive is actuated by a motor and an endless belt, or the like, is operatively connected to a drive gear on a shaft extending upwardly from the fixture. The wheel may be moved from a load station to a wash station, where spray nozzles may spray wash liquid onto the parts to be cleaned as they are rotated in the fixture at the wash station.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a soiled carpet by first prespraying the carpet with a preselected liquid chemical sprayed through a nozzle at a preselected specific pressure/flow rate to obtain an optimized spray droplet size which penetrates deep into the carpet while utilizing only a minimum volume of chemical solution and preventing overwetting of the carpet. After the prespray chemical has had sufficient time to chemically react with soil in the carpet, then the carpet is rinsed with pure water. The final step in the process is the extracting, by use of a vacuum, the prespray chemical and pure water from the carpet.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning both sides of a substrate, incorporating a spin chuck for holding a substrate such that contact with at least a central portion of the substrate is prevented, a motor having a hollow shaft connected to the spin chuck to transmit rotating force to the spin chuck, a front-side cleaning mechanism for cleaning a surface of the substrate held by the spin chuck, and a back-side cleaning mechanism for rinsing a back side of the substrate held by the spin chuck, wherein the back-side cleaning mechanism is disposed to face the back side of the substrate held by the spin chuck through hollow portions of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: The present invention prevents deposition on product wafers of microbubbles generated from chemical solution circulation systems for wet etching or wet cleaning, or pure water supply systems during manufacturing processes of semiconductors or liquid crystals. A separator is provided on the inner wall of a chemical solution bath for etching or cleaning wafers to cover a process solution nozzle. The separator comprises an upper microbubble discharge tube extending upright for discharging microbubbles and lower outlets for horizontally introducing a process solution into the process bath.

Abstract: An array of ultrasonic or megasonic transducers is used to clean a substrate. An interference signal that is the superposition of the signals from each transducer enhances the cleaning. The system improves cleaning by providing a higher intensity beam than is available from uncoupled transducers to facilitate removal of smaller particles. In addition, the beam can be swept across the substrate to provide a uniform cleaning of the entire surface, avoiding dead spots. The system can be adapted for use in a vessel or for single wafer processing with a stream of fluid or a puddle of fluid.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle washing system is provided. The control system utilizes a plurality of sensors to determine the length of a vehicle, the position of a vehicle relative to a fixed track upon which a gantry travels, and the profile of a vehicle relative to the track. The control system preferably begins a vehicle washing routine by commanding a gantry to travel from a beginning of the track to the end of the track while awaiting the interruption of an photoelectric beam for an entrance eye which first detects the front end of a stationary vehicle within the vehicle washing area. The gantry continues to move towards the end of the track while awaiting detection of a portion of the vehicle which is higher than a preset distance from ground. Upon detection of such vehicle portion, the control system establishes parameters setting a front safe tilt zone. In similar manner, the control system determines a rear safe tilt position for the vehicle washing system.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for computer-assisted determination of clusters recognizes foaming in a washing machine. The following quantities are measured during a washing process in the washing machine; a pressure in the washing machine, a temperature in the washing machine, and an amount of water in the washing machine. Application vectors are formed from the measured quantities, and fuzzy affiliation values for predetermined clusters are identified for the application vectors. A foam formation is recognized based on the fuzzy affiliation values.