Abstract: The present invention relates to the cleaning or stripping of coated objects. The coating is dissolved in a receiver tank rendered inert by means of nitrogen, by a solvent and the mixture of solvent and coating product is transferred into a thickening tank swamped by a heated nitrogen flow. The nitrogen-solvent mixture is separated by cooling and condensation of the solvents extracted. The invention is applied to the stripping of objects coated with paints and varnish.

Abstract: A flatware pre-cleaner is disclosed which includes an elongated, inclined tray or tank divided into a plurality of open-topped compartments for receiving flatware. The tank is provided with water inlets and water outlets with a baffle provided at one inlet to distribute the water flow and a spray nozzle in the several compartments connected to the other inlet. The water outlets drain food particles therefrom and maintain a desired water level in the tank so that water discharged from the inlets agitates the water in which the food engaging ends of the flatware are immersed. The compartments are formed by screen partitions spaced above the bottom of the tank to enable gravity flow of food particles and the like to the outlet. Control valves, additive siphons and supporting structure are provided to render the pre-cleaner effective in pre-cleaning flatware.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of articles especially metal articles with a solvent, e.g. for the degreasing of the articles, comprises an upper chamber in which an article carrier is charged with or discharged from the articles, a lower treatment chamber, and a device for raising and lowering the carrier. The carrier is provided with one or more plates with sealing peripheries engaging sealing collars, at least one of which is located between these chambers to seal the chambers from one another in at least one position of the carrier.

Abstract: An automatic work transfer system for conveying a basket carrying work through a row of processing stages at a work station in any desired sequence. The basket is lowered into a tank at each stage and oriented therein for processing for a predetermined dwell period, at the conclusion of which the basket is hoisted out of the tank and transferred to the next stage where the procedure is repeated. The system includes a supporting rail laterally displaced from the row of stages and parallel thereto. Riding on the rail is a robot provided with a pair of vertical shafts supported on an elevator. Cantilevered from the shafts are a pair of arms which extend over the stages, the ends of the arms being pivotally connected to a cross piece. Depending from the center of the cross piece is a rod terminating in a hand adapted to engage the handle of the basket.

Abstract: The device is intended to facilitate the changing of the sealing element and to increase the life of this element. The device comprises an added bar which is detachably fixed to a wall of the machine and received in a slot in this wall. The bar carries a deformable hollow body which is connected to a source of fluid under pressure and carries the sealing element.

Abstract: The device provides an arrangement of the input and output ends of the machine which is of light and cheap construction, smaller in size and allows an adaptation of the machine in accordance with the width of the product to be treated. The device comprises, for each end of the machine, at least one rigid closing shutter carried by one of the frames of the machine. Guiding devices carried by this frame ensure a displacement of the or each shutter in a direction roughly perpendicular to the plane of the sheet passing through the machine. Devices for shifting the or each shutter are provided. The or each shutter cooperates by its free edge with the other frame of the machine so as to close in a substantially sealed manner the input or output end of the machine.

Abstract: An easy-to-service parts washer unit having separable components, including a cleaning fluid storage and transport receptacle, a sink unit and a fluid circulating unit. The receptacle is adapted to lie flat on a work bench or the like, and to lie beneath and support a sink disposed thereover. The fluid circulating unit includes a pump and motor, a filter, a dip tube which extends in use into the receptacle and a hose or the like portion which extends into the sink for directing fluid over parts to be washed. Preferably, the sink includes a closable safety cover, the movement of which is controlled by a fusible link. The lower surface of the sink and the upper surface of the receptacle when it is in position of use are contoured for mutual engagement and support, and the fluid circulating assembly includes a housing which is also held in place by contoured engagement portions.

Abstract: A new and improved apparatus for washing soiled tubular members in a cleaning fluid wherein the apparatus includes a cleaning fluid tank for containing the cleaning fluid therein, support members with the cleaning fluid tank for supporting the tubular member between positions in and out of the cleaning fluid tank, along with directing means for directing cleaning fluid against the soiled tubular member and collection members with the cleaning fluid tank for collecting sludge formed during the washing of the tubular member.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers is described as having a rotor mounted on a horizontal axis with support bearings at each end of the rotor. Wafers are arranged in a carrier which can be loaded and unloaded into the rotor of the apparatus through an access opening which is directed in a generally upward position when the rotor is stopped. Control means provide for automatic stopping of the rotor in a correct position for unloading and reloading at the end of each processing cycle.

Abstract: Cleaning system to clean articles to remove foreign matters from surfaces of the articles. At least two treatment baths filled with respective cleaning liquids are provided. An intermediate bath is located between the adjacent two treatment baths. The intermediate bath is filled with the cleaning liquid filled in one of a pair of the adjacent treatment baths adjacent to the intermediate bath, and the cleaning liquid filled in the intermediate bath is then replaced with the cleaning liquid filled in the other treatment bath. At least one of the articles is moved successively from a first to the last one of the at least two treatment baths and through at least one the intermediate bath, while the article is maintained continuously and completely immersed in the cleaning liquid.

Abstract: The cleaning of barrel type containers, particularly beer kegs which have a fitting including a riser pipe which extends into the keg, is accomplished by incrementally increasing the level of a cleaning liquid which has been introduced into the barrel and, between each step of injection of cleaning fluid, causing turbulent motion of the liquid in the barrel by means of the injection of preselected volumes of a gaseous medium at a point below the surface level of the liquid cleaning fluid.

Abstract: Flatware apparatus comprises a support platform, mechanical arrangements for mounting the platform, and respective washing and rinsing sprays. The platform is adapted to receive a cylindrical cup or holder for grouping a plurality of flatware pieces in a shock; and a drive arrangement is provided for causing rotation of the platform, or the cup or holder, so that the flatware pieces experience agitated movement. The wash spray is positioned to direct jets of washing and sanitizing fluid into the path of the churning flatware pieces. Mechanical arrangements are also provided for selectively lifting the flatware pieces in the cup in order to fully expose the food-contact surfaces thereof to the washing action.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement which enables highly efficient and convenient food preparation. The arrangement comprises a sink having two adjacent basins. A colander and a cutting board are arranged in one of the sinks in such a way that the cutting board is supported by the top edge of the sink while the colander is slidably supported on rails beneath the cutting board. The colander is conveniently storable beneath the cutting board but, in use, is simply slid out from beneath the cutting board whereby food chopped up on the cutting board can be scraped off into the colander for rising or draining. An overflow region may be provided in the dividing wall between the two sinks so that if one sink becomes blocked, water overflows into the second sink, and hence to the drain, rather than overflowing onto the floor.

Abstract: A spray treatment apparatus for small workpieces, for example for washing and rinsing, comprises several containers arranged for rotation about a common axis and each having an internal generally helical screw feed. Each barrel tapers from its intake end to its output end, which is disposed within the intake end of the next container, to feed workpieces directly. The axis is horizontal and the containers can be rotated independently. Spray heads carrying treatment liquid are spaced from the intake end of each container so that treatment liquid flows back in countercurrent to the workpieces to the intake end where it is collected at, filtered at and recycled to the spray heads.

Abstract: A device for cleaning lamps comprises a reservoir for cleaning liquid, equipped with a spray device to dispense a spray onto parts of a lamp to be cleaned. Surplus cleaning liquid is collected in an umbrella-like, folding, upwardly concave, water-proof screen and parts of the lamp which are not to be cleaned can be covered by water-proof bags. The entire device can be provided in a transport container and, in use, avoids the need for moving furniture away from underneath lamp fittings to be cleaned.

Abstract: Articles which require the removal of an adhering substance, such as residue of a galvanizing bath, are rinsed by spraying an aqueous rinsing agent against them repeatedly. Each spraying interval is followed by a run-off interval during which the sprayed-on rinsing agent can run off the articles. The length of the run-off intervals is equal to, or greater than, the length of the spraying intervals.

Abstract: Apparatus for washing a delivery cart of the type having an open side. The apparatus includes a chamber and a floor-mounted platform defining a chamber washing station. A pair of side-by-side, vertically disposed spray booms are mounted within the chamber for swinging movement adjacent the open side of the cart positioned at the washing station. A drive system in the apparatus is operable to produce coordinated oscillation of the two booms, to direct pressurized wash water therefrom against substantially the entire inner cart surfaces to be washed. A rotary spray boom mounted in the chamber for rotation about the washing station is operable through another drive system to direct pressurized wash water against substantially the entire outer surface of the cart. The cart is discharged from the chamber, after washing, by a gravity-assisted off-feed device.

Abstract: Spraying apparatus for cleaning filter plates embodies a support frame which is mounted for movement beneath the filter plates and is adapted to align with each space formed between adjacent filter plates to be cleaned. A spraying unit is mounted for pivotal movement on the support frame selectively to a lowered position beneath the filter plates and to a raised position extending upwardly into the space between adjacent filter plates. A spray dispenser carried by the spraying unit moves within the space to apply spray to the adjacent vertical surfaces of the filter plates being cleaned.

Abstract: A device for removing encrusted marine growth from submerged structures and for Non-Destructive testing of welds and the like is disclosed. The device includes a flexible transparent sleeve or housing for encapsulating an area of the structure to be cleaned and a reservoir for admitting a corrosive chemical into the housing to dissolve the marine growth. The housing may also contain embedded conductors forming a magnetic yoke which, when coupled to a source of electric energy, will subject to area to desired AC and DC fields. Magnetic particle can then be admitted through the reservoir for magnetic particle testing.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus for a vacuum-operated milk conveying system in a dairy comprises a cleaning liquid tank, timer-controlled components which periodically supply fresh cleaning liquid to the tank, connections by which liquid in the tank (fresh or used) is periodically provided to the system, and a timer-controlled drain control valve assembly mounted on the tank. The valve assembly comprises two (upper and lower) symmetrical molded plastic valve housings secured on opposite sides of a horizontal plate having sets of holes therein which are cooperable with chambers, ports and openings in the housings. The valve assembly also comprises an inlet port, an outlet port, a circulating port, and a single solenoid for operating three rod-mounted valves, namely: a fill valve located between the inlet port and the circulating port, a dump valve located between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a drain valve for a drain port on the tank.