Abstract: Printing apparatus (10) comprises support means to support a roll (14) (specifically a fabric) to be printed on. The fabric inevitably has loose material and such parts will reduce the quality of the final print on the surface. Three parts may include lint and dirt. Surface cleaning apparatus (30) locates upstream of the printing means (10) and comprises an adhesive or tacky surface (32) of a roller (31). The adhesive surface collects the loose lint particles but this inevitably reduces the effectiveness of the adhesive surface. Accordingly, the cleaning apparatus (30) comprise adhesive surface cleaning means to continually clean the adhesive surface. This means that the printing process is continual and there is no need to stop the printing process.

Abstract: It is possible to clean high temperature (over 400, e. g. over 1000, degrees F) surfaces in a time and cost efficient manner by using a liquid-cooled ceramic welding lance to direct (at super-atmospheric pressure) a blasting media at the surfaces to be cleaned. The blasting media is preferably combustible at the temperature of the environment surrounding the surfaces, and may include one or more organic agricultural abrasive materials (preferably black walnut shells) as the sole or primary constituent. Blasting may be practiced by directing the media at the surfaces to be cleaned at a pressure of between about 40-100 psi, for example continuously for as long as is necessary (e. g. more than 30 minutes), without any need to remove the lance from the environment. The method is desirably practiced to clean, while in operation or in situ, metal surfaces having scale buildup which adversely affects the ability of the metal surfaces to transfer heat, reheat tubes, process tubes, furnace surfaces, or the like.

Abstract: A refractory, heat-insulating slab for use in an inner, expendable lining of a tundish has a facing comprising magnesium oxide, inorganic binder but substantially no organic matter and a different backing. The facing has a combined water content not exceeding 2% by weight and the backing has a permeability of at least 10 AFS units. The facing and backing are joined together during formation of the facing or the backing. In the continuous casting of steel, the slabs have the advantage that there is little or no tendency for a significant amount of hydrogen to be picked up by the steel.