Abstract: In one example, a sorting unit includes a sorting system and a plurality of bins into which substrates are sorted. The sorting unit includes a bin handler having a first end effector for receiving one bin of the plurality of bins, and second end effector for disposing an empty bin in the previous location of the received bin. In one example, a method of operating a sorting unit is also provided.

Abstract: An inline system including a first apparatus having a first processing unit for processing a workpiece and an unloading area for unloading the workpiece processed by the first processing unit, a second apparatus having a loading area for loading the workpiece unloaded from the unloading area and a second processing unit for processing the workpiece loaded to the loading area, a transfer unit for transferring the workpiece from the unloading area to the loading area, and a position detecting unit for imaging the unloading area to detect the position of the unloading area and also imaging the loading area to detect the position of the loading area. The transfer unit transfers the workpiece from the unloading area to the loading area according to the position of the unloading area and the position of the loading area detected by the position detecting unit.

Abstract: The drying oven of the present invention comprises a holey plastic plate that can make planetary rotation. The drying mechanisms may consist of classical resistance heaters, blowing heaters and/or coolers, and ultraviolet, infrared and microwave radiation sources in horizontal, vertical or intermediate angle arrangements. There is an absorbent material in a reservoir so as to absorb the excess energy transmitted by the system. The present system completes the drying procedure quickly with full automatization within a standard period without deteriorating the sample and reveals a product which is ready to further processing.

Abstract: Device for dewatering and drying solids, especially plastics granulated under water, in form of a centrifuge dryer comprising a housing (1) having an inlet opening (2) for the solid material with adhering water and an outlet opening (3) for the dehydrated solid material, a screen cylinder (4) fixedly disposed inside the housing (1), a rotor (5) arranged inside the screen cylinder (4) and wings (6) attached to the rotor at a distance from one another, a water drain (7), and arrangements (8, 8?) for the introduction and removal of an air stream passing vertically through the device. It is distinguished on the one hand in that the inlet opening (2) is arranged tangential to the screen cylinder (4, 10).

Abstract: A process and means for drying sticky or gluey materials uses an arrangement of rotor arms that are adjusted so that feed materials are rapidly mixed into the bed material. The moisture content of the bed material is kept below the moisture limit of the glue zone.

Abstract: A salad spin-drier with a bowl of glass or ceramic so that part of the water collection bowl, which until now has been purely functional, may be simultaneously used as a serving bowl for the salad. The salad bowl as is standard apart from the bowl has a lid in which a drive mechanism having a rotary drive plate with a cord drum and a pull cord may be set into rotational movement by a pull grip. The rotary drive plate with tabs engages into suitable ribs on the spin-drier basket. The spin-drier basket has a bearing recess which rests on a bearing cam. The bearing cam is separated from the bowl centrally on a plate. The bowl has a planar inner base on which the plate rests, and by way of an abutment edge limiting the plane base one achieves a central mounting of the plate. For the simplified removal of the plate these may have suitable openings easier gripping. A rubber-elastic rest is on the underside of the plate and serves as scratch-protection and slip-protection.

Abstract: An emptying unit for recovering bottom residue, particularly in drying filters, drying units and the like, comprising, inside a container for treating and containing dried product, fluid introducing elements for moving the bottom residue of the dried product. A discharge port being also provided which is controlled by a discharge valve interposed on a pneumatic circuit suitable to produce a circulation of fluid in output from the discharge port.

Abstract: A system for processing a workpiece includes an inner chamber pivotably supported within an outer chamber. The inner chamber has an opening to allow liquid to drain out. A motor pivots the inner chamber to bring the opening at or below the level of liquid in the inner chamber. As the inner chamber turns, liquid drains out. Workpieces within the inner chamber are supported on a holder or a rotor, which may be fixed or rotating. Multi processes may be performed within the inner chamber, reducing the need to move the workpieces between various apparatus and reducing risk of contamination.

Abstract: A centrifugal dryer for leafy comestibles includes a basket within a cylindrical cabinet. Overlying the cabinet is a cover assembly having a lid, an external crank arm and a gear train sealed within a gearbox mounted to the underside of the lid. An output shaft of the gear train engages a central tower of the basket to rotate the basket about a vertical axis. The cover assembly includes a hand brake mechanism having a brake pad which selectively engages an upper peripheral lip flange of the basket for stopping rotation without straining the gear train.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow disrupter within the flow path of a slurry comprising a desired particulate matter and a transport fluid so as to impart a force angularly disposed to an otherwise obtained direction of travel, thereby preventing the formation of a sheet of aggregated particulates against the screen surface. In a method in accord with the present invention a force is imparted to the desired particulate matter in an angular direction to the direction of travel.

Abstract: For separating and drying pellets from a suspension, centrifugal dryers have proved successful wherein a rotor equipped with conveyor blades and disposed vertically in an outside housing for collecting the liquid is enclosed coaxially by a hollow body formed of screen elements.

Abstract: Annular drying element (15) for mounting on a rotor axle in a drying plant for indirect heating or cooling of moist, comminuted, biological material such as fishmeal, offal from slaughterhouses, mash from breweries and similar materials of animal, vegetable or chemical origin. The drying element is configured with a number of through-going openings (25) extending from the one side of the element to the other. The drying element can be made of two identical, annular plate elements (16) with holes (25), in that tubular stays are welded between oppositely-lying holes. Through the openings (25), elongated elements can be inserted which increase the stirring in the product mass which is to be heat-treated.

Abstract: A device for drying food is provided. The device includes a bowl having a bottom wall and a sidewall terminating in a top edge, a cover removably connected to the top edge of the bowl, a basket assembly including a basket and a removable lid disposed in the bowl and rotatable relative to the bowl about an axis, and a brake assembly carried by the cover and engageable with the lid for stopping rotation of the basket assembly.

Abstract: A footwear drying rack and a method for its use within automatic dryers having a rotating drum, the framework of the rack having one outwardly spring-biased main actuator arm and one telescoping main actuator arm placed in opposition thereto; two rack holders secured to opposite sides of the inside surface of the dryer drum and between which the two main actuator arms are firmly fixed during use; and a plurality of outwardly spring-biased shoe bracket subassemblies upon which wet footwear may be placed to allow the footwear to dry within an automatic clothes dryer more rapidly than if it were placed loose within the dryer drum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the drying of produce and particularly leafy vegetables. A spin dryer (100) is provided which releasably receives and holds a plurality of manually liftable field baskets (21). A turntable assembly (110) is rotatably mounted to a stationary support structure (105) and operatively coupled to a drive assembly (121). Turntable (110) is adapted to hold a plurality of baskets (21) preferably with the baskets (21) positioned on their sides with their perforated bottom walls (24) facing outwardly and away from the turntable spin axis (14). Produce pieces (22) are preferably stacked in baskets (21) in a parallel vertical orientation with their stems (31) proximate he bottom walls (24) of the baskets (21).

Abstract: A semiconductor processing system for wafers or other semiconductor articles. The system uses an interface section at an end of the machine accessible from the clean room. A plurality of processing stations are arranged away from the clean room interface. A transfer subsystem removes wafers from supporting carriers, and positions both the wafers and carriers onto a carrousel which is used as an inventory storage. Wafers are shuttled between the inventory and processing stations by a robotic conveyor which is oriented to move toward and away from the interface end. The system processes the wafers without wafer carriers.

Abstract: A spindrier according to the present invention includes a box body enclosing a plurality of wafers, a rotor for holding the wafers in the box body and rotated by a motor, and upper and lower clamp bars for holding the wafers face to face with their faces directed perpendicular to rotating shafts of the rotor. The lower clamp bars are connected and fixed to the rotating shafts so as to hold lower rim portions of the wafers thereon when the wafers are set in the rotor. The upper clamp bars are connected to one of the rotating shafts at their base ends so that they can be swung vertically erect and also and horizontally relative to the rotating shaft and they are locked to the other rotating shaft at their front ends when they are swung horizontally. They include a mechanism for swinging them, a locking mechanism for locking their front ends to the other rotating shaft, and an unlocking mechanism for releasing their front ends from the other rotating shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum drying apparatus for continuously drying treated articles subjected to washing treatment with water such as electronic components. A plurality of vacuum tanks each incorporating therein heaters are disposed concyclically on a rotary table, and a carry-in apparatus for carrying in treated articles washed with water and a carry-out apparatus for carrying out dried treated articles are disposed in a carry-in/out zone of the treated articles. Furthermore, hot air heating devices for blowing hot air to the treated articles subjected to water washing treatment are disposed in the carry-in apparatus.

Abstract: A fruit dryer includes a base to cintain a hot wind unit to produce hot wind, a bottom case and a plurality of intermediate cases possible to be deposited one on another for placing fruit to be dried therein, and an upper cap. The bottom case is deposited on the base. The intermediate cases is raised up for use or is lowered down for non-use relative to each other to lower the whole height of the fruit dryer for packing, transporting or storing.

Abstract: An automatic drying apparatus for drying vegetables and the like includes a support having at least three upstanding posts with lateral spaces between the posts for providing clearance for a conveyor extending from the dryer in at least one of three directions. The housing is suspended by a pendulum-type suspension from the support, the housing having an annular bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall with an opening therein. An open top basket is rotatably mounted in the housing, the basket having a cylindrical side wall and a conical bottom wall which is moveable along a vertical axis between a closed position wherein it engages the basket side wall and an open position wherein it is spaced appreciably below the basket side wall so that the contents of the basket can drop out of the basket onto a conveyor. The moving means for moving of basket bottom wall between its two positions are suspended below the basket bottom wall to minimize the height of the apparatus.

Abstract: A processor for centrifugal processing of semiconductor wafers and similar units without a wafer carrier. The processor is specially constructed to provide an automatically extendible and retractable rotor head to allow automated loading and unloading of discrete wafers onto the rotor head. The rotor head includes means for holding the wafers in spaced discrete relationship without a carrier. The processor includes a novel shaft assembly construction which includes an axially extendible shaft controlled using pressurized fluid. The pressurized fluid is supplied to the shaft assembly by a pressure supply which is controllably extendible and retractable for engagement with the shaft assembly when rotation is stopped.

Abstract: A sectionalized screen/basket assembly for a centrifugal dryer for coal slurry comprises a screen formed in an upper section and a lower section, enabling one to save substantially on screen replacement costs, in as much as the great preponderance of screen wear in such dryers is at the top of the screen, at the point of slurry introduction. An internal circumferential ridge on the upper screen creates a particle cake that further reduces wear.

Abstract: Apparatus for spin drying a semiconductor wafer by centrifugal force. The apparatus spins the wafer about a selected axis while the wafer is being rinsed, and then displaces the wafer away from the axis along a path of travel circumscribing the axis to dry the wafer.

Abstract: A rotary wafer drying apparatus comprises a rotatable rotor for applying centrifugal force to the wafers, and a motor for rotating the rotor. A pair of cradles, attached to the rotor, receive a plurality of wafers arranged vertically. When the wafers are to be dried, the cradles are rotated by about 90.degree. from the state of reception, with the wafers maintained approximately at the horizontal state. When wafers of different diameters are to be dried and the size of the cradles should be changed correspondingly, not the rotor itself but only the pair of cradles in the rotor are changed.

Abstract: A spin drier is disclosed, which comprises a casing and a rotor to be rotated in the casing for spin-drying semiconductor materials. The rotor includes a plurality of predetermined areas in which a carrier housing the materials to be dried is set with a cradle. There are provided at each of the areas in the rotor at least one pair of opposed holder rods with their free ends adjacent to each other and vertical stopper rods relevant to the holder rods. Each holder rod is reinforced by the stopper rod and receives in the vicinity of its free end a leg portion of the carrier in which semiconductor materials are housed. Also, each holder rod in the vicinity of other secured end thereof is adapted to be engaged with a portion of the cradle, to thereby hold securely both the carrier and the cradle.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying optical disks heats a disk from the underside, and optionally blows clean air between the heater and the disk being dried in order to prevent contaminants from landing on the disk. Heat control is provided such that a surface temperature of the disk during drying is maintained uniform, preventing brittleness. The apparatus preheats the heater, placing the disk in a standby position during warm-up. The apparatus then moves the disk over the heater, and monitors the temperature of the disk, removing the disk back to the standby position when the disk reaches a predetermined temperature. In order to provide uniform heating, a radiant heat controlling plate having a suitably-shaped opening portion may be provided. Additionally, temperature distribution throughout the disk may be achieved as desired, in accordance with the heat control performed, and/or in accordance with the shape of the opening portion of the radiant heat controlling plate.

Abstract: A spin drier comprising a rotating rotor for spin-drying semiconductor materials, in which the rotor is made of aluminum to lessen the weight of the rotor and has therein reinforcing rods fastened between the upper ring and the base plate of the rotor in order to bring higher strength of the rotor. Such arrangements enable a highly accelerated starting in rotation of the rotor. Due to such highly accelerated starting, the spin drier can remove water droplets stuck on wafers completely so as to obviate occurrence of water marks.

Abstract: The device according to this invention comprises a casing in which turns a device designed to support and hold the wafer, the said device is fitted eccentrically with respect to its rotational pin (3) a support element 5-6 designed to hold the silicon wafer by its edges in a horizontal plane, the device assembly being mounted in stable balance with respect to the said pin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying welding flux in which flux to be dried is fed downwardly by gravity onto the uppermost of a vertically staggered, interleaved array of shelf plate support members within a drying chamber; and the drying chamber is swung about an axis generally parallel to the members while flux feeds downwardly by gravity from one to another of the members and while the flux is heated and dried.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting fluid from rotary air filters including novel support means upon which an individual filter is mounted and means for imparting rotation thereto for effecting centrifugal extraction. The support means includes a base member, which receives the rotational motive power, and a lower support member resiliently biased in spaced relation to the base member in a manner minimizing the possibility of damage due to vibration or unbalance. Upper support means include a pair of annular rings, one of which is vertically adjustable with respect to the other, which encircle the mounted filter. Annular discs having central openings matched to the outside diameter of the mounted filter may be removably mounted upon the vertically adjustable support ring.

Abstract: A drying oven for drying materials which give off noxious fumes is disclosed. The drying oven comprises a drying chamber having a circular top wall and a downwardly depending sidewall which is closed off at its bottom by a bottom wall. The circular top wall has an exhaust port which is eccentric therewith. The sidewall has means for introducing dry gas into the drying chamber through an intake port which is located directly beneath the exhaust port. A doorway is also provided for allowing the introduction of the material to be dried into the exhaust chamber. There is no requirement that the doorway have elaborate pressure seals as the pressures within the chamber do not rise appreciably above ambient pressures due to the unique location of the exhaust port with reference to the location of the introduction of the dry air.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for curing concrete products. The apparatus comprises an endless tunnel of a circular nature through which a plurality of interconnected spaced rack sections are moved in a step-by-step manner, each pair of adjacent rack sections forming an enclosure for receiving the products to be cured; and wherein seal means formed on the rack sections and the interior of the tunnel coact to form spaced separate stations about the tunnel into separate stations of which a superheated steam is inserted, a steam is inserted, and cooling air is inserted simultaneously as enclosures are moved into and out of said stations by an enclosure indexing apparatus.