Abstract: A paper sheet conveyance device for conveying a paper sheet by an airstream generated in a tubular conveyance path. The paper sheet conveyance device includes a frame member that supports the conveyance path and are provided along an installation route of the conveyance path, pedestal units attached to the frame member and that slide along a longitudinal direction of the frame member, and a plurality of paper sheet capturing devices that send out the paper sheet to be conveyed into the conveyance path and are provided in the conveyance path. Each of the paper sheet capturing devices includes a path part that forms a part of the conveyance path, which is formed by joining a plurality of conveyance ducts and the path parts of the paper sheet capturing devices. The pedestal unit is provided for and holds each of the paper sheet capturing devices.

Abstract: A fastening element 30 is fed from a feed track 64 through a feed chamber, formed by interfacing closed channels 132 and 160, to a junction point located in a feed passage 84, formed by two communicating feed openings 86 and 88. An inclined surface 82, located between the feed chamber and the junction point, is inclined downward from the feed chamber to the junction point. A ram 105, located movably in the feed chamber, transfers the fastening element 30 from the feed track 64 to the inclined surface 82, where the fastening element moves down the inclined surface to the junction point. Upon the application of a pressure medium into the feed passage 84, selectively in either of two directions, the fastening element 30 can be directed toward a fastening device 104.

Abstract: A fastening element 30 is fed from a feed track 64 through a feed chamber, formed by interfacing closed channels 132 and 160, to a junction point located in a feed passage 84, formed by two communicating feed openings 86 and 88. An inclined surface 82, located between the feed chamber and the junction point, is inclined downward from the feed chamber to the junction point. A ram 105, located movably in the feed chamber, transfers the fastening element 30 from the feed track 64 to the inclined surface 82, where the fastening element moves down the inclined surface to the junction point. Upon the application of a pressure medium into the feed passage 84, selectively in either of two directions, the fastening element 30 can be directed toward a fastening device 104.

Abstract: A substrate body transfer apparatus, and an operating method therefor, capable of inserting and extracting substrate body into and from a cassette using air conveyance without employing a transfer mechanism such as those in which direct contact is made with the substrate body when inserting or extracting a thin plate-shaped substrate body into or from a cassette. The substrate body transfer apparatus is employed when thin plate-shaped substrate body are extracted from or inserted into cassettes which store the substrate body.

Abstract: An arrangement (10) and a manifold (12) are disclosed for feeding different sized or types of fasteners from a plurality of automatic screw feeding machines (11) into and through the manifold (12) to a fastening tool (21) at a remote location, whereby one fastener is output from the automatic screw feeding machines (11) and delivered to the remote location before another fastener is output from one of the screw feeding machines (11).

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer handling apparatus and method for transferring a wafer, one of whose faces has been already polished, from a wafer holder, which holds the wafer with the wafer's polished face facing downward, to a wafer cassette submerged in water contained in a water tank; the apparatus includes a wafer receive assembly and a water tank and the wafer receive assembly has a flat surface and is adapted to swing between an up-facing position at which the flat surface faces upward and a down-facing position at which the flat surface faces downward, and the wafer receive assembly is provided with ejection nozzles which eject water with a force sufficient to keep the wafer floating, and the water tank contains a wafer cassette to receive the wafer, and is capable of forcing the wafer which is left to sink in the water to enter the wafer cassette; whereas the method comprises: dropping the wafer from the wafer holder with the polished face facing downward onto a thin water layer formed over the wafer receive

Abstract: The separation of thin disk-type workpieces from a stack has, as a rule, hitherto been carried out by hand. An apparatus and a corresponding method are now provided which make it possible to lift the wafer off the stack without mechanical contact, and also to convey the separated wafers to the tray and to introduce them in an automated way without damage. In this method, a stack of disk-type workpieces is introduced into a wafer magazine with a feed unit which brings the uppermost wafer of the wafer stack into the sphere of action of a fluid medium which emerges under pressure in a preferred direction from a nozzle system. A dam makes it possible to remove a single wafer. The apparatus and the method make possible separation without damage while increasing the yield. In conjunction with a conveying apparatus, an apparatus for tray filling processing lines can be built up for automatically treating disk-type workpieces without damage.

Abstract: A system for containing oil or other contaminants which have leaked from an oil tanker or similar structure is disclosed. A series of flotation members are connected end to end and stored around the perimeter of the tanker. A membrane is folded and packed into a recess in each member and held between the member and the tanker. The members are held against the sides of the tanker by a movable stay. In case of an oil leak, a triggering mechanism sequentially moves the stays to release the flotation members, which drop off the tanker into the water. One edge of the membrane is attached to the members while the opposite edge of the membrane is free. The free edge of the membrane falls from the members so that the membrane forms a curtain in the water. Each flotation member is further connected to adjacent members by a flexible jacket and adjacent edges of each membrane are connected to each other. In this manner a continuous curtain surrounds the tanker to prevent passage of all or most of the spilled oil.

Abstract: A device for the transferring and accumulating of packing elements in the form of a box which is open on one face, using an air conveyor on an accumulating path in a closed loop (1) to which there is connected at least one upstream machine feeding the accumulating path with packing elements and at least one downstream machine fed with packing elements from the accumulating path, characterized by the fact that said closed loop (1) is arranged substantially vertically and comprises an upper horizontal path portion (2), a lower horizontal path portion (3) located below the upper portion, and two curved end connecting portions (4, 5), certain machines being connected to the upper portion of the path and other machines being connected to the lower portion of the path.

Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus wherein individual plastic articles are sheared from a cartridge of such articles and conveyed pneumatically through a pneumatic conduit to a desired position.

Abstract: A wafer processing system for spin processing photoresist liquid on a silicon wafer and automatically sequencing them through the processor includes a shuttle having upper and lower air bearing slides. The upper slide receives the wafer from a supply magazine and centers it on a rotating chuck and the lower slide of the shuttle receives the wafer from the chuck and allows it to be transferred to a receive track.

Abstract: Disclosed for use in a manufacturing line is a material handling system which can be utilized for electronic component manufacturing, such as semiconductor slices, at subatmospheric conditions. The articles to be subjected to various manufacturing steps are moved serially on a track of gas or air. At a work station which requires a manufacturing operation to be performed at subatmospheric conditions, e.g., a vacuum, the article is initially loaded into an input air lock which incorporates a magazine loader capable of storing and conveying such articles into a manufacturing processing station operating at subatmospheric conditions. Once the input air lock system is loaded, the entrance gate to such air lock is closed and the air lock system is evacuated to match the subatmospheric pressure of the manufacturing processing work station.

Abstract: An automatic wafer processing system is modular in format and includes wafer treatment units, storage units and air bearing transport track units which are all of a common module size or an integral multiple thereof. All of these units can then be operatively interconnected in a coplanar configuration to provide an automated wafer flow path. Variation of treatment units can provide many different types of wafer processing in a simple and economical manner. To facilitate such automated system improved variable width air bearing tracks are provided along with a buffer storage unit to accommodate differing process times.

Abstract: Systems for handling discs, such as semiconductor wafers and the like, using both stationary and movable air track assemblies include an elongate track member, a flat surface formed to extend along the underside of the track member, ports disposed along the flat undersurface for the discharge of air at an angle to the vertical, and provision for discharging a sufficient flow of air from the ports to create a differential in the air pressure above and below the discs so as to lift the discs toward the flat undersurface as a result of the air flow. The angle has a sufficient horizontal vectorial component to urge the discs along the flat undersurface of the track member in the direction of such component. In one embodiment, the air track member extends between a pair of holders which respectively supply and receive discs carried by the track member. The discs may be carried to a predetermined fixed point, released, and subsequently retrieved from the same position.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles, such as rivets from a supply to a riveting machine. A frame defines a passageway including an outlet opening, and a plurality of gates are mounted on the frame for movement with respect to the frame. The gates move independently of one another and are individually operated between normal and actuated positions in a selective manner. Each gate defines a first passageway aligned with the passageway of the frame when the gate is in its normal position, and a second passageway aligned with the passageway of the frame when the gate is in the actuated position. The second passageway of each gate is positioned, when the gate is in its normal position, to receive an individual article from a supply. When a gate is operated from its normal to its actuated position the article in its second passageway is introduced to and dispensed through the passageway defined by the frame and the other gates to the outlet opening for delivery to the riveting machine.

Abstract: Buffer storage apparatus is disclosed for use with a semiconductor wafer processing system having plurality of processing stations positioned along a conveyor structure and in which allowance must be made for different processing rates at different stations, the buffer storage apparatus including a first buffer storage station positioned between a first and a second processing station for temporarily holding wafers received from the first processing station and then conveying them to the second processing station, and a second buffer station positioned between the second processing station and the third processing station and including means for conveying a wafer received from the second processing station to the third processing station or for temporarily holding it.