Abstract: Apparatus is provided for drying articles that have been treated, for example, with an etchant or other treatment fluid and then washed, in order to remove the liquid, generally water, therefrom, the apparatus employing a conveyor for conveying the articles through a chamber, with a plurality of gas knives for preferably engaging the wet articles with a stream or curtain of cool air for physically impelling most of the liquid, generally water, from the articles, followed by delivering the articles past one or more other gas knife stations whereby air that has been heated is impelled onto the articles, for removing generally water film from the surface thereof. The apparatus is adjustable for using a single blower to provide originally unheated air to a single duct that is bifurcated into two channels, with a heater being provided in one of the channels.

Abstract: An etching system is disclosed, whereby individual and discrete modules are provided, each for performing its own function, with the modules being longitudinally connected in serial arrangement, and being aligned by suitable pin-in-hole arrangement, and with a common drive for all of the modules, by the use of drive rods carried by each of the modules that are coupled together with the connecton of adjacent modules. Individual features of the various drive means are also disclosed.

Abstract: Treated articles such as printed circuit boards that have been etched with an etchant or treated with a solvent, are delivered into a zone of sufficiently high humidity to prevent drying of a liquid treatment fluid on the articles, and wherein the treatment fluid is "blown off" the articles by pressurized air, in the high humidity environment, with the treatment fluid then being delivered for re-use at a prior station. Alternately, the treatment fluid is atomized, entrained in the pressurized air stream and "blown on" the articles, whereby the treatment fluid is efficiently and uniformly applied thereto.