Abstract: A pneumatic conveying apparatus, having a conveyor line path installed with a first valve and a second valve. An article is conveyed through the conveyor line path. The first and second valves are both open to a vacuum source to provide a sucking force to the article, so as to initiate conveying the article. After a flow of the article through the whole conveyor line path is established, the second valve is closed to form an air cushion at the terminal end of the conveyor line path. The terminal velocity of the article is thus reduced without causing any damage or breakage.

Abstract: The invention provides a separator for removing small particulates from an air stream, the separator includes pneumatic separator with a relatively small filter element built inside the separator to remove particulates from the air stream down to as small as one micron. The pneumatic separator relies on a vortex effect and sudden changes in direction of the air flow to strip out most of the particulates, and because the very small particulates have insufficient mass to be dislodged from the air in this way, these particulates remain in the air stream and are carried to the filter element where they build up on the element. The build up is interrupted by the incoming air which flows aggressively around the element and strips parts of the build-up off the element. This ongoing random process can be supplemented if necessary by back flushing. Both the separated particulates and those stripped off the filter element accumulate in the separator for subsequent removal.

Abstract: Sensitive articles, such as IC wafers can be maintained in a contamination-free condition. A base member is provided for supporting one or more of the sensitive articles. A cover is provided for sealing engagement with a base member so as form a sealed unit. The sealed unit has an interior. The sealed unit is positioned at a storage position. A particle-free ionized gas is passed though the interior to bathe the articles supported therein with the gas at the storage position. The sealed unit is moved with the articles to an access position on associated processing equipment. The cover is removed from the base to expose the articles. The exposed articles are bathed continuously at the access position with a particle-free ionized gas. The articles are moved sequentially between the access position and a processing position on the associated processing equipment. The articles are bathed with a particle-free ionized gas during the moving steps.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining sensitive articles such as IC wafers or the like contaminant-free including a base member having a removable cover defining a sealed unit having an interior in which a plurality of sensitive articles are supported and through which a particle-free ionizing gas from a source on a wheeled table is continuously passed, the sealed unit being movable from a storage position on the table to an access position on associated processing without interruption of the ionized gas flow and at which the cover is removed and the supported articles continuously bathed with a particle-free, ionized gas to permit the articles to be sequentially moved to a fabricating position in the processing equipment and back to the access position while being continuously bathed with a particle-free ionized gas for subsequent assembly of the cover and base member and return of the sealed unit to the storage position.

Abstract: A method for establishing a shelf life for getters is provided. The getter absorbs one or more gasses. One type of getter that can be used is desiccant to absorb moisture. The getter is sealed in a container that is impervious to the gas that is to be absorbed by the getter. The gas impervious container is placed within a gas previous first enclosure, which is positioned in a sealable second enclosure. A gas sensitive article is also located within the sealable enclosure. The sealable enclosure is sealed about the first enclosure and the article. The getter is activated to absorb any gas within the sealed enclosure by rupturing the container through the first and second enclosures. The second container retains the ruptured first container and the exposed getter.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for maintaining articles to be processed clean, having an airtight transportable container with an inlet valve for admitting ionized gas and an outlet valve for venting gas, a purger with an interface to the container inlet valve and a vacuum pick-up and ionized gas spray wand is disclosed. A purger rack for storing multiple containers is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject flow proportioner device has a pivoting target plate opposite an inlet and between a pair of axially aligned exit ports. Product is introduced through a flow shaping inlet and strikes a profiled target on the plate forming a cushion and diverting the subsequent product between the outlets.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transforming digital data stored in a memory (18) into sounds is disclosed. The apparatus includes an oscillator (12) which drives an address selector (14). The address selector drives the memory. A note generator (20) generates an analog electrical signal responsive to the memory, and a speaker with its associated amplifier stages (22) produces sounds corresponding to the analog electrical signal.A preferred arrangement of the note generator includes an inverting amplifier which can simply be a logic gate (44) and a plurality of resistors (50) selected by switches (56) in feedback relationship with the amplifier.A preferred arrangement includes a duty cycle selector (80) to produce harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the analog electrical signal.

Abstract: A socket insertion guide for an encapsulated electronics package having pins oriented to be inserted into socket contacts in substantially a single direction is disclosed. The socket insertion guide includes a pair of longitudinal placement guides and a pair of lateral placement guides. The guides extend beyond the distal ends of the pins and guide the movement of the encapsulated electronics package toward the socket so that the pins are inserted into the socket contacts. The guide also includes a means for orienting the proximal ends of the pins for proper insertion of the distal ends of the pins into the socket contacts.