Abstract: Conveyor apparatus includes at least two conveyors, each comprising a pair of longitudinal conveyor members, situated in different horizontal planes on which workpiece carriers are supported for conveyance. Each workpiece carrier has at least one longer outer dimension, e.g. length, greater than the distance between the conveyor members of one of the conveyors and at least one shorter outer dimesnion, e.g. width, less than the distance between the conveyor members of at least one of the conveyors.

Abstract: A method for machining a disk-shaped workpiece, for example having a thickness of between 350 and 1200 microns, formed of brittle crystalline material having a Vickers hardness greater than about 7,000 N/mm.sup.2 in the manufacture of a wafer having a fine thickness, such as in the range of between about 60 and 250 microns, comprises a "cross" grinding operation including the steps of situating the workpiece in opposed relationship to a flat grinding surface of a rotating cup-type grinding wheel and infeeding or plunging the grinding wheel with respect to the workpiece in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel at a controlled rate while maintaining the workpiece fixed and stationary with respect to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel until a layer of the workpiece having a specifically predetermined optimal thickness has been abraded.

Abstract: A center-opening saw blade having an inner sawing edge is spanned or tensioned to provide an accurate, high quality cut by apparatus including inner and outer clamping collars between which an outer peripheral edge region of the saw blade is clamped, a spanner ring having an inner edge and an outer centering heel, the clamping collars being tightly affixed to the spanner ring with the clamping rings positioned in the centering heel with the inner edge of the spanner ring engaging an inner region of the saw blade to impart an initial stress thereto. A form ring is axially slidably mounted within the clamping collars and is slidable to engage an intermediate portion of the saw blade between the outer peripheral edge region clamped between the clamping collars and the inner region engaged by the inner edge of the spanner ring to impart a fine adjustment stress to the saw blade.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting a seal between a rotary shaft and its enclosure includes a sealing element having an elastic lip portion coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith and a sealing portion associated with the enclosure, the elastic lip portion forming a contact seal with the sealing portion when the shaft is stationary or rotating slowly. The elastic lip portion tends to lift from the sealing portion to form a non-contact seal upon a predeterminable increase in the rate of shaft rotation. Compressed gas is introduced into a region between the rotary elastic lip portion and the sealing portion to form a gas cushion therebetween to facilitate lifting of the elastic lip portion.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid seal provided in a sealing gap defined between an inner surface of an outer rotor and the outer periphery of a disc-shaped magnet includes magnetic liquid situated in the sealing gap and the improvement wherein the inner surface of the outer rotor is inclined so that in a cross-section through a plane containing the axis of rotation of the rotor, the inner surface forms an angle with the axis of rotation of the rotor whereby retention of the magnetic liquid in the sealing gap is facilitated by the reaction forces to the centrifugal forces acting on the magnetic liquid during operation.

Abstract: The roller bearing seal includes a ring-shaped member integrally connected to an outer race of the roller bearing. The ring-shaped member has an outer lip portion that is spaced a predetermined amount from the inner race of the roller bearing so as to provide a gap between the ring shaped seal member and the inner race. Oppositely extending rim portions project from the lip portion in concentric fashion with respect to the lip portion to define respective spaces for accommodating grease layers. The grease layers and the lip portion constitute a seal against the inner race thereby preventing dust or other foreign particles from passing through the grease layers and the lip portion.