Abstract: A device for enhancing removal of liquid from fabric, such as a vacuum head device for removing liquid from carpet, includes an elongated base plate to be moved across the carpet. The vacuum head has a tapering cross section with a wider upper end and a narrower lower end configured to penetrate into the carpeted surface. In addition, a plurality of apertures are formed in an array in the base plate to withdraw the fluid under a vacuum force. Preferably, the plurality of apertures are sized larger than a width of the lower surface to create a plurality of protrusions extending from the base plate configured to penetrate the carpeted surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing byproduct induced defects in a processing tool is provided. A purge gas is introduced into a vessel of the processing tool. The vessel is heated to a temperature above a vaporization temperature of the byproduct. The temperature is maintained for a predetermined period of time. The vessel is purged to remove at least a portion of the byproduct.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of drying a fiber web and an arrangement in a fiber web drying apparatus, the fiber web being dried between two tight bands that move in parallel in the same direction and turn around turning rolls. The first band is heated and the second band is cooled. The fiber web is guided through a drying zone, defined by the bands, with at least one felt or wire, so that the fiber web comes into contact with the surface of the first, heated band and the felt or wire is between the fiber web and the second, cooled band. The position of the edge of the band is measured by means of a sliding block which is brought into contact with the edge of the band, the material of the sliding block being substantially harder than that of the band.

Abstract: A device and method for planarizing a film layer device on a silicon wafer. The device has a circular track whose surface faces the track center, a carrier capable of moving along the track and carrying wafers around with their front surfaces facing the center, and a set of heating elements for heating the film layers on the wafers to make them fluid. Utilizing the centrifugal force on the film layer generated by the circular movement and the fluidity of the film layer provided by heating, planarization of the film layer is achieved.

Abstract: The portable sports equipment drying container comprised: a box shaped body; a cover for the body; the body having opposed side walls and opposed end walls; an input fan mounted in one of the walls; an output fan mounted in a another one of the walls; a heating pad in the box shaped body; perforated or porous insulating structure between the heating pad and clothing or equipment placed in the box shaped body; and electrical circuitry for energizing the fans and the heating pad for drying moist or wet clothing or equipment placed in said container and for circulating air through the container.

Abstract: A sheet stabilizer is provided for a dryer section of a paper-making machine which conveys a wet sheet of paper by way of a felt or fabric, the dryer roller including a leading upper dryer roller, a lower dryer roller, and a trailing upper dryer roller. The sheet stabilizer comprises upper and lower Venturi boxes, which are disposed between the leading upper dryer roller and the lower drying roller. Each Venturi box provides a respective space defined by fixed parallel outer and inner plates. In use, the wet sheet of paper is in sliding contact with the upper outer plate. The upper and lower Venturi boxes cooperate to draw air from the nip between the wet sheet of paper and the lower dryer roller and into both the upper fixed space and the lower fixed space. The sliding contact between the supported wet sheet of paper and the upper outer plate assures that the air flow does not result in fluttering of the wet sheet of paper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying and deagglomerating substances of finely-divided solids suspended in a fluid medium. The apparatus includes the basic components of a phenumatic friction dryer, a flash dryer and a ring dryer.

Abstract: A system that employs thermophoresis to protect lithographic surfaces from particle deposition and operates in an environment where the pressure is substantially constant and can be sub-atmospheric. The system (thermophoretic pellicle) comprises an enclosure that surrounds a lithographic component whose surface is being protected from particle deposition. The enclosure is provided with means for introducing a flow of gas into the chamber and at least one aperture that provides for access to the lithographic surface for the entry and exit of a beam of radiation, for example, and further controls gas flow into a surrounding low pressure environment such that a higher pressure is maintained within the enclosure and over the surface being protected.

Abstract: A device and method for cleaning and drying workpieces in a treatment vessel in which a reduced pressure can be provided. During the cleaning process, a liquid bath is formed in the treatment vessel (1), said liquid bath at least partially surrounding the work pieces, and cleaning fluid and optionally a gaseous medium are introduced into the treatment vessel under excess pressure via a spray unit. The workpiece support moves up and down or rotates so that the work pieces are subjected alternately to different cleaning processes in the liquid bath and a gas space located above said liquid bath.

Abstract: Spray drying is performed at increased pressure whereby advantages are obtained as to product characteristics and production capacity. Particulate materials of an amorphous structure and non-dusting high-bulk density powders can be obtained.

Abstract: A multi-chamber fluidized bed classifying apparatus comprising; a main chamber having a fluidized bed arranged on wind boxes, through a perforated gas distributing plate is divided into a drying chamber and a classifying chamber by a partition plate, and a communication passage is defined under the plate. The wind boxes have respective lower ends connected to discharge devices respectively. The wind box is connected to a processing fluidization gas supply system for supplying the fluidization gas into the box, while the wind box is connected to a classifying fluidization gas supply system for supplying the fluidization gas into the box. The classifying fluidization gas supply system is provided with a flow control unit which adjusts the quantity of gas supplied into the classifying chamber to control the size of classified particles. The processing fluidization gas supply system is provided with a control unit, which adjusts the gas quantity and/or the temperature of gas supplied into the drying chamber.

Abstract: A blending chamber for blending fluids used to dry particulate matter has a chamber body with a first inlet opening, a second inlet opening, a third inlet opening, an outlet opening and a blending section. The blending section is arranged in a flow direction downstream of the first, second and third inlet openings, and upstream of the outlet opening. Fluids entering the first, second and third inlet openings are blended together in the blending section before exiting through the outlet opening. The bending chamber may be used to dry sawdust in a system that does not require a dedicated heat source.

Abstract: A toploading weighing instrumentality which determines loss on drying by a cylindrical microwave. The cylindrical cavity of the microwave includes a power supply, a magnetron, a power module operatively coupled between said power supply and said magnetron for driving said magnetron, a wave guide communicating with the magnetron and with a microwave containment chamber for delivering energy thereto, at least one microwave energy sensor for sensing microwave energy or magnetic and/or electric field strength within the chamber for controlling, inter alia, the loss on drying process of the sample being assayed and determining when the drying process is complete. A precision electronic balance is operatively disposed within the microwave chamber for allowing a specimen being assayed to be weighed. In addition, a ventilation chamber is provided for venting moisture from the microwave chamber.

Abstract: A processing unit for a substrate has a vertical thermal processing furnace 4 having a bottom and an opening provided at the bottom. A boat holding substrates in vertical multistairs can be placed on a first lid, and the first lid can open and close the opening of the vertical thermal processing furnace with the boat placed thereon. The processing unit also has a boat-placing portion on which the boat and another boat can be placed and a boat conveying mechanism for conveying the two boats alternatively between the boat-placing portion and the first lid. A second lid hermetically closes the opening of the vertical thermal processing furnace when the first lid opens the opening but no boat passes through the opening. The processing unit can effectively reduce the undesirable influence from the opening when the first lid is taken off from the opening and the boat is conveyed out, and can also reduce the wasted energy by preventing the fall of the temperature in the interior of the thermal processing furnace.

Abstract: A blow box used in the drying section of a papermaking machine and a method for sealing a pocket provided with a blow box, and a blow nozzle. The blow box is arranged to eject air away from the space between a wire and the blow box and/or maintain an underpressure zone in this space. In the interface between the desired underpressure zone and an outside volume, the blow box is provided with a sealing element, such as a blow nozzle, protruding towards the wire to a certain distance “d” seen from the wire, for forming a seal between the underpressure zone and the area remaining outside the underpressure zone. The sealing element is connected to the blow box so that the element may be moved away from the wire to a distance “D” by a push and/or by an actuator, the distance “D” being greater than the distance “d”.

Abstract: A turning device (8) for sludge and deposits (3) is proposed which moves along differing paths spread out on a floor (6), through the sludge or deposit (3). The turning device (8) can be used in a solar drier for sewage sludge or other deposits.

Abstract: An air amplifier device has a body with two pieces which fit together and have an inner wall defining a generally cylindrical cavity with a center axis and with an entrance opening at its upper end and an exit opening at its other end. The two pieces have respective shoulders which abut to index the pieces in precise relationship radially, axially, and longitudinally. A pair of circular lips in the inner wall near the entrance opening form a venturi jet air opening through the inner wall to direct a controlled flow of air from a supply of air down into the cylindrical cavity. The lips are uniformly parallel with each other and concentric with the center axis, are closely and uniformly spaced apart for 360 degrees around their lengths and are two circular edges of the respective pieces, and are indexed to the respective shoulders of the pieces such that when the pieces are assembled the jet air opening is uniform within a fraction of a thousandth of an inch.

Abstract: A method and several exemplary apparatus for capillary dewatering of foam materials. The apparatus may include felt which is applied to an exposed face of the foam material, or a double felt arrangement applied to two opposed surfaces of the foam material. The apparatus may provide a temperature differential between the two exposed surfaces of the foam material. An alternative embodiment utilizes a roll having a capillary dewatering medium. The capillary dewatering medium may be maintained at a vacuum either above or below the breakthrough vacuum of the capillaries. The disclosed apparatus and method is particularly useful for dewatering foams having relatively fine open capillaries.

Abstract: A method of using a conveyor dryer having a drying chamber and a conveyor disposed within the chamber for conveying a selected material through the chamber. A stationary conveyor support is disposed on each side of the conveyor for supporting the conveyor. A material guide is disposed adjacent each side of the conveyor for generally retaining material on the conveyor and wherein the conveyor support and material guide are disposed adjacent to each other such that they cooperate to form a generally air tight seal that minimizes the flow of air between the conveyor support and the material guide.

Abstract: A dryer for removing surface moisture from a pelletized product and more specifically a dryer which is constructed with dimensions enabling it to effectively centrifugally remove surface moisture from pellets of resin material received from an underwater pelletizer. The dryer is capable of operating at very low rates and easily cleaned with its overall size enabling it to be effectively used for small operations, especially laboratory applications.