Abstract: Surface cleaning, chemical treatment and drying of semiconductor substrates is carried out using foam as a medium instead of a condensed phase liquid medium. In cleaning and chemical treatment, by introducing a foam into an overflow vessel the foam is caused to pass over the substrate in moving contact therewith. Drying of the substrate is carried out, using a water solution of carbon dioxide in a pressurizable vessel. By releasing the pressure in the vessel, a layer of foam is established on the surface of the solution. The solution is discharged from the vessel, causing the foam layer to pass over the substrate in moving contact therewith. The carbon dioxide reduces the surface tension of the water, thereby enabling the foam layer to be produced and also assisting in the elimination of water from the surface of the substrate. In both cases, the use of foam reduces materials requirements and also reduces the quantity of particles deposited onto the substrate in the treatment process.

Abstract: A ball balancing arrangement for a wash drum (14) rotatable about an axis (18) in a laundry washing machine comprises at least one closed annular path (22) which is concentrically disposed with respect to the axis (18), adapted to rotate in synchronism with the wash drum (14) and containing a plurality of moveable ball-shaped balancing bodies (23) which are kept together in groups by a corresponding number of retaining means (34) of a shape so as to keep the ball-shaped balancing bodies (23) in each group (A, B, C) out of contact with one another. Each retainer means (34) is of a design so as to have a negligible weight relative to the weight of the balancing bodies and the surfaces (38, 39, 40, 41) of the retaining means (34) bearing against the balancing bodies (23) have a low friction.

Abstract: A laundry aid dispenser for a washing machine allows simple introduction of laundry aids into cups whose volumes are visible to the user and held within the console of the washing machine. A vertically oriented valve and flush chamber arrangement allows for the removal of the cups and the dispensing of viscous laundry aids such as fabric softener with reduced accumulation and buildup. The configuration also allows easy access to critical channels and parts of the dispenser as well as flexible electronic control of the dispensing times. Color-coding, keying and other indicia simplify the consumer's identification of the proper laundry aid for each cup.

Abstract: A system for the operation of a number of commercial washing machines and automatically feeding liquid chemicals to the washing machines. The system has chemical reservoir pods with a pressure sensor and an output valve on each. The chemical pods are supplied with liquid chemical by refill pumps. The quantity of chemical in a chemical pod, and the quantity of chemical dispensed from each chemical pod is calculated from information received by a controller from the pressure sensor to determine when to open and close the valve. A further pressure sensor is provided in the supply pipe to each washing machine to verify and measure flow quantity of water and chemical to the machine.

Abstract: A wash basket alignment system for an automatic washing machine having a wash basket with a drive block partially inserted through a central aperture in the bottom wall of the wash plate. A spin drive tube extends longitudinally through the central aperture in the drive block and through the wash plate bottom wall. A hold down nut is threadingly engaged to the drive block from the inside chamber of the wash basket to position the wash basket within the wash tub. Concentric alignment of the wash basket along a central longitudinal axis decreases basket runout. Therefore, the drive block has a spherical outside surface where it abuts the conical shaped outer surface of the wash basket. The radius of the spherical outside surface intersects the central axis at a point. This configuration facilitates the sliding or moving of this juncture from a first position out of concentricity to a second position that is concentric about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An industrial parts cleaning system including immersion and spraying which provides epicyclic parts movement (a plurality of revolutions per rotation, wherein the revolution is supersposed the rotation), rotating spray which synchronously follows the parts rotation, and a purge system for evacuating from the common plumbing the respective wash or rinse solution of a current cycle before commencement of the next cycle.

Abstract: Improvements introduced in washing machines which allow that the tilting of the two-way washing chamber is carried out mechanically by a set of linked gears or electrically carried out by using three electrical motors, one motor to carry out the 360° turn around an “X” axis, and the two other motors to carry out the 360° turn around a “Y” axis, in this case, the second and third motors are supported on an arc which sustains the washing chamber, fixed at the height of the middle point of the aforesaid chamber; another way to carrying out the tilting of the washing chamber consists in providing two motors, one motor to carry out the 360° turn around an “X” axis, and another motor to carry out the 360° turn around a “Y” axis, using, in this case, the very surface of the washing chamber so as to fix on it a constituent part of the second motor; the two-way washing chamber presents a spherical format and one or more caps can be removed from it.

Abstract: A method and system for isolating water pressure from appliance water connections provides protection from structural damage due to bursting of flexible hoses that connect an appliance to a rigid plumbing water supply. The system includes at least one electrically controllable valve, a connection for coupling the valve to a water supply connection, a connection for attachment to the appliance water supply hoses and an interface for receiving a signal from the appliance control system. An appliance may provide an interface connection for coupling to a control connection on the system, or the system may be connected to existing electrical terminals within a standard appliance that control internal solenoid valves. The system and method isolate water pressure from the flexible hoses supplying water to the appliance, automatically shutting off the supply connections when the appliance does not require water flow.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for treating fabrics which comprises a first chamber for forming a reserve of infeed fabric, a second chamber for forming a reserve of outfeed fabric, first means for slowly infeeding the fabric into the first chamber, second means for slowly removing the fabric from the second chamber, a duct allowing for the passage therethrough of the fabric between the first chamber and the second chamber, fabric transport means capable of forward and backward operation which generates a forward and backward movement of the fabric between both chambers, and control means, operation of which causes inversion of the forward and backward movement, and collision members adapted to be impacted by the fabric, which move between a collision position and a free passage position in synchronism with the forward and backward movement of the fabric.

Abstract: A washing system comprises a support for holding several cartridges. Each cartridge has a chamber with an inlet and an outlet. Wash blocks are movably coupled to the support, each having two needles for penetrating the inlet and the outlet of a respective cartridge when the wash blocks are moved towards the support. Tubing is coupled to the needles for flowing liquid through the chamber of the cartridge.

Abstract: A novel carpet extractor is disclosed having a first cleaning liquid conduit that communicates a supply reservoir with a cleaning liquid distributor via a first valve and a second cleaning liquid conduit that communicates the supply reservoir with the liquid distributor via a second valve. The first valve is actuated by a main trigger and the second valve is actuated by a surge button, both of which are conveniently located in the hand grip on the handle of the machine for propelling the machine over a floor surface. A first normal flow of cleaning liquid is obtained for normal cleaning by depressing the trigger and a second greater flow of cleaning liquid is obtained by depressing the button and the trigger simultaneously. A mechanism is preferably included that will open the first valve in the event an operator depresses only the surge button.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus and method that greatly increases the efficiency and flexibility in using ozone in the laundry process by permitting an operator to set the level of dissolved ozone concentration delivered to the washing machines, depending upon the amount and type of soil on the laundry. Furthermore, the present invention ensures that there is enough dissolved ozone available in the wash water to meet the demand of the washing apparatus. Lastly, the present invention monitors and maintains the desired amount of dissolved ozone to be delivered to the washers.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 300, 400) for cleaning spray guns (18, 418) has a closed vessel (14) having an inlet (24, 424), a drain (22, 422) and a port (29) for receiving a nozzle (30) of a spray gun. A spray impeller (36, 136, 236, 336, 436) is rotatably mounted within the vessel (14) and in fluid communication with the inlet (24, 424). The spray impeller (36, 136, 236, 336, 436) has an offset cleaning nozzle (42, 44, 144, 141, 142, 282, 244, 442, 444) for projecting a cleaning spray towards the port (29) and a rotational nozzle (46, 48, 148, 246, 248, 446, 448) for projecting a rotational spray to effect rotation of the spray impeller (36, 136, 236, 336, 436). The port (29) has a seal (76, 78, 80) for sealing receiving the spray gun (18, 418) and positioning the nozzle (30) of the spray gun in the cleaning spray.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing flat media, such as semiconductor wafers, has a rotor including positions for first and second cassettes. The cassettes are restrained within the rotor by support tubes and hold down pins. The processing capacity of the apparatus is increased, as the apparatus can hold two cassettes.

Abstract: A process and system for controlling respective agitator motion patterns in a washing machine having a motor drive coupled to energize a motor that drives the agitator is provided. The process allows for selecting a desired agitator motion pattern based on one or more pattern selection signals. The process further allows measuring one or more parameters indicative of the actual agitator motion pattern. A comparing step allows for comparing the actual agitator motion pattern against the desired agitator motion pattern, and an adjusting step allows for adjusting one or more control signals supplied to the motor drive for correcting deviations between the actual agitator motion pattern and the desired motion pattern.

Abstract: A machine for vapor degreasing with a atmosphere tight container for the process to take place, an inert gas purge to reduce the oxygen in the container, and a heat source to vaporize the decreasing fluid.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus and method that greatly increases the efficiency and flexibility in using ozone in the laundry process by permitting an operator to set the level of dissolved ozone concentration delivered to the washing machines, depending upon the amount and type of soil on the laundry. Furthermore, the present invention ensures that there is enough dissolved ozone available in the wash water to meet the demand of the washing apparatus. Lastly, the present invention monitors and maintains the desired amount of dissolved ozone to be delivered to the washers.

Abstract: A laundry device for use with a washing machine is provided. The laundry device includes a bag storing a water-insoluble DTI compound. The bag includes a plurality of apertures allowing wash water to flow through the bag but which substantially prevent the water-insoluble DTI compound from exiting the bag during use. The laundry device can further include a container having a compartment for receiving and dispensing a dosed amount of detergent during use.

Abstract: A load station is used in a planarizing machine to perform several useful functions related to handling of a wafer. By centering the wafer with respect to a spindle carrier the load station interrupts the accumulation of positional errors. The load station never makes solid contact with the wafer, but instead the wafer is continually levitated on three cushions of water that are directed upwardly against the lower face of the wafer. The presence of the wafer partially impedes the flow of water from the nozzles used for levitation causing an increase in the water pressure immediately upstream of the nozzles. This increased pressure is sensed and used as an indicator of the presence of a wafer at the load station. The load station further includes a nozzle that directs a stream against the lower side of the wafer so as to elevate the wafer from the load station into the carrier.

Abstract: A plant for dyeing and processing of yarns on reels comprising at least one processing station (11, 12, 13) with a processing device receiving reels stacked on vertical rods (25, 125). The processing device has an upper opening for loading and unloading the reels and the vertical rods are engaged in a removable manner in seats in said device. A rod-grasping unit (15, 115) is movable vertically and horizontally to be arranged above the opening in the processing device to grasp the rods (25, 125) and hoist them with the reels thereon out of the device or insert them in place in the device. In case of a plurality of stations passage between the stations is in this manner fully automatic.