Abstract: A dry-cleaning process for cleaning articles disposed in a cleaning chamber having jet inflow ports, using carbon dioxide (CO2) from first and second storage tanks, the process including the steps of compressing gaseous CO2 into the first storage tank to cause a positive pressure differential between the first storage tank and the cleaning chamber, filling the cleaning chamber with liquid carbon dioxide by enabling CO2 flow from the first storage tank to the cleaning chamber in response to the positive pressure differential, alternately compressing gaseous CO2 into the first or second storage tanks to cause a pressure differential between the first and second storage tanks, and flowing liquid CO2 between the first and second storage tanks, via the jet ports and through the cleaning chamber, in response to the pressure differential between the first and second storage tanks, to provide jet agitation in the cleaning chamber and a periodically continuous flow of liquid CO2 through the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: A yarn roll spindle locking assembly including a pivotally translating engagement/release mechanism. The locking assembly may be dropped onto a spindle to self-actuatingly lock in position and is readily removable from the spindle by manual depression of a release element. The locking assembly includes upper and lower body members coupled to one another so that the upper main body member and lower main body member are resiliantly biased apart from one another to provide the locking assembly with compression/expansion capability.

Abstract: An apparatus of cleaning a nozzle comprising a mounting table for mounting a substrate to be processed, a process liquid nozzle having a liquid output portion for outputting a process liquid toward the substrate mounted on the table, a nozzle cleaning mechanism having a fluid spray portion for spraying a cleaning fluid onto the liquid output portion of the process liquid nozzle to remove an attached material from the liquid output portion by the cleaning fluid sprayed from the fluid spray portion, and a nozzle moving mechanism for moving the process liquid nozzle between the mounting table and the nozzle cleaning mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaning solution spraying system has a base onto which one or two tanks are secured, one of the tanks having a cleaning solution and the other tank having water. The tanks are each connected to a pump and each pump is connected to a T-fitting with the T-fitting also connected to a nozzle. If only the solution tank is used, the T-fitting is connected directly to a pressurized fluid source such as an ordinary faucet with a pressure gauge assuring a constant amount of pressure flowing to the respective pump and a gauge allowing a user to ascertain the incoming pressure. A second T-fitting allows the use of two tanks and a direct connection to the source of pressurized fluid. A manifold system is connected to the solution tank to regulate the amount of cleaning solution used, the manifold having a plurality of valve-laden feeder tubes that allow a user to regulate the amount of fluid flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a continuous length of fabric extracted from a dyeing range. The apparatus includes a fabric receptacle for receiving the fabric from the dyeing range and a two-directional plaiting system for folding the fabric. In the preferred embodiment, a control system controls the speed and tension of the fabric to prevent tearing or sagging of the fabric during unloading. Also, a pulley and squeegee system receives the continuous fabric and extracting liquid from the fabric prior to folding. The pulley and squeegee system includes a first nip drive and a second nip drive, each of the drives including a pair of rollers spaced apart to allow the continuous fabric to feed through the nip drives to extract excess water from the fabric.

Abstract: A process for dyeing a textile web, in which the textile web is continuously guided through a trough that contains the dye bath, and subsequently passes through a pair of squeezing rollers. The line force of the pair of squeezing rollers is adjusted as a function of the length of textile web (L) that has passed through, with the aim of achieving a uniform amount of dye applied over the length of the textile web, per surface unit of the textile web.

Abstract: An indicator for use with a dishwasher for indicating whether the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty includes a housing having a substantially translucent front wall. A graphic image is formed on the inside surface of the front wall so as to form printed areas and unprinted areas. Lying directly behind the front wall within the housing is a face plate having two different graphics formed thereon. The face plate is slideable relative to the front wall. In one position, graphics on the face plate show through the front wall to indicate that the dishes are dirty. In a second position, the graphics on the face plate show through the front wall to indicate that the dishes are clean. The face plate is releasably held in the dirty position against the force of a spring. Upon sensing an elevated temperature indicating that the dishwasher had been run, the releasable holding mechanism releases allowing the spring to move the face plate into the clean position.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses an improved device for cleaning the inside of vessels 12 which could include truck tankers or rail car tankers. The present invention discloses a generally vertically standing rotatable support member 24 having mounted thereon a parallel pair of lazy tong assemblies or configurations 22 being a series of jointed and pivoted bars or arms, e.g., 28, capable of being extended over a great distance. Mounted on the distal end of the lazy tong assembly 22 is a spray head 32 having multiple spray outlets 42 and being fluidly connected to a supply of cleaning liquid 18 located on the outside of the vessel 12 which is being cleaned.

Abstract: A compact, self-contained skimming system for removing waste material from aqueous cleaning solutions used in parts washers. A single tank contains a sloped floor, two compartments separated by a baffle, and an opening between a bottom edge of the baffle and the floor. Waste liquid collects in the first stage compartment, where gravity initially separates water and coarse debris from the waste material containing oil and grease, some water, and fine debris. A partially immersed rotating skimmer further adsorbs the waste material. A waste collection system transfers the waste material to the second stage compartment, where gravity further separates the fine debris and additional water from the oil and grease. The oil and grease flow through a waste drainage system out of the second stage compartment. The fine debris and water flow along the downwardly sloping floor, through the opening at the bottom of the baffle back into the first stage compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing substrates is provided. The apparatus includes a receptacle for containing processing fluid, and at least one substrate support. Components of the receptacle and/or substrate support that come into contact with processing fluid have a protective layer. Guide or support members for the substrates are fused to the protective layer.

Abstract: A washing machine having a variable speed motor. The washing machine has a basket for holding articles to be washed and has a first axis of rotation. A basket drive shaft connected to the basket drives the basket. An agitator disposed in the basket along the first axis of rotation agitates the article in the basket. An agitator drive shaft connected to the agitator drives the agitator. A variable speed motor, having a second axis of rotation which is not coincident with the first axis of rotation, drives the basket drive shaft and the agitator drive shaft. A coupler couples motion of the variable speed motor to the agitator drive shaft and basket drive shaft.

Abstract: A dishwasher having a cabinet and wash chambers in the form of drawers which slide in and out of the cabinet. Rigid and flexible closures are disclosed for sealing off the wash chambers when retracted into the cabinet. A detergent dispenser for the dishwasher is provided in one wall of a wash chamber in the wash water discharge path into the wash chamber so that detergent powder is flushed out of the dispenser and mixed with the wash water prior to the latter being discharged into the wash chamber. A wash programme for a dual wash chamber dishwasher is also disclosed which minimises total water consumption by transferring water from one chamber to the other.

Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet defining an interior region in which a garment can be hung. A door is movably connected to the cabinet for closing the interior region. A fluid atomizing nozzle is supported by the cabinet and is fluidly connected to a reservoir containing a conditioning composition. An air compressor is connected to the nozzle for supplying air to the nozzle such that when the air compressor is energized the conditioning composition is drawn out of the reservoir and sprayed from the nozzle in a mist form into the interior region. A fan is provided for circulating air within the interior region such that the mist form of the conditioning composition is uniformly distributed onto the garment hanging within the interior region. Accordingly, the clothes treating apparatus provides a means for applying a conditioning composition onto garments which does not include means for supplying steam into the interior region.

Abstract: A wash liquid inlet nozzle is provided for directing wash liquid against a bottom wall and a side wall of a vertical axis basket of an automatic washer. The inlet nozzle has a body with a rear wall, a front wall and a top wall connecting the rear wall and front wall. An inlet passage extends through the rear wall for directing a flow of wash liquid into the inlet nozzle. The front wall is arranged and configured in a first area to direct wash liquid against the basket bottom wall and a lower region of the basket side wall and in a second area to direct wash liquid against a middle and an upper region of the basket side wall. With such an inlet nozzle, wash liquid is directed in a sheet against the entire height of the basket wall to wet all of the clothes in the basket.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided having a wash pump and soil collection system. The wash pump may be a volute type pump having a horizontal axis and includes a casing surrounding a wash impeller. The casing has a main outlet and a secondary outlet. The wash impeller draws wash liquid from the dishwasher sump region and pumps the wash liquid through the main outlet and the secondary outlet. The wash liquid pumped through the main outlet is provided to a wash arm device such that wash liquid is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber. The wash liquid pumped through the secondary outlet is directed to flow into a soil collector. The soil collector includes a soil separation channel which receives the flow from the secondary outlet and includes at least one filter screen panel for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil separation channel and accumulate within a soil accumulator region.

Abstract: A protector for protecting a cleaning hose inserted into an end of a generally cylindrical sewer pipe and withdrawn therefrom during cleaning with contact against an end of the sewer pipe includes a body having a generally cylindrical insert portion dimensioned to be received in the end of the sewer pipe and a flange portion. The flange has a radial width, relative to a central axis of the pipe, greater than a wall thickness of the pipe. A back surface of the flange portion is held against an end surface of the pipe, thereby retaining the protector in position to prevent the hose from scraping against the pipe end and being damaged. The protector is preferably permanently installed on the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a fiber mass suspension, the apparatus comprising a receptacle and an inlet channel and an outlet channel for feeding the suspension into and for discharging it from the receptacle. In addition, the apparatus comprises air feed means for feeding air into the lower portion of the receptacle. The apparatus comprises at least one partition wall dividing the receptacle into spaces in such a way that the suspension may flow between the spaces at the lower portion and the upper portion of the partition wall, respectively. The air feeding means are positioned to feed air into one aeration space, whereby the air separates impurities from the suspension and makes the suspension flow on different sides of the partition wall upwards and downwards, respectively, so that a spiral flow is created around the partition wall from the inlet channel into the outlet channel.

Abstract: A method for recovering impurities on a surface of a silicon wafer includes a first step of using a pretreatment solution to decompose an oxide film, a nitride film on an oxynitridation film formed at a peripheral portion on a surface of a silicon wafer and to remove impurities on the peripheral portion and a second step of recovering impurities on the surface of the wafer expect for the peripheral portion.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning tank for reserving cleaning fluid, an object to be cleaned being immersed in the cleaning fluid, a vibrator for vibrating the cleaning fluid in the cleaning tank, and two micro-vibration sources for minutely vibrating the object to be cleaned in two different directions.

Abstract: In a single wafer cleaning system of a single tank type in which wafers are one by one sprayed with chemical liquid and rinse water used in a successive order, not only can waste water is recovered while being classified into chemical liquid waste water and rinse waste water, but also the rinse waste water is recovered while being classified into cloudy rinse waste water and clean rinse waste water.