Abstract: A method and device for facilitating the distribution of wine, including a vessel which is configured with one or more recyclable components which may be configured as a reusable component which, after an initial use, may be prepared for a further use or uses, by one or more steps, such as, for example, cleaning or relabling. The device may be constructed to include a reusable first containment member and a containment element, the first containment member having an interior space which may hold the containment element with a valve connected thereto, the first containment member having an aperture therein so that the valve may pass through the aperture and be accessed from outside the containment member interior space.

Abstract: A method for the plasma treatment of parts. The method includes sending loading signals from an electronic control to a transfer mechanism and loading the parts from a position outside of the treatment chamber to a plurality of treatment positions within the treatment chamber based on the loading signals. A plasma is generated within the treatment chamber to treat the parts. After treatment, unloading signals are sent from the electronic control to the transfer mechanism and the parts are unloaded from the treatment chamber based on the unloading signals. Each of the parts may be guided to a corresponding one of the treatment positions during loading.

Abstract: A plasma treatment system in which untreated workpieces are serially received one at a time on an infeed table but stored in parallel on the infeed table. The untreated workpieces are transferred simultaneously, in parallel, into a plasma treatment chamber. Thereafter, treated workpieces are transferred simultaneously, in parallel, out of the plasma treatment chamber onto an outfeed table; and the outfeed table serially discharges the treated workpieces one at a time from the outfeed table.

Abstract: A system and method for the simultaneous plasma treatment of a plurality of parts in a treatment chamber. The system includes a transfer mechanism that is operable to load the plurality of parts at a plurality of treatment positions within the treatment chamber. The operation of the transfer mechanism is controlled by signals from an electronic control system. A guide is provided, either within the treatment chamber or outside the treatment chamber, along which each of the parts may be moved to the plurality of treatment positions. The guides may be arranged in multiple levels so that the treatment positions for the plurality of parts may be likewise arranged in multiple levels.

Abstract: A system for the plasma treatment of parts. The system includes a chamber base sealingly engageable with a reaction chamber to form a treatment chamber and a lifting device operable to lift the reaction chamber from the chamber base. A transfer mechanism is operable to transfer parts along a guide to multiple treatment positions within the treatment chamber when the reaction chamber is disengaged from the chamber base. An electronic control system controls the transfer mechanism for transferring the plurality of parts to the treatment positions. The parts are treated with a plasma produced within the treatment chamber by a plasma-generating device.

Abstract: A plasma treatment system in which untreated workpieces are serially received one at a time on an infeed table but stored in parallel on the infeed table. The untreated workpieces are transferred simultaneously, in parallel, into a plasma treatment chamber. Thereafter, treated workpieces are transferred simultaneously, in parallel, out of the plasma treatment chamber onto an outfeed table; and the outfeed table serially discharges the treated workpieces one at a time from the outfeed table.

Abstract: A plasma treatment system (10) is provided having an automated, in-line processing ability. The preferred embodiment is directed toward plasma treatment of PC boards (28) but is generally applicable to any substrate susceptible of plasma reaction. The plasma treatment system (10) has the primary components of a reaction chamber (14) and chamber base (16), a chamber lifting assembly (18), a conveyor input assembly (12), a push mechanism (20) and associated linear drive assembly (22), an output assembly (24), an electronic control system (26), and a vacuum and plasma generating system (27). Each of the conveyor input assembly (22), reaction chamber (14), and output assembly (24) include pairs of guide rails (34, 52, and 106, respectively) which are capable of being juxtaposably aligned relative to one another and upon which the PC boards (28) may guideably and sideably travel. The push mechanism 20 effectuates both movement and positioning of the PC boards (28) along the guide rails (34, 52, and 106).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for plasma treatment of workpieces in which the apparatus includes a reaction chamber having a door through which a magazine loaded with workpieces and an empty magazine can be manually or robotically placed on a shelf in the reaction chamber, and associated apparatus for striking and maintaining a plasma in the reaction chamber, the shelf being provided with stops for maintaining both magazines in alignment so that the workpieces can be pushed out of the loaded magazine, across a gap between the magazines, and into the empty magazine while plasma exists in the gap, and pushing apparatus for pushing workpieces from the loaded magazine, across the gap, and into the empty magazine, and the method of plasma treatment carried out by this apparatus. In one version the pushing apparatus pushes all of the workpieces from magazine to magazine at once. In another version, a subplurality of the workpieces in the loaded magazine is pushed across the gap and into the empty magazine at one time.