Abstract: A delivery management system and method is disclosed. A system receives storage chamber sensor data corresponding to material stored in a storage chamber, transport container data corresponding to material stored in a transport container, proximity sensor data corresponding to a proximity of the transport container to the storage chamber, and engagement sensor data corresponding to engagement between the storage chamber and the transport container. The system generates a confirmation of delivery of the material to the storage chamber based on the storage chamber sensor data, the transport container sensor data, the proximity sensor data, and the engagement sensor data and transmits an invoice for the delivery of the material based on the confirmation. Other systems and aspects are also described.

Abstract: A delivery management system and method is disclosed. A system receives storage chamber sensor data corresponding to material stored in a storage chamber, transport container data corresponding to material stored in a transport container, proximity sensor data corresponding to a proximity of the transport container to the storage chamber, and engagement sensor data corresponding to engagement between the storage chamber and the transport container. The system generates a confirmation of delivery of the material to the storage chamber based on the storage chamber sensor data, the transport container sensor data, the proximity sensor data, and the engagement sensor data and transmits an invoice for the delivery of the material based on the confirmation. Other systems and aspects are also described.

Abstract: A silo system includes a storage chamber, an intake pathway associated with the chamber, and a discharge pathway associated with the chamber. The system further includes one or more material sensors associated with the chamber, a plurality of actuators, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the one or more material sensors and to the one or more actuators. The plurality of actuators enable a deposit of additional material from a transport container into the chamber through the intake pathway at least partially simultaneous with a discharge of material from the chamber through the discharge pathway into an operational silo. The material sensors provide indications of the amount of bulk material in the chamber and the controller is configured to control the one or more actuators in response to sensor data from the one or more material sensors to provide for deposit of material simultaneous with discharge of material.

Abstract: A silo system includes a storage chamber, an intake pathway associated with the chamber, and a discharge pathway associated with the chamber. The system further includes one or more material sensors associated with the chamber, a plurality of actuators, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the one or more material sensors and to the one or more actuators. The plurality of actuators enable a deposit of additional material from a transport container into the chamber through the intake pathway at least partially simultaneous with a discharge of material from the chamber through the discharge pathway into an operational silo. The material sensors provide indications of the amount of bulk material in the chamber and the controller is configured to control the one or more actuators in response to sensor data from the one or more material sensors to provide for deposit of material simultaneous with discharge of material.

Abstract: A silo system includes a storage chamber, an intake pathway associated with the chamber, and a discharge pathway associated with the chamber. The system further includes one or more material sensors associated with the chamber, a plurality of actuators, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the one or more material sensors and to the one or more actuators. The plurality of actuators enable a deposit of additional material from a transport container into the chamber through the intake pathway at least partially simultaneous with a discharge of material from the chamber through the discharge pathway into an operational silo. The material sensors provide indications of the amount of bulk material in the chamber and the controller is configured to control the one or more actuators in response to sensor data from the one or more material sensors to provide for deposit of material simultaneous with discharge of material.

Abstract: The invention is a connection between a toilet refill tube and an overflow pipe enabling placement of a device onto the toilet overflow pipe. A toilet system requires water to flow into the bowl as the tank is being refilled. A small tube is used to direct water from the fill valve with the outlet end being connected to the top of the overflow pipe, allowing water to flow into the overflow pipe and run into the toilet bowl whilst the toilet tank is being filled. When an odor extraction means is fitted to a toilet overflow pipe, the top portion of the overflow pipe is encapsulated, thus blocking refill tube access to the overflow pipe. The invention relates to a connection, on an odor extraction means, of suitable design and placement, to receive and secure the outlet end of the refill tube and direct water into the overflow pipe.

Abstract: A tubular structural member has substantially constant cross-sectional size and configuration along its length between its opposite ends. The member has a pair of parallel oppositely aligned flat areas in its exterior surface. The member has substantially uniform wall thickness except in a selected portion of each the opposing areas where the member's wall thickness is a selected amount greater than the uniform wall thickness. The increase wall thickness preferably is manifested in the interior of the tubular member. The cross-sectional area of the member can have orthogonal neutral axes, and the exterior dimension of the member along one of those axes can be greater than the exterior dimension of the member along the other of those axes which is normal to the exterior flat areas; the amount and distribution of the thickening of the member's walls over the uniform thickness can be defined to cause the section modular of the member about each of the neutral axes to be substantially equal.

Abstract: A node connector in a double layer grid-type of space frame preferably is an extrusion which includes an open-ended tubular portion for snugly at least substantially encircling a frame chord member of desired cross-sectional configuration which is disposable in the passage. The node connector has fixed external elements which extend along the connector parallel to the passage. Those elements define facing parallel flat surfaces arranged in at least two pairs of such surfaces. The surfaces of each pair lie equidistantly from a center plane between them. Each center plane is parallel to the passage axis and preferably includes the passage axis. Each pair of facing flat surfaces of the node connector can cooperate closely with opposite flat surfaces at the end of each of other frames framing member placed between the facing surfaces.

Abstract: A method for rinsing and drying a workpiece includes placing the workpiece into a chamber and spinning the workpiece. A rinsing fluid, such as water, is applied onto the workpiece through a first outlet in the chamber, with the rinsing fluid moving outwardly towards the edge of the workpiece via centrifugal force, to rinse the workpiece. A drying fluid, such as an alcohol vapor, is applied onto the workpiece through the first outlet, with the drying fluid moving outwardly towards the edge of the workpiece via centrifugal force, to dry the workpiece. The drying fluid advantageously follows a meniscus of the rinsing fluid across the workpiece surface. The rinsing fluid, or the drying fluid, or both fluids, may be applied near or at a central area of the workpiece.

Abstract: A connection node for a double layer grid or truss system has at least one diagonal flange receiving a pair of diagonal framing members having surfaces that lie in a single diagonal plane parallel to the flange(s). Use of co-planar diagonal members that can be at various diagonal angles or vertical, simplifies node connections and permits variations in bay spacing to produce interesting architectural effects and to provide greater member density where structural loads are greater.

Abstract: In a process for removing etch residue, liquid including an acid and an oxidizer is applied to the back side and peripheral edge of a wafer. The front or device side of the wafer is left unprocessed, or may be exposed to an inert fluid such as a purge gas (e.g., nitrogen or helium), to a rinse such as deionized water, or to another processing fluid such as a more highly diluted etchant. The front side of the wafer is either left unprocessed, or is processed to a lesser degree without damage to the underlying devices, metal interconnects or semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A processing fluid is selectively applied or excluded from an outer peripheral margin of the front side, back side, or both sides of a workpiece. Exclusion and/or application of the processing fluid occurs by applying one or more processing fluids to the workpiece as the workpiece is spinning. The flow rate of the one or more processing fluids, fluid pressure, and/or spin rate are used to control the extent to which the processing fluid is selectively applied or excluded from the outer peripheral margin.

Abstract: A method for capping a stem web including passing the stem web through a first nip against a first heated nip roll so as to partially cap the stems; cooling the web; and passing the stem web through a second nip against a second heated nip roll to completely cap the stems to a diameter “D”. In preferred embodiments the two nips are on opposite sides of a larger central cooled roll positioned between the heated rolls. Preferably, the reaction forces between the rolls are measured and controlled at each end of each other heated rolls. The invention is particularly adapted to making abrasive particles that are attached to a driving mechanism via headed stem fasteners formed by the method.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing system for wafers or other semiconductor articles. The system uses an interface section at an end of the machine accessible from the clean room. A plurality of processing stations are arranged away from the clean room interface. A transfer subsystem removes wafers from supporting carriers, and positions both the wafers and carriers onto a carrousel which is used as an inventory storage. Wafers are shuttled between the inventory and processing stations by a robotic conveyor which is oriented to move toward and away from the interface end. The system processes the wafers without wafer carriers.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a semiconductor wafer or similar article includes a reactor having a processing chamber formed by upper and lower rotors. The wafer is supported between the rotors. The rotors are rotated by a spin motor. A processing fluid is introduced onto the top or bottom surface of the wafer, or onto both surfaces, at a central location. The fluid flows outwardly uniformly and in all directions. A wafer support automatically lifts the wafer, so that it can be removed from the reactor by a robot, when the rotors separate from each other after processing.

Abstract: In a process for treating a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer, a processing fluid is selectively applied or excluded from an outer peripheral-margin of at least one of the front or back sides of the workpiece. Exclusion and/or application of the processing fluid occurs by applying one or more processing fluids to the workpiece while the workpiece and a reactor holding the workpiece are spinning. The flow rate of the processing fluids, fluid pressure, and/or spin rate are used to control the extent to which the processing fluid is selectively applied or excluded from the outer peripheral margin.