Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing, maintaining or adjusting the chemical and physical structure of a CO2 Composite Spray in real-time. A light beam is passed through a portion of the CO2 Composite Spray plume, following which the transmitted light is collected using a detector and analyzed using a computer processing device. Light absorption, reflection and/or florescence data are correlated with CO2 particle density and particle size, spray plume length, organic and inorganic spray additives, and water vapor content. The treatment spray geometry is used to optimize and control a CO2 Composite Spray in precision cleaning, machining, and cooling processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the production, delivery and control of microscopic quantities of minute solid carbon dioxide (CO2) particles having uniform density and distribution for use in a CO2 Composite Spray process, which employs compression of liquid carbon dioxide to form a supersaturated liquid, which is then condensed via micro-capillaries into minute and highly energetic solid carbon dioxide particles, which are injected into a propellant gas stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the production, delivery and control of microscopic quantities of minute solid carbon dioxide (CO2) particles having uniform density and distribution for use in a CO2 Composite Spray process, which employs compression of liquid carbon dioxide to form a supersaturated liquid, which is then condensed via micro-capillaries into minute and highly energetic solid carbon dioxide particles, which are injected into a propellant gas stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing, maintaining or adjusting the chemical and physical structure of a CO2 Composite Spray in real-time. A light beam is passed through a portion of the CO2 Composite Spray plume, following which the transmitted light is collected using a detector and analyzed using a computer processing device. Light absorption, reflection and/or florescence data are correlated with CO2 particle density and particle size, spray plume length, organic and inorganic spray additives, and water vapor content. The treatment spray geometry is used to optimize and control a CO2 Composite Spray in precision cleaning, machining, and cooling processes.

Abstract: In a conveyor-like work-piece processing system, transport carriages move along a work path, each carriage carrying a plurality of work-piece articles. In the disclosed embodiment, the path is folded back upon itself forming two parallel paths, one above the other, with transport carriages moved vertically from the lower path to the upper path, so that the entrance to the track and the exit from the track are positioned in dose proximity to each other. Each transport carriage has a long dimension and a relatively shorter dimension, and each carriage can be reoriented selectively so that the long dimension or the short dimension can be aligned parallel to the work path. Changing the alignment of the two dimensions relative to the direction of the path permits a work piece to remain for a longer time within a given process stage or area along the work path while achieving a system flow-rate of one carriage-in-one carriage-out.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus and method for facilitating surface treatment of articles of manufacture of the type having a given handling surface, such as, for example, blank forms for optical lenses, includes a support for holding the article in a stable position, a source for sequentially aligning elongate stem elements in a desired orientation relative to the article, a mechanism for advancing a free end of the stem into contact with the article, and a securing mechanism [26] for attaching the free end of the stem element to the article so that the stem extends from the article to serve as a handle for manipulation and support during processing. The handle is removed by cutting or breaking away.

Abstract: A mass transfer system offers the simultaneous transfer and time-saving efficiencies transfer techniques, while also offering the flexibility of prior-art free techniques. A mass transfer mechanism and an associated software control mechanism are equipped with the ability to retract a plurality of lifting arms (6), in a manner so select which of the processing stages (2) the lifting arms (6) will address for each transfer step, while omitting those steps for which transfer is not yet required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a robot for handling and processing of a semiconductor wafer. In particular, the robot is used to transfer wafers from a variety of wafers holding devices to a number of processing locations. After the wafer is placed in position, the robot places the vacuum wand in a temporary parking position and engages a different tool to process the wafer. In subsequent stages, yet another tool is engaged by the same robot to handle the chemistry used in the process.