Abstract: An improved stereolithographic apparatus and method is described. In one embodiment, the improvement includes immersing at least a portion of a part in a volume of a liquid solvent in a vapor degreaser while subjecting the portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin. Several examples of solvents are provided, including ethanol, and Freon TMS. In a second embodiment, the improvement includes building the part on a layer of liquid resin supported by a volume of a dense, immiscible, and UV transparent intermediate liquid, and integratably immersing at least a portion of the built part in the intermediate liquid, and then either subjecting the immersed portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin, or subjecting the immersed portion to UV light. Several examples of intermediate liquids are provided, including perfluorinated fluids, such as Fluorinert FC-40, and water-based salt solutions, such as solutions of magnesium sulfate or sodium chloride in water.

Abstract: In conventional fluidized granulators whose housing is made of a steel plate, a powder tends to cause blocking if it is highly hygroscopic, and the bag filter used therein causes clogging. These problems have been solved in the present invention by forming the housing of a fluidized granulator with a porous membrane in place of the conventional steel plate. This fluidized granulator produces granules or a coated powder by spraying powder with water, a binder fluid or a coating fluid while maintaining the powder in a fluidized state.

Abstract: A chicken breading machine including a basket, with a mesh bottom, which is adapted to be rocked while holding floured chicken pieces. The mesh bottom of the basket allows loose flour and cracks to fall from the basket. The basket includes at least one tumble bar positioned at or near the bottom of the basket to cause chicken to tumble as the basket is rocked. A rocking device is adapted to rock the basket. A sifting device can be removably positioned below the basket. The sifting device contains a screen to retain cracks and permit flour to sift through the screen so that the flour can be reused without having to manually sift the flour from the cracks.

Abstract: A system for making a composite block, including a block body formed of mortar or concrete and a covering material such as a tile, natural stone or mortar sheet applied to the upper surface of the block body, includes an applicator for applying an adhesive material to the block body or covering material. The system also includes a press for loading vibration and/or pressure on a composite block assembly including the block body, the covering material placed thereon and an adhesive material disposed therebetween. Additionally, this system includes a finishing mechanism for finishing the pressed composite block assembly into the composite block by passing it through a hole of a size substantially corresponding to the contour of the composite block. The hole is formed through a scraper constructed from a flexible material.

Abstract: A process for permanently attaching smooth finished globules of coating material to the ends of the teeth of molded plastic combs, picks, lifts and the like, including roughening or oxidizing the teeth ends to remove the gloss finish and form a more adherent surface; dipping the roughened teeth ends into a bath of liquid coating material to attach a globule of coating material to each tooth end and cover the sharp mold-parting line located thereat; and drying the globules attached to the teeth ends.

Abstract: A vibratory article coating and conveying apparatus for coating articles with a surface coating material and conveying the coated articles. The apparatus has a base, a coating material reservoir located above the base for containing the article coating material and for receiving the articles to be coated, and a vertical helical conveying flight structure having its bottom inlet end in open communication with the reservoir to receive coated articles from the reservoir and for conveying the coated articles upwardly out of the reservoir to an article discharge at the top of the flight structure. A vibratory force generating device is associated with the reservoir and the helical conveying flight structure to impart a cyclical generally torsional motion to the reservoir and helical conveyor flight.

Abstract: On spray-forming metals onto a substrate from which the sprayed coating is to be detached, unwanted adhesion may occur, even to a smooth substrate. Conversely, if the coating is meant to adhere, it may accidentially delaminate, even from a roughened substrate.By vibrating the substrate, marginally adherent splats will be encouraged to detach themselves while, on the other hand, well adherent splats will not be affected.

Abstract: A vibratory coating apparatus may be used to coat articles, such as chocolate pieces, with discrete coating materials. The coating apparatus features a feed bowl assembly with an attached ramp system. The feed bowl and ramp system are mounted upon a vibratory drive assembly which imparts a vibratory motion, at a predetermined frequency, to the bowl and ramp system. The vibratory motion causes agitation of the chocolate pieces and coatings, and causes the coated chocolates and loose coatings to migrate up the ramp system and out of the coating apparatus. The chocolate pieces are conveyed along a first inclined ramp from the bottom surface of the feed bowl to a location outside the bowl. A second inclined ramp receives loose coating material from a downstream location of the first ramp and redeposits the coating material both at an upstream location of the first ramp separate from the bowl and within the bowl.

Abstract: An arrangement for coating articles with chocolate in which a grating conveyor belt receives the articles to be coated. A shaking device is provided in a region below an upper run of the belt for the purpose of shaking excess liquid chocolate off the articles. The shaking device has a grating mounted pivotably in supporting side members, and this shaking grating has two longitudinal members and transverse members. The transverse members extend transverse to the direction of travel of the belt, whereas the longitudinal members extend along the direction of travel of the belt. A drive unit is connected to the shaker grating to pivotably vibrate the grating for the purpose of shaking the belt. This belt is supported only by the transverse members which have a height that is a multiple of the width of the transverse members. The transverse members, furthermore, are round rods and a respective support bar that has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Abstract: A solder leveller comprises a solder bath into which a printed circuit board can be dipped to be preliminarily tinned. A pair of upright laterally acting jaws are adapted along an extended part of their length to hold the board at its opposite side edges and operate to insert in and withdraw the board from the bath. An air knife removes excess solder. The jaws are guided centrally of the bath by engagement of the side faces with the air knife nozzles which act as fixed guides.

Abstract: A fiber web reinforced plastic is formed by applying dry resin powder to opposite sides of a vertically moving web, and then melting and pressing the power into the web. The dry powder is applied to the web by being thrown thereagainst. The powder thus more effectively occupies the voids in the web to minimize the presence of air in the web. The thrown-on powder can be melted before the laminating pressure is applied.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a phosphor screen of uniform thickness on an inner surface of a panel of a cathode ray tube, comprising the steps of forming a powder-receptive adhesive pattern on the inner surface of a substantially rectangular panel having a skirt portion at the periphery, forming a sealed vessel consisting essentially of a container for containing phosphor powder and the panel by combining integrally the container and the panel so that the openings of both are opposed, and rotating the sealed container about an axis parallel to the inner surface of the panel.

Abstract: A soldering apparatus includes a solder bath 40 and a component holder 43 positioned to lower an exposed tag of a component to contact solder in the solder bath 40. After removal from the bath the component is deliberately subjected to a mechanical shock when a limb of a bracket 44 strikes a turret plate 42 under the action of a spring 46. The shock causes a short time vibration in the component and spreads solder in tears which naturally form on the exposed tags to remove or substantially reduce those tears.

Abstract: During the pre-soldering or tinning of printed circuit boards, as a rule, also the drill holes or bores and, in particular, the through-metallized drill holes are filled in an undesirable manner with solder. This solder must be removed before mounting the electrical components or elements upon the printed circuit boards. A simple apparatus is disclosed for this purpose, affording a faultless de-soldering of the drill holes, without deleteriously affecting the properties of the solder material. The printed circuit boards, in a condition where the solder applied during the pre-soldering operation is still molten, are accelerated at least once and thereafter suddenly brought to standstill in such a fashion that the excess solder is knocked or propelled out of the drill holes.

Abstract: A device for transporting specimens carried on microscope slides through a plurality of liquid containing jars for staining or otherwise treating the specimens. It includes a rail, a conveyor chain, a conveyor motor, an elliptically shaped rod, a rod motor, a plurality of open top jars, a plurality of carriers, and a plurality of slide holders. The jars are positioned along a horizontal path. Each slide holder is pivotally connected to a carrier so that its slide holding portion will extend into a jar or be lifted above the jar when the rod is rotated counter-clockwise 90.degree. from its horizontal position to its vertical position. Subsequent continuous counterclockwise rotation of the rod will alternately permit slides to be lowered by gravity and raised by the force provided by the rod. The carriers and slide holders with slides attached are supported by the rail, moved horizontally by the conveyor chain parallel to the path, and agitated up and down by the rod.

Abstract: A spinner mainly used for spinning treatment of a semiconductor wafer, having a means for generating supersonic power to be transmitted to a supersonic vibration transducer embedded inside a spinning disk so that the supersonic vibration is applied to a processing liquid material dispensed on a work piece held on the center portion of the rotating spinning disk. As a result, particles or air bubbles of small size involved in the layer of liquid material are effectively removed from the liquid layer, resulting in improving fabrication yield and reliability of the product.

Abstract: The procedure for manufacturing thin profiled strips, made up of continuous unidirectional fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin, consists of impregnating a lap (1) of parallel fibers with resin particles, achieving resin fusion, forming the profiled strip and of cooling the latter.The lap (1) of fibers is dipped into a bath (26) of resin particles, mechanically impregnated with the particles, by feeding it for instance around rollers (15, 16, 17) immersed in the resin particles and the excess particles are removed to obtain the desired resin to fiber content ratio.Use of profiled strips obtained, in particular for outwardly reinforcing tubes or for producing moulded items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of napped surfaces that are textured lightly and irregularly. The surface of a substrate is coated with an adhesive and then covered with short textile fibers to form a layer of nap. After the adhesive hardens, the nap layer is subjected to mechanical deformation by permitting a plurality of balls made of a resilient material to bounce on the layer. The apparatus includes a panel of backing material support for the substrate, such as a panel of material which is to be treated and which already has a nap layer on its surface. Below the support is disposed a vibrator mechanism which causes the support together with the panel of material disposed thereon to vibrate. Above the support and the panel of material disposed thereon, there is a treatment chamber having lateral partitions and an impact ceiling. Within the treatment chamber there is a plurality of balls made of a resilient material.

Abstract: High speed pipe lining is accomplished by supporting a length of pipe to be lined between spindles in a lathe-type apparatus and rotating the pipe at a speed sufficient to afford a G-force of the order of 10-15 G's. A rather fluid concrete mixture comprising gap-graded sand is introduced into the interior of the rotating pipe using a cantilevered trough. The rotational speed of the pipe is then increased substantially to afford a force of the order of 35-50 G's, and the pipe is subjected to high amplitude axial vibrations for a period of time of the order of one minute or less. The resulting concrete lining is highly compacted, quite dense and hard, and has a smooth surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating metal pipe with a thixotropic coating having a wet film thickness between 30 to 120 mils. The coating is a coal tar epoxy made up of a two component resin and pigment blend with the pigment comprising two sizes of glass beads. The coating material is applied via a slinger rotated within the bore of a pipe while it is moved slowly end to end past the slinger. The coating material is discharged from the slinger in a 360.degree. radial pattern in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe and direction of movement so as to cause a build up of a ring of the material of uniform thickness and thereby form incrementally, but continuously, due to continuous movement of the pipe, a coating of uniform thickness. The pipe is thereafter rotated while the coating is wet to develop a centrifugal force in the range of 50 g to 100 g.

Abstract: A small object (12, FIG. 2) is coated by holding it in the pressure well (20) of an acoustic standing wave pattern, and then applying a mist of liquid coating material (42) at low velocity into the pressure well. The pressure gradient within the well forces the mist particles to be pushed against the object. A lower frequency acoustic wave (for oscillator 28, FIG. 4) also can be applied to the coated object, to vibrate it so as to evenly distribute the coated material. The same lower frequency vibrations can be applied to an object in the shape of a hollow sphere, to center the inner and outer surfaces of the sphere while it remains suspended.

Abstract: A thermo-engraving machine has safety, energy conserving and convenience features. The thermo-engraving machine receives a freshly printed sheet, passes it through a device for depositing powder. It heats the powder to cause the powder to melt, then cools the sheet to create raised printed material. The deposition device in one case is a tank with a vertical partition that provides separate containers for powders of different types. The other deposition device is a cyclone type that is pivotal to allow easy cleaning and has toothed wheels in its suction manifold to retain the sheets. The oven has sidewalls that will laterally move to vary the width of the oven. Heater elements in the oven can be selectively turned off for smaller widths. The oven is held by a latch that releases the oven to spring upward should electricity be cut off to the solenoid that holds the latch in position.

Abstract: An improved galvanizing system is provided having a centrifuge assembly wherein an elongate member positively couples a motor means to a container holding articles to be spun. This positive engagement results in more rapid rotational acceleration and deceleration. A dumping means is provided to automatically remove articles from the container. Further, an automated ejection means is provided for removing the empty container from the centrifuge assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to fill out uneven surfaces, whereby a fine grain, fusible powder is excessively applied to the surface to be treated, the excess is removed, and the remaining powder which fills cracks and cavities is temporarily heated to melt. The invention further reveals a means to carry out the method.

Abstract: An electrostatic photocopying apparatus has a charger adjacent to a photosensitive body, a retaining means for retaining and supplying image forming particles to the photosensitive body, a particle supply means for supplying the particles to the retaining means, and a single-layer producing means for applying to the image forming particles forces which are not sufficient to remove from the photosensitive body the image forming particles adhered directly to the photosensitive body, but are sufficient to remove the image forming particles attached in the second or higher layer thereover. The image forming particles can be evenly spread in one layer on the photosensitive body. Even if the photosensitive body is carried at high speed, the spreading operation can be carried out correspondingly. In addition, the starting and stopping of the spreading of the image forming particles can be easily performed and the amount of the image forming particles used can be reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for the selective conditioning, wetting and coating of particles with a selective wetting agent. The apparatus includes a horizontally extending surface capable of vibration which vibration induces uniform translatory movement along the surface to particles upon the surface. A vertically extending barrier is on the surface and extends across the surface and at right angle to the direction of movement of particles upon the surface. A means for spraying the selective wetting agent onto the particles as they move along the surface and before they reach the barrier is provided. Means for removing excess wetting agent are provided on the surface along the direction of movement of the particles after the barrier. A pool of the selective wetting agent forms behind the barrier upon the surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a patterned cushioning product of flexible polyurethane foam, which is suitable for use as a flooring or carpetting material, wall lining material or any other surface finishing or lying material, which is manufactured by the application of high frequency vibrations necessary to cause thermally fusible bonding particles to permeate into an open-celled structure of a sheet of flexible polyurethane foam and then fushion-bonding surface covering sheets to the opposed surfaces of the polyurethane foam sheet.

Abstract: A method of draining parts emerging from hot galvanizing baths using a range of vibration excitation frequencies capable of covering the fundamental frequencies of the parts to be drained. Three different methods are disclosed. According to a first method the vibrations are obtaining by exciting with a narrow band white noise the support for the parts to be drained. According to a second method, the vibrations are produced from a single exciter fed with narrow band white noise and energizing vibrators through the medium of amplifiers. According to a third method, the vibrations are produced by a number of small vibrators each of which furnishes one of the frequencies of the chosen spectrum, whereby said vibrators jointly synthesize the narrow band white noise.

Abstract: A method of driving or permeating a powdery material into a porous material such as an open-cell cellular material or a fabric, of a type having an open-celled structure, that is, having interconnected cells. Permeation of the powdery material into the porous material is carried out by spreading a mass of powdery particles on one surface of the porous material and applying vibrations to the powdery particles through a vibrating element in contact with the particles so as to cause the particles to be uniformly distributed in the porous material. The frequency and amplitude of the vibrations are selected so as to minimize scattering of the powdery material, and are within the ranges of 50 to 50,000 Hz, and 50 to 1,500 .mu.m, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for galvanizing galvanizable metal in a wire-like form. A descaled wire or the like is passed vertically and upwardly through a transversely flowing stream of molten zinc after which the so-coated wire or the like is either passed into a second processing zone or is passed through a shaping orifice, or both, as desired. The resulting so-processed wire is then cooled preferably by quenching in a flowing water bath.

Abstract: A method of draining parts emerging from hot galvanizing baths using a range of vibration excitation frequencies capable of covering the fundamental frequencies of the parts to be drained. Three different methods are disclosed. According to a first method the vibrations are obtaining by exciting with a narrow band white noise the support for the parts to be drained. According to a second method, the vibrations are produced from a single exciter fed with narrow band white noise and energizing vibrators through the medium of amplifiers. According to a third method, the vibrations are produced by a number of small vibrators each of which furnishes one of the frequencies of the chosen spectrum, whereby said vibrators jointly synthesize the narrow band white noise.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying wax to a cardboard box blank formed from board having substantially straight parallel open-ended internal interstices, in which a zone of cascading flow of wax impregnated material is generated and the box blank is passed through the zone with the board interstices open to the wax flow.

Abstract: A dewebbing unit and dip tank used in the treatment of tire cord fabric with a liquid coating containing an agent for increasing the bond between the cords of the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires. The dip tank has a pair of weirs which the liquid coating is caused to overflow for contact with the tire cord fabric which is directed across the weirs. The dewebbing unit includes a chamber in which fluid, under pressure, is alternately passed through the fabric from opposing sides of the fabric to simultaneously vibrate the fabric and pass air through the pores of the fabric.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for treating articles of variable size and shape is disclosed in the illustrative embodiment utilizing vibrating feeder bowls into which fluids are introduced for treating the articles simultaneously with their automatic advancement. The system is further adapted for various spacial dispositions in accordance with the area available. A particular system is disclosed for treating aluminum nails by continuous advancement through a succession of feeder bowls at which the nails are subject to cleaning, washing, coating and rinsing.

Abstract: An apparatus for vibrating and dewebbing tire cord fabric treated with a liquid bonding agent for promoting the adhesion between the warp cords of the fabric and the rubbery material in which the cords are embedded. The fabric, freshly coated with the liquid bonding agent, is guided along a desired vertical pathway between a pair of rotating cylindrically shaped cams which are eccentrically mounted for rotation about axes which are equally spaced from the pathway of the fabric. The rotation of the cams is synchronized such that the cams continuously contact the fabric as they alternately push the fabric in opposite directions from the desired pathway to vibrate the fabric between the rotational axes of the cams. Thus, excess liquid coating is shaken from the fabric to help remove any liquid coating webbing the openings between the warp cords and weft threads of the fabric.