Abstract: A method for shaping a blank comprising a metal includes a step of loading the blank onto a first die, a step of bringing the first die and a second die together, a step of forming a seal around the blank, and a step of injecting a pressurized molten salt into a space in the blank to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aortic arch intraoperative stent, wherein the aortic arch intraoperative stent comprising a main body (17) and one to three branches (5, 6, 7), The aortic arch intraoperative stent connects several circular waveform rings together via a cover membrane (25) to form the main body (17) and the branches (5, 6, 7), wherein each circular waveform ring comprises a circular elastic wire formed through head-to-tail connection. In addition, the present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the aortic arch intraoperative stent, comprising the following steps of: providing a cover membrane mandrel (40); making an inner membrane; assembling circular waveform rings; making an outer membrane; suturing a proximal fabric (12); and suturing a distal fabric (13).

Abstract: A method for cleaning dinnerware includes the steps of aligning and/or registering items to be cleaned from a standby zone, moving the items continuously from the standby zone one by one into a wash zone in a way that the items each have a cleaning posture relative to a path along which the items march, washing the items processionally by using cleaning fluid, and sorting or collecting the items in order for reuse by diners directly. The dishwasher employing the aforesaid method has functions of auto-collecting and washing the to-be-cleaned dinnerware and sorting or collecting thus obtained dinnerware, and is compact in size such that the dishwasher can be directly installed at a location in proximity to a dining area for enabling the diners to conveniently take out the newly cleaned dinnerware at any time. The dishwasher has a good cleaning efficiency and a low operating cost.

Abstract: A tire coating apparatus that is intended to apply coating fluid to vehicle tires in a vehicle washing system when selected by a patron. The tire coating apparatus includes a pair of mechanical applicators, which each include one or more coating applicators disposed thereon for contacting the vehicle tires to apply a coating fluid thereto when selected by a patron. One mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicator members that are intended to contact the tires on a right side of a vehicle while the other mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicators that are intended to contact the tires on a left side of the vehicle. The mechanical applicators also include a guide portion for contacting and guiding the vehicle wheel when a patron had elected not to have a coating fluid applied to the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for handling an artificial turf arranged on a base. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a removing station for lifting from the base a strip of the artificial turf extending in a longitudinal direction, a separating station for separating filling material from the strip and a winding station for winding the strip onto a shaft. A method is disclosed for handling an artificial turf arranged on a base. In at least one embodiment, the method includes lifting a strip of the artificial turf extending in a longitudinal direction from the base, separating infill material from the strip and winding the strip onto a shaft.

Abstract: A system and method of cleaning an enclosure of a container defined by inner walls, including providing a container, orienting the container so that the opening is lowermost and opens downwardly and generating resonant vibration in the container at a predetermined frequency and at an energy level sufficient to dislodge any loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container but not being of an energy level to impact the structural integrity of the container and maintaining the resonant vibration within the container enclosure for a sufficient time to dislodge all loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container. The system may include a resonant chamber in the form of a shroud and means to effectuate the method steps and may also include a sanitizing step in which the containers are further sanitized to render inactive any organic contaminants.

Abstract: Mat washing device, method of using the mat washing device, and method of washing mats. The mat washing device includes a system that may be transported on a flat bed trailer from one location to another. The mat washing device includes conveying systems, brush systems, rails systems and control mechanisms. The mat washing device may be used by placing mat, on edge, on a conveying system and conveying the mat to a first brushing system and a second brushing system. In one aspect the first brushing system includes a cable brush having a bolt secured at the end of a cable in order to beat or brush material from the mat when the cable brush is spun.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for washing a product with a fluid. The tank may receive a plurality of product, such as fruits and vegetables, into the fluid and be configured to receive a moving conveyor, having a first end, a second end, a first section, and a second section. The conveyor may have a plurality of protruding panels being structured and arranged on the conveyor to push the product through the fluid in the tank and to lift the product from the fluid in the tank to the second end of the conveyor. At least one first nozzle may be positioned substantially above the conveyor and configured to deliver the fluid onto the product as the product is pushed by the plurality of panels. The fluid delivered from the at least one first nozzle may rotate the product in the fluid in the tank.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a substrate transfer unit having a plural-wafer conveyer that transfers plural wafers collectively and a single wafer conveyer that transfers a single wafer at a time. The single-wafer conveyer is accessible to the plural-wafer conveyer to deliver and remove a wafer to and from the plural-wafer conveyer.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning strip and means responsive to movement of the surface cleaning apparatus over a surface to be cleaned for positioning the cleaning strip relative to the surface to be cleaned in dependence upon the direction of movement of the surface cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor drive with devices for translating the rotary movement of an output shaft (44) into a reciprocating linear movement, preferably for driving a reciprocating transporting device (4; 5, 6). The latter comprises catches (9; 9.1, 9.2), which engage in one direction and not in the other direction, in order to transport a receptacle (16) for items for washing. The transporting device comprises an articulated transporting frame (4), of which the transporting rails (5, 6) can be moved in opposite directions to one another.

Abstract: A rotary car washing cell includes a platform for supporting an automotive vehicle and rotatably coupled to a base for rotating the vehicle about a fixed axis. The platform includes a guide rail disposed along a predetermined path on the platform. A support frame is fixedly secured to the base. A wash arm assembly for spraying fluid onto the vehicle is slidably supported by the support frame for radial movement with respect to the fixed axis. The wash arm assembly including a cam follower for engaging the guide rail during rotation of the platform, whereby the wash arm assembly is radially displaced with respect to the fixed axis in response to the rotation of the platform about the fixed axis.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a container cleaning, draining and drying apparatus comprising: a transfer mechanism for transferring a container filled with a content; a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an outer surface of the container during the transfer; a draining mechanism for draining the cleaning liquid; and a drying mechanism for drying the outer surface of the container which performs cleaning with good efficiency to completely remove the content or filler stuck onto the outer surface, folded parts or the like of the container in a short time during the container transfer, and momentarily draining and drying the remaining cleaning liquid used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning articles such as pallets, totes, containers, bins, trays, carts, and other like articles. The apparatus includes a main housing having a conveyor system on which articles are transported into and through a washing chamber. The apparatus is versatile and employs adjustable guide rails to hold in place a wide variety of different sizes and configurations of a wide assortment of articles. A plurality of high pressure, jet-stream spray nozzles rotating at high speeds are supplied with a high pressure wash fluid. The spray nozzles provide rapid, powerful, knife-like jet streams of wash fluid which impact the surfaces of the articles moving through the washing chamber repeatedly to lift and blast off contaminants adhered to the articles. The apparatus is portable and includes a closed-loop water reclamation system having a plurality filter assembly and is environmentally friendly.

Abstract: A guide rail assembly for use with a conveyor of an automatic conveyor car wash. The guide rail assembly is comprised of a main guide rail positioned outside the conveyor proximate the wheel portion of a vehicle, and a lower guide rail extending below and away from the main guide rail toward the conveyor such that the lower guide rail contacts the tire below the wheel portion to maintain a spaced apart relationship between the wheel portion and the main guide rail. The addition of the lower guide rail prevents scratching, marring, or any other structural damage to the wheel portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided wherein poultry nest pads are moved on a conveyor between a plurality of cleaning stations, involving first bending the pads prior to wetting in order to separate debris and dried manure by cracking and breaking from the projections of the pad and to further expose the internal pad recesses, then spraying the pads with a cleaning fluid at high pressure in a wiping motion across the bent pad, and then spraying with a sheet of cleaning fluid at low pressure across the top and bottom surfaces of the pad while it is in an inverted orientation over a tank or receptacle for receiving the debris, manure and spent cleaning fluid. That receptacle includes an auger for removing the settled manure and debris. A filtering and recirculation system is incorporated with the receptacle for reusing at least a portion of the spent cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A method for removing exterior material from vials following a serpentine path through various steps of cleaning and drying. The movement of the vials may be limited to a predetermined path formed as an elongated opening in a sheet of material. The sheet may be replaced with a similar sheet with a different width of opening for bottles of differing sizes. The vials are rotated as they move along the path which may be accomplished by slight deviations in the straight sections of the elongated slot such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal wave. Changing the sheet can alter the number of straight path segments and thus the overall path of the vials through the equipment. The cleaning of the vials may include a washing with detergent, water rinsing, and air and vacuum drying. Air is drawn through the paths to produce a completely dry product. Liquid is removed from the vials' bottoms by a vacuum underneath the paths.

Abstract: A vial washer in which the vials follow a serpentine path through several stages of cleaning. A sheet having the serpentine path in the form of an elongated slot guides the vials through their washing. Conveyor belts moving in opposite directions underneath the elongated slot move the vials in the directions through the equipment. The conveyor belts have an open grid allow for the passage of the cleaning liquids through them. The sheet with the cut-out slot may be replaced with a similar sheet with a different width of opening for bottles of differing sizes. The cleaning may include one or more stages of a detergent wash, water rinse, and air and vacuum drying. Slight deviations in the straight sections of the elongated slot will cause the vials to rotate so that all sides become clean.

Abstract: A stripped bobbin treatment apparatus for inspecting, cleaning and packing bobbins which have been stripped of residual yarn includes a conveyor, an inspection station. a cleaning station and a packing station. The conveyor is in the form of a plurality of endless belts trained around sheaves which permit the bobbins to travel in non-linear paths on the conveyor. Bobbins which are not completely stripped may be redirected to a stripper for additional stripping, and bobbins which are damaged may be discarded. The cleaning station is traversed by the conveyor and includes a housing and nozzles therein for spraying water to clean the bobbins. These include nozzles mounted for pivoting reciprocation in a plane perpendicular to the path, nozzles mounted for pivoting reciprocation in a horizontal plane parallel to the path and nozzles located below the path mounted for rotation about a vertical axis to spray water upwardly through the bobbins.

Abstract: Apparatus for washing bottles, in which a transfer conveyor define an endless loop belt between an inlet end and outlet end. A plurality of cups are carried along the endless loop. An inlet elevator adjacent the inlet end supplies a quantity of bottles in an open end down orientation to the cups. Fluid injectors are movably mounted on the conveyor to position a nozzle into each open end down oriented bottle to supply fluid to inside of the bottles. An outlet elevator is adjacent outlet end for removing bottles from the apparatus in an open end up orientation.

Abstract: A guide rail apparatus to be used within an automatic car wash including two parallel rails for directing the travel of the car tires along the conveyor within the car wash. The gap between the rails is expandable for accepting a range of wide and narrow tires as found on various cars. At least one of the two rails includes a series of rigid tubular rail portions which are attached to a biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus may include a pivot which is supported with respect to a fixed surface by an elastomer material. The portions of the pivoting rail are connected by a flexible member so as to form a continuous rail length and to permit pivoting of one portion of the rail while an adjacent portion along the length remains in its normal inwardly biased position. The biasing apparatus may also include a projecting rod that pivotally supports the ends of the tubular rail positions.

Abstract: Device for cleaning cans or similar containers, whereby the cans are supported in a roughly horizontal position on, for example, rods of a chain conveyor, and are conveyed along a washing line and through a rinsing zone, over rollers or deflection pulleys. The chain conveyor (6), on emerging from the rinsing zone (2), enters a drying zone (3) in which the cans (4) are conveyed in vertical position with their opening face downward.

Abstract: A continuous-flow type dishwashing apparatus, for use by large concerns for washing dishes and other utensils in a continuous manner, comprises a closed loop conveyor disposed laterally of the washing compartment, and a plurality of racks supported in a substantially horizontally manner as they are moved by the forward stretch of the conveyor through the washing compartment, and in a substantially vertical manner as they are moved by the return stretch of the conveyor back to the washing compartment.

Abstract: Container transport apparatus for transporting containers such as plastic bottles and the like which are subject to damage without damaging the containers. The container transport apparatus includes container guiding members for guiding containers such as plastic bottles through a bottle rinser or the like and elongated endless belt members for contacting the sides of the containers to move the containers along the path of the container guiding members. The container transport apparatus eliminates the problems associated with conventional bottle rinsers and the like when used with non-rigid bottles.

Abstract: A sonic treating apparatus in which sheet material is immersed in a shallow tank between sonic treating vibrators along opposite parallel sides thereof, which vibrators produce a horizontally sonic vibrating treating liquid in the tank. The sheets to be treated are supported with their planes horizontal and conveyed in this horizontal plane through the treating liquid transversely of its sonic vibrations so that two opposite edges of the horizontal sheets pass along and adjacent to the sonic vibrators. The conveyor may comprise a treating-liquid-resistant sprocket chain conveyor upon which the sheets rest. The sonic vibrators vibrate at a preset frequency between about 18 and 50 kilohertz and preferably between about 20 and 27 kilohertz. The treating liquid usually is for cleaning the sheets and may be an acid pickling solution for steel or phosphate coating solution, and the solution may be maintained at a predetermined elevated temperature by circulation through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Washing apparatus for washing insulated trays includes an endless conveyor below the elevation of first and second guide rails which guide the trays in an upright disposition as they are being washed. The conveyor includes generally V-shaped tray supports at spaced points therealong so that each tray is supported by two adjacent tray supports. Vertically disposed manifolds have spraying nozzles for spraying water generally horizontally at opposite major faces of the trays.

Abstract: In a conveyor module a conveyor is moving in a plane oriented at an angle relative to the vertical and transports articles through one or more treatment zones in a container. The conveyor is preferably of the endless type having two parallel runs. A number of holders on the conveyor provide, together with a guide and an article support below the conveyor, movable holding spaces for articles. Two or more conveyor modules can be arranged in series, allowing articles to move in an even flow from one to the other by means of gravity. By using, for example, a degreasing agent as a treatment agent an automatic degreasing device is obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting, agitating, rotating and treating discrete objects, such as metallic parts, has an endless band which is trained over two sets of rollers and forms a trough between the two sets of rollers. The band is driven by at least one set of the rollers and is tensioned at a level below the trough. The objects are admitted into one end of the trough and move up and down in response to movement of the band as well as in a direction toward the other end of the trough, either because the trough slopes downwardly toward the other end or under the action of a helix in the trough. The helix can form part of the band, or it can constitute a discrete part which is rotated in the trough. One or more impellers and/or nozzles are provided above the trough to spray solid or liquid treating agents onto the objects.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for automatically removing articles, such as cheeses, floating in a liquid includes a horizontal section adapted to be positioned below the surface of the liquid and an integral upwardly inclined section. Articles that float upon the horizontal section are moved to the inclined section which lifts them out of the liquid and delivers them to an elevated point. The articles are prevented from jamming the conveyor by moving stepped walls located on either side of the horizontal section at the location where jamming is likely to occur. The stepped walls move longitudinally back and forth 180.degree. out of phase with one another to gently bump and align the articles. In the preferred embodiment, a single motor drives the conveyor and rotates cam wheels which move the stepped walls.

Abstract: Articles being transported upwardly on an inclined conveyor are restrained against rolling back down the conveyor by a brake comprising an array of parallel spaced apart rods extending longitudinally in the direction of conveyor movement, pivotally suspended at one end and disposed to impose weight on each article, holding it against the moving conveyor to insure progression in the desired direction only.

Abstract: Labels are removed from the bottles as they stand generally upright in the conveyor pockets at the bottom of the curved guide where they pass under the high volume nozzles fed by a supply manifold approximately at the center of the curvature of the solid guides. At the time of label removal the bottles are under the liquid level of the caustic bath in the bottle washing machine. The open slot on the bottom of the solid curved guide leads to a suction channel which pulls the labels from the caustic solution as fast as they are flushed off the bottles. The suction channel is tapered to obtain substantially equal suction across the slot. Since the bottles are moving on a curved path as they pass under the jet, there is an effective dwell during the flushing and a single nozzle can accomplish more flushing action than in prior designs.