Abstract: Apparatus and a method for cleaning, rinsing and drying substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. The apparatus has a cleaning tank in which one or more megasonic transducers are located, the transducers being adapted to direct megasonic energy past the substrates for cleaning the same. The substrates are held in the cleaning tank by an improved holder which can be pivoted from one side to the other to present opposite side margins of the substrates to the megasonic energy field when otherwise such opposite side margins would not be exposed to such energy field due to the blocking action of parts of the holder. A rinse tank for containing a rinse solution is adjacent to the cleaning tank, and a robotic transfer arm mechanism moves the substrates in the holder from the cleaning tank to the rinse tank for immersion of the substrates into the rinse solution which can be heated to an elevated temperature or can be at ambient temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for cleaning, rinsing and drying substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. The apparatus has a cleaning tank in which one or more megasonic transducers are located, the transducers being adapted to direct megasonic energy past the substrates for cleaning the same. The substrates are held in the cleaning tank by an improved holder which can be pivoted from one side to the other to present opposite side margins of the substrates to the megasonic energy field when otherwise such opposite side margins would not be exposed to such energy field due to the blocking action of parts of the holder. A rinse tank for containing a rinse solution is adjacent to the cleaning tank, and a robotic transfer arm mechanism moves the substrates in the holder from the cleaning tank to the rinse tank for immersion of the substrates into the rinse solution which can be heated to an elevated temperature or can be at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a paint roller cover removed from its handle. The apparatus has a cylindrical housing with a transverse end wall at one end carrying a tubular bushing and an opening at the opposite end. A shaft is snugly but slidably received in the end wall bushing and it extends longitudinally inside the housing and terminates short of the housing's end opening. A support for a roller cover is rotatably mounted on the shaft. This support can be slidably assembled frictionally to a paint roller cover. The asssembled paint roller cover, support and shaft can be inserted and removed as a unit through the end opening of the housing. A water spray tube inside the housing sprays water onto the roller cover on the support and shaft.

Abstract: A device for cleaning containers, especially bottle containers. To make it more compact while ensuring thorough cleaning it is characterized by a container intake (2), by a subsequent helical guide (6) for the containers (1), by at least one container carrier (5) positioned within the helical guide with integrated spray nozzles (16) for the cleaning agent, and by a container outtake (8) downstream of the helical guide.

Abstract: An article washing device is disclosed which includes movable spray heads for both washing and rinsing while the article is stationary or moving. The housing is defined with the washing compartment therein having a frame means suspended from the upper portion thereof. The frame means is powered to move to and fro within the washing compartment. A supply line for washing solution and a supply line for rinsing solution are secured to the frame means and are oriented peripherally about the washing compartment. Spray heads are located in each of the washing and rinsing solutions such that the washing or rinsing solution can be released from the respective conduit while the frame means and the conduits themselves are moving back and forth longitudinally within the washing station. In this manner complete washing and rinsing of an article having many difficult areas to clean such as a rack is achievable.

Abstract: A hoist for dipping a package of lumber or other similar work product into a tank of liquid is fabricated basically as a weldment of readily available steel shapes and is of a rugged, reliable design. A vertically movable carriage with forwardly projecting prongs at its lower end receives a package of work product and clamps located above the prongs tightly clamp the package to the carriage during a dipping procedure. The hoist is designed to allow package delivery and removal, to and from the hoist, by a fork lift truck. After placing a package on the hoist the fork lift operator may push a single push button and a control system for the hoist thereafter causes the hoist to automatically go through a full cycle of operation including a immersion period the length of which may be manually adjusted.

Abstract: Method and device for treatment of balls, in particular balls for rolling bearings, by gentle mechanical treatment in the presence of a cleaning fluid or the like. According to the invention, the treatment of the entire surface of each ball is accomplished in that the balls are moved between two mutually rotating discs (12,24) while being forcedly guided (19,20) in a spiral path outwardly from the center while skidding.

Abstract: An apparatus for dipping plating objects such as IC lead frame of a rectangular shape obtained by press forming and etching thin metal pieces, wherein a plural number of said rectangular sheets aligned and supported on the freely descending and returning rack base of the support carriage of the objects to be plated are concurrently subjected to dipping plating by determining the position of the said plural number of rectangular sheets to be plated for lowering into the plating tanks, and abutting the upper surface of the objects to be plated with the holding means thereby subjecting a plural number of objects to be plated.

Abstract: The spray booth assembly of this invention is used for washing or chemically treating various kinds of objects in various industrial fields. The assembly is substantially characterized by providing a vacuum zone at or below a hanger path which allows the hangers suspended by the conveyor means to travel in a longitudinal direction in the open-type spray booth while carrying the objects to be sprayed. Whereby, the spray booth assembly can prevent the water or chemical moisture from flowing out through the hanger path toward the hanger conveying means.

Abstract: A surface treatment device capable of carrying out the surface treatment such as washing or etching of plate-like articles such as semiconductor wafers maintaining high degree of reliability, wherein a surface treating liquid is introduced into a ring-like or a conduit-like treating vessel. The plate-like articles to be treated are moved by a conveyor on a conveyor path having a surface in parallel with the surfaces of the plate-like articles against the stream of the treating liquid in a piece-by-piece manner, so that the surfaces of the plate-like articles are treated, whereby the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers can be desirably treated prior to manufacturing the semiconductor products.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrohydroblasting of castings comprises a base, a bath, a mechanism for feeding castings into the bath, having a movable platform mounted in vertical guides, and a loading device. The loading device comprises horizontal guides and a means for conveying castings along the horizontal guides. The horizontal guides have a section disposed above the bath and sections mounted on the base. In accordance with the invention, the section of the horizontal guides, disposed above the bath, is mounted on the movable platform of the mechanism for feeding castings into the bath.

Abstract: A dish-washing machine composed of thermoplastic material comprising an inner enclosure fitting within but spaced from an outer enclosure, and a plurality of functional units. The functional units include a dish-carrying drawer unit having a rotor mounted within the inner enclosure, an electrical control unit mounted in the space between the upper end of the inner enclosure and the outer enclosure, and an hydraulic unit located in the space between the lower end of the inner enclosure and the outer enclosure. A vapor condenser is located within the space between the inner and outer enclosures for condensing steam passing through holes in the inner enclosure.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning heavy vehicle parts and the like in maintenance shops by spraying them with a detergent fluid or solvent. A parts tray with wheels may be rolled on tracks in and out of a heavy cabinet. The cabinet has a power-actuated door. Inside a cleaning chamber the parts tray is surrounded by a cage-like spray assembly of pipe equipped with spray nozzles directed inward at the parts. The spray assembly is mounted on a swinging parallel linkage, and is reciprocated back and forth by a motor. Below the spray or cleaning chamber is a tank or sump with an internal heater, which is normally full of fluid. A pump circulates heated fluid from this tank up to the spray nozzles; the fluid then runs back down into the sump for recirculation. A clean-out trap is provided for cleaning the sump. The operator's controls, including the door actuator control, are all located at the side of the machine for safety. An interlock switch prevents the pump from being started when the door is open.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the surfaces of foods comprising a watertight housing with a door, a drum movable into the housing through the door, the drum being rotated by a motor, the drum containing perforated baskets each having a movable wall to engage and hold products therein against movement, and means for rotating the movable wall in selected position.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating photopolymer printing plates, which have already been exposed, with liquid media, in which the plate, mounted on a vertically movable holder, can be moved up and down between an upper loading and unloading chamber and a lower treatment chamber, separated from the upper chamber by a partially open partition, and in which upper and lower rim elements of the plate holder seal the aperture in the partition in a vapor-tight manner when the plate holder is in its terminal positions.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning pots and pans wherein the machine is provided with first and second side access doors for permitting flow through movement of a pan/rack system and, in addition, with a switch and alignment means for permitting alignment of unobstructed compartments of the pan/rack system with oscillating spray arms as the pan/rack system is moved between the access doors and for inhibiting oscillation of the spray arms until alignment is reached. In a further aspect of the invention, the machine is additionally provided with a common counterweight and a cable and pulley system for simultaneously operating the two side access doors and a front access door of the machine.

Abstract: An immersion cooling apparatus includes a mechanism for immersing a hot metal pipe with the axis thereof directed horizontally in a cooling tank containing cooling liquid, and a mechanism for locking the immersed pipe in position in the cooling tank. While the locking mechanism is preventing the pipe from moving, a nozzle extending toward the interior of the pipe in the direction of the pipe axis injects cooling liquid into the pipe. The cooling liquid thus injected flows completely through the pipe so that the pipe being cooled is not injured or bent.

Abstract: A rotating spray arm is supported by a removable and vertically adjustable upper rack of a dishwasher. The fluid coupling for the spray arm is not affected by changes in the upper rack vertical position. The spray arm is also protected by a guard which forms a stand for the rack when removed from the dishwasher.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating elongate articles including a furnace arranged above a quenching liquid reservoir and guide elements for guiding heated elongate articles from the furnace into the quenching liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the furnace utilizes a plurality of elongate tubes which receive detachably held elongate articles. Upon release, the elongate articles fall while oriented vertically by the guide elements into the quenching liquid. Warping or bending of the elongate articles is thereby prevented during the transfer from the furnace to the quenching liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid containing apparatus for receiving potatoes or other such fruits and vegetables wherein the received material is washed and/or treated by the contained fluid, after which the material is transferred from said apparatus by a driven paddle wheel assembly including a plurality of circumferentially spaced finger assemblies that engage the material within the apparatus and lift the material upwardly towards an exiting edge of said apparatus in a generally arcuate path motion, where the material is deposited onto an adjacent conveyor or otherwise received by some other appropriate receiving structure disposed adjacent to the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for washing articles which are of greater height than width dimension when supported by an article receiving rack includes a cabinet of generally rectangular horizontal cross-section capable of accommodating the horizontal dimensions of the rack. The cabinet defines a washing chamber and a front access opening of sufficient height to accommodate lateral movement of a rack containing upright articles into the washing chamber. A lower door is pivotally mounted on the cabinet adjacent to the lower edge of the access opening for movement from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position. The lower door includes a rack supporting surface and is dimensioned to correspond in size to the rectangular horizontal cross-section of the cabinet. An upper door is mounted for vertical movement from a lower position covering the remaining upper portion of the access opening to an upper position uncovering the upper portion of the access opening.

Abstract: A tray washing system includes conveyors which transport compartmented food service trays from a tray receiving mechanism to inverting and scrapping mechanisms and through washing, rinsing and drying mechanisms to a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism restricts trays to insertion in a predetermined orientation in which the food receiving surfaces face upwardly, and the inverting mechanism inverts each tray so that the food receiving surface faces downwardly.