With Initial Work Emptying, Inverting, Orienting Or Puncturing Means Patents (Class 134/62)
  • Patent number: 11443962
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for integrated cleaning of objects comprising a sequence of wet cleaning and vacuum drying in a same process chamber. The present integrated cleaning process can eliminate moving parts, improving the system reliability. Vacuum decontamination can be included for degassing and decontaminating the cleaned objects. In an embodiment, a cleaner system combines various movements into an integrated movement to be handled by a robot, for example, to improve the throughput. For example, an integrated robot movement comprising picking up a closed container from the input load port, moving both the lid and body together, and then depositing the body and lid separately into the appropriate positions in the cleaner to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Brooks Automation US, LLC
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 11287186
    Abstract: A drying device is configured with a sensor corresponding to an air knife-nozzle, and a control switch which suspends an operation of the device when the air knife-nozzle is detected as working abnormally, thereby preventing abnormal products from being produced due to the failure of finding an abnormal condition of the air knife-nozzle in time, ensuring the normal process of the product, and avoiding the nonessential economic loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED, CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chung-Kuang Chien
  • Patent number: 10438817
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning chamber configured to clean a substrate; a transfer chamber positioned adjacent to the cleaning chamber and configured to transfer the substrate; a partition wall partitioning the cleaning chamber and the transfer chamber; a gutter fixed to the partition wall; and a discharge pipe connected to a bottom portion of the gutter. A first pass hole and a second pass hole positioned below the first pass hole are formed in the partition wall. The gutter is positioned between the first pass hole and the second pass hole, and extends from one side end to the other side end of the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Haiyang Xu, Mitsuru Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9718158
    Abstract: A fastening device includes first to third rotary sensors (position detecting unit) which are provided in a support arm and detect a position of a nut runner (fastening tool), and a main controller (controlling unit) which has a storage unit for storing a plurality of fastening positions of a chain cover, and drives the nut runner when a detection result from the first to third rotary sensors coincides with position information of the fastening position of the chain cover stored by the storage unit. Therefore, during a fastening work, an operator does not need to pull a trigger to drive and rotate the nut runner, thus reducing a burden on the operator during the fastening work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Terada, Izumi Matsuzaki, Jinichiro Hirose, Takafumi Kunimi
  • Patent number: 9643220
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transferring unit disposed in a connecting part of a washing processing cell and an indexer cell. The transferring unit includes an inverting support portion for supporting a substrate in a horizontal posture, a feed supporting portion disposed at an interval in a vertical direction from the inverting support portion for supporting the substrate in the horizontal posture, and an interposing and inverting mechanism for inverting the substrate to be supported by the inverting support portion and bringing the inverted substrate to be supported by the inverting support portion again. A part of the substrate to be supported by a feed supporting portion is disposed in an inversion region for the substrate to be inverted by the interposing and inverting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9541837
    Abstract: The present apparatus and method are configured to remove challenging polymer films and structures from semiconductor wafers. This technique involves the use of a double soak and spray sequence with unique parameters and can be varied depending upon the application. The initial immersion step is used to initiate the swelling and dissolution of the polymer. The first spray step may include a high pressure needle to pierce through the top layer allowing more solvent to penetrate in the subsequent soak process. The second immersion can then penetrate further and faster allowing substantial penetration of the polymer by the solvent. The final high pressure spray proceeds to remove all of the polymer coating. The process ends with a final rinse and dry sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: VEECO PRECISION SURFACE PROCESSING LLC
    Inventors: John Taddei, Laura Mauer, Ramey Youssef, John Clark, Elena Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9421656
    Abstract: A workpiece-positioning device includes a workpiece holder of holding a workpiece, a workpiece holder up/down mechanism of moving the workpiece holder up and down, and a free pallet movement mechanism of freely moving a pallet parallel to a reference plane to shift the pallet to a position where the workpiece held by the workpiece holder is lowered so that a positioning pin of the pallet is inserted into a positioning hole made in the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-ichiro Kitagawa, Hiroyuki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9205985
    Abstract: A container carrier that moves containers in a transport direction has container holder with a recess and a hold-down. The recess receives a container between its mouth and its flange and forms a bearing surface to support a lower face of the flange thereby suspending the container. Meanwhile, the hold-down engages the opposite or top face of the flange to prevent the container from swinging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Niehr, Jurgen Vorwerk
  • Patent number: 9004084
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing waste from a soiled container that houses laboratory animals and has an opening is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving containers from a stack of containers. The stack is disposed such that the openings are upwardly oriented. The apparatus also includes a manipulator that aligns with and engages an uppermost container of the stack and causes the uppermost container to be separated from the stack and to be flipped over onto the receiving end of the conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed. Waste discarded from the container falls through openings in the conveyor, and a waste receptacle disposed below the conveyor collects the discarded waste. The conveyor advances to transport the container away from the receiving end toward a discharge end of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Northwestern Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Lay-Swee Lim, Tyrone Chao, William Hayter, John Walker
  • Patent number: 8899245
    Abstract: Machine (10) and method for treating containers (12) of liquids comprising in succession at least a loading station (15), into which the containers (12) to be treated are loaded, and all disposed according to a determinate first orientation, and a washing station (17), in which the containers (12) are subjected at least to washing and are disposed in a second orientation able to promote the fall due to gravity of the dirt and/or washing liquid present in the containers (12). The machine (10) comprises, downstream of the washing station (17) and outside it, a manipulator device (41) which automatically rotates the containers (12) exiting form the washing station (17) so as to reposition the containers (12) according to the first determinate orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Steelco SpA
    Inventor: Fabio Zardini
  • Patent number: 8864912
    Abstract: Internal cleaning of inverted cans includes engaging a can's cylindrical wall with a wall-conforming vacuum or adhesive gripper, causing a spraying unit to travel axially in and out of the can's opening while the can is inverted on a circular conveyor, and using a supporting arm or bottom stop to subject the can to a counterforce against a flushing force from sprayed cleaning medium. This prevents the can from being pressed out of a receptacle in which it sits during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Jakob, Steffen Kappel, Thomas Stolte
  • Publication number: 20140174484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for draining and rinsing containers (1) filled with fluid, comprising an accommodating unit (4) for accommodating the container (1) and comprising a removal unit, which has a removal line (9), a coupling (8) connected to the removal line (9) for connecting to a removal opening (2) of the container (1), and a pumping apparatus (11) by means of which the fluid in the container can be pumped out of the container, and comprising a rinsing unit, which has a rinsing pin (14), a rinsing line (17) connected to the rinsing pin, and a control apparatus (13), wherein the rinsing pin (14) can be moved by means of the control apparatus (13) in such a way that the rinsing pin automatically pierces a wall (7) of the container (1) and rinses out the container (1) after the container has been drained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Robert Huber, Heinz-Gerd Wegkamp
  • Patent number: 8695612
    Abstract: A bin washer device for washing bins including a conveyor for moving the bins in a conveying direction, a support and at least two bin holders rotatably supported on the support for rotation about an axis adjacent the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Valley Packline Solutions, Fruit Growers Supply Company
    Inventors: Jim Parra, Robert Guerra, Bruce Adams, David Sorenson
  • Patent number: 8627924
    Abstract: Article handling machine (1) comprising a frame (2) for receiving article handling elements, a roof (3) covering said frame (2), and, on one lateral side (6) of the machine (1), a catwalk (5) pivotally mounted on the frame (2) between an extended position in which it protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral side (6), with an inner edge facing the machine lateral side (6), and a folded position in which it stretches out in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral side (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Michele Calzolari
  • Publication number: 20130333731
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transferring unit disposed in a connecting part of a washing processing cell and an indexer cell. The transferring unit includes an inverting support portion for supporting a substrate in a horizontal posture, a feed supporting portion disposed at an interval in a vertical direction from the inverting support portion for supporting the substrate in the horizontal posture, and an interposing and inverting mechanism for inverting the substrate to be supported by the inverting support portion and bringing the inverted substrate to be supported by the inverting support portion again. A part of the substrate to be supported by a feed supporting portion is disposed in an inversion region for the substrate to be inverted by the interposing and inverting mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi KATO
  • Patent number: 8566994
    Abstract: A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Clint P. Arrington
  • Publication number: 20130206185
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is composed of an indexer block, a first processing block and a second processing block that are provided in parallel with one another. The indexer block is provided with an indexer robot. The first processing block is provided with a plurality of back surface cleaning units and a first main robot. The second processing block is provided with a plurality of end surface cleaning units, a plurality of top surface cleaning units and a second main robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8484796
    Abstract: Air rinse and transport apparatus (10) comprises a bottle air-rinsing device (12) for air rinsing a turned bottle (16) with ionized air, and an air conveyor (14) for moving a bottle (16) to and/or from the air-rinsing device (12). The air conveyor (14) includes a bottle guide (24) along which a bottle (16) is moved by air pressure. The guide (24) is at least in part helical so as to turn a longitudinal extent of the said bottle (16). Preferably, the turning causes the said bottle to be inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Graziano Lembo
  • Patent number: 8480813
    Abstract: A method of introducing treatment fluid into containers to remove contaminants therefrom in a container filling plant, and an arrangement therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Molitor, Ulrich Wiedemann, Falk Dittrich
  • Patent number: 8479753
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate holding member configured to rotate along with a substrate held thereon in a horizontal state; an annular rotary cup configured to surround the substrate held on the substrate holding member and to rotate along with the substrate; a rotation mechanism configured to integrally rotate the rotary cup and the substrate holding member; and a liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid onto the substrate. The apparatus further includes an annular drain cup configured to receive the process liquid discharged from the rotary cup, and provided with a drain port; and a circular flow generation element configured to generate a circular flow within the drain cup when the rotary cup and the substrate holding member are rotated, such that the circular flow serves to lead the process liquid within the drain cup to the drain port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Nanba, Norihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8464734
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for wet processing a substantially rectangular substrate includes a conveyor, a supporting mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, a processing module and a dosing system. The conveyor is configured for conveying the substrate to a wet process work station. The supporting mechanism is configured for supporting the substrate away from the conveyor. The adjusting mechanism is configured for adjusting the orientation of the substrate. The processing module is configured for obtaining an area of a surface of the substrate. The dosing system communicates with the processing unit, and is configured for dispensing a corresponding amount of wet processing liquid to the substrate to wet process the substrate according to the area of the surface of the substrate from the processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Zhen Ding Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Tsun Chen, Shin-Chih Liaw, Tao-Ming Liao, Chia-Hung Shen, Yun-Fei Lien
  • Publication number: 20130112229
    Abstract: A pallet washing apparatus and its associated methodology, wherein all of the pallets in a vertical stack of pallets are cleaned simultaneously, the stack being vertically expanded to provide a separation distance between each pallet, with each pallet then being delivered onto individual conveyors passing through washing, rinsing and drying stations, such that cleaning spray may be directed against all surfaces of each pallet, all of the pallets then being restacked for removal in a single stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ZZ Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Larry White, Thomas J. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8251633
    Abstract: A container inverting device is capable of inverting containers that have a neck oriented in a first direction at the entrance of the device and then in a second direction at the exit of the device. The inverting device includes at least one clamp (45) for holding the neck of a container. The clamp (45) is mounted on a belt (49) by a fixing bracket (47), and in order to invert the container, the belt passes around at least one pulley (33) and moves the clamp from one side of the pulley (33) to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Damien Cirette
  • Publication number: 20120111371
    Abstract: Machine (10) and method for treating containers (12) of liquids comprising in succession at least a loading station (15), into which the containers (12) to be treated are loaded, and all disposed according to a determinate first orientation, and a washing station (17), in which the containers (12) are subjected at least to washing and are disposed in a second orientation able to promote the fall due to gravity of the dirt and/or washing liquid present in the containers (12). The machine (10) comprises, downstream of the washing station (17) and outside it, a manipulator device (41) which automatically rotates the containers (12) exiting form the washing station (17) so as to reposition the containers (12) according to the first determinate orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: STEELCO SPA
    Inventor: Fabio Zardini
  • Publication number: 20120006363
    Abstract: A compact robotic wash system is provided for cleaning a work piece. The robotic wash system includes an enclosed wash chamber. A robot is fully disposed inside the wash chamber. The robot has a maximum horizontal reach that is at least 40% of the maximum horizontal linear dimension of the wash chamber. The robot may hold a work piece and move the work piece around a plurality of spray devices. Alternately, the robot may hold one or more spray devices, while a work piece is supported on a movable table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ABB INC.
    Inventors: Dragoslav Milojevic, Kenneth A. Carmack, Daniel A. Raetz, Eric Gauci, James R. Vigneau, Larry X. Blanchard, Paul G. Cazan, Loren J. Cazan, Stephen J. Laski
  • Patent number: 8079376
    Abstract: A bottle cleaner that inverts the bottles to spray solutions into them. The bottles invert and receive, for example, a spray of a cleaning solution. The cleaner then returns the bottles to the upright orientation. Each pass of the bottles utilizes two sets of linked grippers arranged as a chain. One chain contacts the bottles on one side while the second chain contacts them on the other side. The two chains squeeze the bottles between them to firmly hold them. A single adjustment sets a uniform distance between the two chains of each path through the cleaner at four different locations, and the same adjustment equalizes the distances between the two chains of the two paths so that they will effectively retain the same bottles through two passes through the machine. Four motors running at the same speed keep the chains moving together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: McBrady Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian P. Avelis, Garrett McBrady
  • Patent number: 7979941
    Abstract: A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Clint P. Arrington
  • Patent number: 7892359
    Abstract: A dishwasher in the form of a programmable machine, in particular a commercial dishwasher, having a pre-cleaning station, which is disposed outside a treatment chamber of the dishwasher, and having a waste water transfer system, by which washing liquid can be fed from a wash tank of the dishwasher as pre-cleaning liquid to the pre-cleaning station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dietrich Berner, Harald Disch, Markus Heidt
  • Patent number: 7694688
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides an apparatus and method for processing and transferring substrates in a multi-chamber processing system that has the capability of receiving and performing single substrate processing steps performed in parallel, while using the many favorable aspects of batch processing. Embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to maximize system throughput, reduce system cost, reduce cost per substrate during processing, increase system reliability, improve the device yield on the processed substrates, and reduce system footprint. In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a wet/clean process sequence in which various substrate cleaning processes are performed on a substrate in the cluster tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Lester, Scott Meyer, Wyland L. Atkins, Douglas Richards, Constantin Predoaica, Jeffrey Hudgens, Charles Carlson, Penchala Kankanala, Mike Rice, James S. Papanu, Evanson G. Baiya, John J. Rosato
  • Patent number: 7661522
    Abstract: A container processing machine (M) with at least one carousel (1, 1?) which defines a multiple-row processing section (2, 2?), processing devices (24, 25) which move concurrently in multiple rows with the carousel, container holding element groups which are attached to sections of a concurrently moving conveyor device (3), holding elements (H), at least within the processing section (2, 2?), that are positioned next to each other transversely to the conveyance direction, and feed and removal systems (Z, A) for the loading and the unloading of the holding elements (H). The feed and removal systems (Z, A) are designed with a single row, while the holding elements (H) of the groups are resettable between a single-row position, in which they are oriented at least approximately parallel to the conveyance direction, and, in the area of the loading and unloading zones (L, E), a position resetting device (U) for the holding elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hausladen
  • Publication number: 20090159152
    Abstract: A method for handling containers and container handling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Volker TILL
  • Publication number: 20090070946
    Abstract: A cleaning processing part including an edge cleaning processing unit for cleaning an edge of a substrate is provided in an indexer block. An indexer robot provided in the indexer block transports an unprocessed substrate taken out of a cassette to the cleaning processing part before transporting the unprocessed substrate to an anti-reflection film processing block serving as a processor. The cleaning processing part cleans an edge and a back surface of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Sokudo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tamada, Masakazu Sanada, Tadashi Miyagi, Shuichi Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20080303857
    Abstract: A nozzle chip cleaning apparatus of an inkjet printer in which a structure to supply and drain a cleaning solution to clean nozzle chips. The nozzle chip cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning bath in which a cleaning solution is contained to clean the nozzle chips, an ultrasonic wave device installed in the cleaning bath to generates waves in the cleaning solution contained in the cleaning bath so that the cleaning solution reaches the nozzle chips, a supply and drain pipe that performs as a supply pipe to supply the cleaning solution from a cleaning solution storage tank to the cleaning bath and as a drain pipe to drain the cleaning solution that has been supplied to the cleaning bath to the cleaning solution storage tank, and a pump that provides a driving force to supply and drain the cleaning solution through the supply and drain pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Karp-sik YOUN
  • Patent number: 7455067
    Abstract: A portable food tray pre-wash and water recycling apparatus and method for pre-washing reusable food trays prior to placement in a separate cleaning and sanitizing unit that significantly reduces water wasted in kitchen and scullery areas. The apparatus includes a portable cabinet having a slot in a top end for inserting a food tray, laterally opposed spray nozzles beneath the slot that spray both sides of the tray, laterally opposed rotating brushes beneath the nozzles that scrub the tray, a tray support and brush comb member that supports the tray in a vertical position and removes particles from the brushes, a series of removable incrementally smaller gauge filters vertically spaced beneath the brushes that slide in from one side to filter the water, a water reservoir beneath the filters, a heating unit to heat and disinfect the filtered water, and a pump that recycles heated water back to the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Randall D. Cotton
  • Publication number: 20080257388
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning gaming chips or coins which includes means to convey individual coins or chips to a carrier wheel consisting of a vertically oriented disc having arranged about its periphery a plurality of coin or chip sized open recesses to receive individual coins or chips so that the coins or chips are supported on their edges and both faces of the coins or chips are exposed. The carrier wheel rotates through a washing station, a drying station arranged about said carrier wheel such that a drying air stream passes over and around said coins or chips in said carrier wheel. The coin or chip recesses in the carrier wheel are crenellated to allow washing fluid and the drying air stream to pass over the edges of the coins or chips. A total residence time for each chip that is sufficient to clean and dry the chips will lie in range of 10 to 20 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: DOLPHIN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventor: William Purton
  • Publication number: 20080173335
    Abstract: The present invention related to a semiconductor wafer cleaning system comprising a preliminary cleaning station for removing particles on a wafer in advance by spraying deionized water thereon; a first cleaning station for cleaning remaining particles firstly by rotating frictionally a pair of brushes disposed to be contacted with a front surface and a back surface of the wafer and by spraying chemicals thereon through a chemical sprayer being provided independently; a first rinsing station for rinsing by spraying a cleaning liquid onto the firstly cleaned wafer at the first cleaning station; a second cleaning station for cleaning particles secondly remained on the front surface and the back surface of the wafer by spraying the chemicals onto the firstly rinsed cleaned wafer at the first rinsing station through a chemical sprayer being provided independently using the same structure and manner as those of the first cleaning station; a second rinsing station for rinsing by spraying the cleaning liquid onto th
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: DOOSAN MECATEC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jin No Yoon, Jin Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7361233
    Abstract: The pulsed partial pressure hydrogen cleaning of cobalt-based alloys in turbine components is achieved by disposing the component within a vacuum furnace and heating the component. Upon heating to about 1400° F., a partial pressure hydrogen gas and a vacuum are repetitively cycled within the furnace by supplying in each cycle a fresh supply of hydrogen gas, followed by removal of reaction products between the hydrogen gas and surface contaminants and substantially all residual hydrogen gas from within the furnace. The repetitious cycling renders the surfaces clean, enabling refurbishment thereof by activated diffusion healing repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Edwin Budinger, Ronald Lance Galley, Mark Dean Pezzutti
  • Patent number: 7267128
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates includes a treating tank for receiving and treating the substrates, a holding device movable, while holding the substrates in a cantilever mode, between a treating position in the treating tank and a transfer position above the treating tank, a transport device for supporting the substrates and transferring the substrates to and from the holding device in the transfer position, a detecting device for detecting a posture variation of the holding device, and a correcting device for correcting a position of the holding device or the transport device. The correcting device performs a correction according to the posture variation of the holding device detected by the detecting device in time of transfer of the substrates between the holding device and the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Hiroe, Koji Hasegawa, Ichiro Mitsuyoshi, Yoshihiro Nishina
  • Patent number: 6945258
    Abstract: A cleaning processing system including a wafer transfer device, a wafer detecting sensor for detecting a wafer, a memory for storing the position and direction of an extra wafer present inside the cleaning processing system when the power supply is cut off, an alarm device for generating an alarm in the case where the information detected by the wafer detecting sensor when the power supply to the cleaning processing system is turned on differs from the wafer information taken out of the memory, an alarm canceling section for canceling the alarm, an apparatus control section for controlling the wafer transfer device to recover the extra wafer, and a recovery start-up section for emitting an instruction to start the wafer recovery to the apparatus control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kouichi Itou
  • Patent number: 6945260
    Abstract: A machine for treating objects having a series of stations (12) whereof each includes a system for gripping (16) a container (11) in a loading point of the path, wherein, between the loading and unloading points, the container (11) is displaced from an initial loading position to at least a treating position then to a final unloading position following the circular path. Each station is provided with a gripping unit (14) comprising at least two grip systems (16), and the gripping unit (14) is mobile relative to the station between at least two positions and, between the loading and unloading of an object, the path followed by the latter has a number of cycles of the circuit ranging between the number of grip systems (16) of each grip unit (14) and the next lower integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sidel
    Inventors: Gabriele Stocchi, Gerard Doudement
  • Patent number: 6779533
    Abstract: A method and machine for on-line treating and/or processing containers (2), whereby a container (2) is fed along a production line (45), a portion of which is defined by an endless conveyor (3) extending through a loading station (43; 55) and an unloading station (41; 55) for containers (2); the container (2), as it is fed along by the conveyor (3), being subjected to a treatment and/or processing operation inside a respective cell (17), which is movable with the conveyor (3) to receive the container (2) at the loading station (43; 55) and to release the container (2) at the unloading station (41; 55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: G.D Societa Per Azioni
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Patent number: 6742529
    Abstract: A system for recycling reusable resin mold products recovered from discarded apparatuses is disclosed. This recycling system includes a crushing system for crushing resin mold products one kind by one kind into crushed resinous pieces and packing the same in a bag, a classification system for irradiating a light beam to the resin in the bag and classifying the bags into respective kinds of resins based on a reflected beam therefrom, a cleaning system for separately cleaning the respective kind of crushed resinous pieces taken out of the bag to remove foreign matters adhered onto the surfaces of the crushed resinous pieces therefrom, and a recovery system for recovering the cleaned crushed resinous pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Techno Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takateru Imai, Kenichi Urabe, Kouji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20040025909
    Abstract: A device for inverting hollow bodies gripped by the neck, characterized in that it includes a series of gripper mounted at the periphery of a rotary wheel and each of which is adapted to grip a hollow body by the neck, and each gripper is mounted on a wheel so as to be tilted between a first and a second position, and each gripper is designed to grip the neck of the hollow body at two substantially opposite points on either side of the neck axis, and the gripper is designed to cause the neck of the hollow body to be engaged in the gripper by one side of the gripper and to be released by the other side of the gripper, with substantially radial movements relative to the neck axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Emmanuel Lopes
  • Publication number: 20030164181
    Abstract: A cleaning processing part and an ashing processing part are oppositely arranged flush with each other through a transport path where a transport robot is arranged. The cleaning processing part comprises a surface scrubber and a rear scrubber. The ashing processing part performs ashing with plasma. The transport robot transports a substrate to be processed from an indexer successively through the ashing processing part, a reversal part and the cleaning processing part and returns the same to the indexer again. The transport robot immediately transports the substrate completely subjected to ashing toward the cleaning processing part, whereby the time required from ashing to cleaning processing is so reduced that a dead time can be eliminated while cleaning performance can be improved by performing cleaning processing immediately after ashing. Thus, a substrate processing apparatus improving cleaning performance by reducing a dead time up to cleaning processing is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Ohtani
  • Patent number: 6499495
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for treatment of waste from suction canisters. The waste treatment system includes a canister-cleaning and a reservoir chamber. The canister-cleaning chamber holds the suction canister to be treated. The reservoir chamber is fluidly connected to the canister-cleaning chamber and to a water source. The reservoir chamber adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the canister-cleaning chamber to permit cleaning fluids to flow to and from the canister cleaning-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Allegiance Corporation
    Inventor: David K. Jeng
  • Publication number: 20020195131
    Abstract: A flexible container for liquid transport made of a flexible material includes a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the top face portion and the bottom face portion. An air tight, water resistant slide fastener is openably/closably mounted to the peripheral face portion of the container. A liquid stirring port is provided at the top face portion, and a liquid injecting and ejecting port are provided at a lower end of a rear face portion of the peripheral face portion. Container suspending pieces and bottom face portion fixing pieces are mounted at the top face portion of the container and at four corners of the bottom face portion. During washing, the container can be washed reliably and efficiently while the inside of the spread out container can be visually checked by efficiently utilizing the air tight, water resistant slide fastener, liquid stirring port, liquid injecting and ejecting port, and container suspending pieces, and bottom face port fixing pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: YKK Corporation & Asano Transportation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koitsu Morioka, Yoshimitsu Asano, Hiromasa Asano, Tokuo Oozeki, Nobuhiro Ichikawa, Jyunichiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 6435953
    Abstract: A coin cleaning and grinding apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying coins, two drive rollers of urethane sponge having a urethane hardness between 70 and 90 degrees, and a pair of primary grinding rollers and a pair of secondary grinding rollers of urethane sponge. The primary grinding rollers are supported rotatably and downstream from the conveyor. One of the primary grinding rollers is positioned lower than the other. The lower primary grinding roller is in compressive contact with the higher primary grinding roller and one of the drive rollers. The secondary grinding rollers are supported rotatably and downstream from the primary grinding rollers. One of the secondary grinding rollers is positioned lower than the other. The lower secondary grinding roller is in compressive contact with the higher secondary grinding roller and the other drive roller. A sprinkling plate is positioned at an angle above the grinding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha J. Box
    Inventor: Katuhiro Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20020096193
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for treatment of waste from suction canisters. The waste treatment system includes a canister-cleaning and a reservoir chamber. The canister-cleaning chamber holds the suction canister to be treated. The reservoir chamber is fluidly connected to the canister-cleaning chamber and to a water source. The reservoir chamber adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the canister-cleaning chamber to permit cleaning fluids to flow to and from the canister cleaning-chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: David K. Jeng
  • Patent number: 6298865
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for washing a plurality of cored lettuce heads as they are harvested in the field is disclosed. The apparatus incorporates a multi-segment hinged conveyer forming a loop, at least one support platform having an opening, at least one lettuce head guide connected to the support platform and an aqueous solution spraying system. Workers harvest lettuce heads, core the lettuce heads and then place them on the lettuce head guides which are moving along the conveyer. The lettuce heads are conveyed to an aqueous solution spraying system which washes the cored areas of the lettuce heads. The lettuce heads are then removed from the conveyer into a produce bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventors: Richard S. Brown, Eugene D. Rizzo
  • Patent number: 6283134
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing photo-resist. The apparatus comprises carriers for carrying a wafer, hot plates to remove residue solvent on the wafer, a cooling plate to decrease the wafer temperature, an reverse unit to turn over the wafer, a development unit to develop and remove photo-resist on the wafer, a top scrubbing unit to clean a top side of the wafer, and a back scrubbing unit to clean a back side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Army Chung, Hsi-Hsin Hong, Chi-Fa Ku