Abstract: A method for cleaning optics in a chamber. The method can include introducing a first etchant into a chamber that encloses an optical component and a source of electromagnetic radiation that is suitable for lithography, ionizing the first etchant, and removing debris from a surface of the optical component.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus comprising an endless roller chain belt that moves on a circular track and includes a plurality of fixture plates. Each fixture plate has several interrupted slot lines each of which comprises vertically elongate lower, middle and upper slot sections, and a work holding device formed with a resilient coil section intermediate a fixing section at an upper end and a work holding section at a lower end. The work holding device being engaged with the slot line such that the coil section seats within the middle slot section and the fixing and work holding sections extend respectively through the upper and lower slot sections to hold a workpiece between the holding section and an edge of the fixture plate. The middle slot section being skewed at an inclined angle with the upper and lower slot section having vertical axes parallel to and spaced one from the other.

Abstract: A sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing a hollow prism-shaped carton open at both ends includes a sterilizing station, a drying station, and a solution-removing station located between the sterilizing station and the drying station. The solution-removing station has a solution-removing device which rotates intermittently in synchronism with carton conveyers. The solution-removing device includes a plurality of thin and long mandrels extending in a radial direction and spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. Each mandrel supports a carton and has a nozzle which supplies the aseptic air from an aseptic air source into the carton.

Abstract: An improved transport belt is provided for gripping and carrying parts such as thin and fragile electronic components through production processes including, for example, electroplating steps and the like. The transport belt comprises an elongated upright web carrying a succession of depending gripper units, each including first and second fingers for gripping and carrying the production parts. The first finger is formed generally coplanar with the belt web, whereas the second finger has a generally U-shaped configuration with depending legs on the leading and trailing sides, respectively, of the first finger. The legs are deformed laterally from the plane of the belt web and interconnected at their lower ends by a cross bar which is urged by the legs into spring-loaded contact with the lower end or tip of the first finger.

Abstract: In apparatus for treating a product in a liquid bath having two different temperature zones separated by a slotted wall and equipped with at least two continuous conveyor belts arranged to transport the product while captured between the belts through one zone, a slot in the wall and the other zone, a plurality of submerged nozzles are positioned with their orifices directed to eject pressurized fluid streams that contact the belts while passing through the slot. The nozzles promote the flow of liquid from one zone to the other and effect scrubbing of the belts. Baffles at the wall slot and parallel to the belts enhance the operational benefits of the nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning reels comprises a set of vats mounted in tandem provided with a track over which reels may be rolled successively through the vats. An endless conveyor extends along the series of vats from which resilient grab arms are pivotably suspended. The arms are provided with sockets to capture opposite ends of the reel axles. Cam rods are provided for guiding the sockets into and out of positions of axial alignment with the reel axles to effect reel pickup and release.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the plating of the contact elements of encapsulated electronic components - suitably of the type known as P-Dip strips - is provided with a continuous flexible parts-carrier belt of stainless steel, running in a horizontally aligned loop, with the web of the belt vertical. In the lower edge of the belt an array of flexible gripping fingers is formed, provided with projections, suitable for engagement by laterally disposed cams, on alternating sides of the belt for successive grip fingers. A loading device, co-ordinated with the operation of the cams, presents a part to be plated into the gripping fingers during an interval when the belt is stationary and the cams have been activated to separate the tips of the grip fingers. Upon retraction of the cams the parts are securely held by the grip fingers and moved through the plating stations upon the activation of belt motion. After plating, the parts are released by cam action on the grip fingers.

Abstract: A conveyor with zigzag travel is formed by two continuous conveyor belts and is particularly useful for processing materials. Each belt has openings along its marginal portions and a set of driven belt sprockets meshing with those openings. Part of the length of each belt is maintained in parallel, spaced relation to part of the length of the other and together form a zigzag path with one or more U-turns. At each U-turn, one belt turns on sprockets and the other turns with its marginal portions sliding around curved guides. The remaining parts of the lengths of both belts are separated from one another and provide places for feeding material to, and removing it from, the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for developing photographic film includes a substantially cylindrical, open sided carrier which retains spaced-apart parallel sheets of photographic film within the cylinder. A plurality of horizontal open-topped chemical troughs are disposed side-by-side with a second lip of each trough in the series being disposed adjacent a first lip of the succeeding trough in the series. The film carrier is deposited adjacent the first lip of the first trough. A transport mechanism in each trough rolls the carrier along the inner surface of the trough so that it is ejected over the second lip and drops into the next succeeding trough in the series. The carrier is finally ejected over the second lip of the last trough into a drying chamber where it is subjected to a flow of heated air. The processor is particularly suitable for processing sheets of intraoral dental film.

Abstract: An apparatus for taking a material to be treated into and out of a treating high pressure tank such as a heating sterilization tank comprises a conveyor passage interconnecting the high pressure tank and a water tank and constituted by two or more partially cylindrical casings connected in a side-by-side relation and each rotatably accomodating a rotary closure member having 2 to 6 blades adapted to make a sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing. Due to a specific phase difference between the blades of adjacent rotary closure members, the conveyor passage is always closed by some of the blades. A pair of endless conveyor chains, carrying a plurality of treating vessels accomodating the material, are adapted to run along both side surfaces of the conveyor passage through the high pressure tank and the water tank in a timed relation to the rotation of the rotary closure members. Means are provided for returning the leaked liquid back to the high pressure tank from the water tank.

Abstract: In the phosphate immersion treatment of a steel sheet structure such as an automobile body, a method is provided wherein the bottom of a treatment tank is flat. An object to be treated such as an automobile body is submerged in the treatment solution. The object to be treated is inclined upward and downward at least once to remove oil, reaction cases, and air collected inside the object. An apparatus for performing phosphate immersion treatment of the object is also provided wherein the treatment solution is sprayed toward the feeding side of the treatment tank to cause small waves, so that formation of a border line mark on the surface of the object due to temporary interruption of the feeding operation may be prevented. An undulation is formed in a conveyor arranged above the treatment tank, or a pair of drop lifters which are individually operable are mounted to the conveyor, so that the object may be inclined upward and downward.

Abstract: Articles--e.g. foodstuffs wrapped in polyethylene bags--to be subjected to heat treatment in a bath of hot water are dropped from an input conveyor into an elongate tank at an inlet end for entrainment by a circulating flow toward an outlet end. A perforated extraction conveyor partly immersed in the water intercepts the entrained articles and lifts them out of the flow onto an output conveyor for drying and subsequent storage. The entering water may be set in vortical motion by convoluted baffles, converging in the flow direction, for insuring full submersion of the articles to be treated.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating successive batches of workpieces with respectively different paints, composed of a plurality of coating tank units disposed along a conveying path and each arranged to hold a bath of a respective paint, a workpiece conveyor extending along such path for conveying workpieces therealong, a carriage movable along the conveying path to the region of a selected one of the tank units, and a conveyor guide structure carried by the carriage for controlling the movements of the conveyor in order to cause workpieces being conveyed by the conveyor to be immersed in the bath contained in the selected unit where the carriage is located.

Abstract: A cleaning tub having therein a holding basket mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The basket has a lower section with circumferentially aligned holding and partition members to contain tubular-like members to be cleaned in circumferential alignment. There is also an upper section having radial partitions to contain other objects to be cleaned. During a first washing and rinsing cycle, the basket is caused to oscillate throughout the filling period, the washing period, the emptying period, and also through a final "shake-off" period. There is also a transfer tub to hold either a pasteurizing liquid (i.e. hot water) or a disinfect liquid. Subsequent to the washing cycle, the liquid in the transfer tub can be moved over to the cleaning tub either to pasteurize or disinfect the articles in the basket. Heat control means are provided to bring the transfer liquid to the proper temperature in the transfer tub, and also to maintain this proper temperature in the cleaning tub.

Abstract: Articles are heated in a condensation heat transfer facility to effect soldering thereof by transporting said articles into a body of hot saturated vapor within the facility. The hot saturated vapor condenses on, and gives up latent heat of vaporization to, the articles to effect solder reflow. The articles are subsequently quenched in a liquid prior to the withdrawal of the articles from the facility.

Abstract: In combination with at least one vessel for containing a molten salt for chemically hardening or otherwise surface treating objects of glass or similar materials, a conveyor for transporting the objects through a treatment zone comprising at least one vessel for containing a molten salt, the conveyor comprising a plurality of driven sprocket wheels, a sprocket chain trained over the sprocket wheels, the objects so mounted on the sprocket chain as not to permit the objects substantially to change their orientation with a change in the orientation of the sprocket chain, the sprocket wheels and sprocket chain being so arranged that the objects are first carried downwardly into the vessel and are then carried upwardly out of the vessel with the opening of any depression or cavity in each of the objects facing downwardly during the upward movement.