Rolling Contact Type With Material Supply Patents (Class 15/103.5)
  • Patent number: 12030092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning method and a substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate, such as a wafer. The substrate cleaning method includes: holding a periphery of a substrate (W) with holding rollers (6); rotating the substrate (W) about its central axis by rotating the holding rollers (6) about their respective central axes; delivering a two-fluid jet from a two-fluid jet nozzle (2) to a surface of the substrate (W) while moving the two-fluid jet nozzle (2) in a radial direction of the substrate (W), the two-fluid jet (2) being composed of a mixture of a first liquid and a gas; and when the two-fluid jet is being delivered to the surface of the substrate (W), delivering a fan-shaped jet of a second liquid from a spray nozzle (3) to the surface of the substrate (W) to form a flow of the second liquid on the surface of the substrate (W). The fan-shaped jet is located away from the two-fluid jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kodera, Keisuke Uchiyama, Satoru Yamamoto, Hokuto Yamanobe
  • Patent number: 11580550
    Abstract: In some implementations, a printing system may include a card printer that includes a printing controller and a marking device. The card printer may be configured to receive a first printing instruction or a second printing instruction associated with printing an account identifier on a card. The card printer may receive one of the first printing instruction or the second printing instruction based on whether a risk score, associated with the account identifier, satisfies a threshold. The card printer may print a full account identifier, associated with the card, on a surface of the card based on receiving the first printing instruction. The card printer may print the card without the full account identifier on the surface of the card based on receiving the second printing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jude Pierre Anasta, Tyler Maiman, Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira
  • Patent number: 9821347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical connector cleaning tool including: a tool body; and an extended part that extends from the tool body and that has a head for pressing a cleaning element against an optical connector, the extended part being provided so as to be movable with respect to the tool body. The optical connector is cleaned with the cleaning element by moving the tool body toward the extended part in a state where the cleaning element is pressed against the optical connector with the head. The tool body includes: a take-up reel that, in accordance with the movement of the tool body with respect to the extended part, takes up the cleaning element which has been sent out from the head; and a take-up amount adjustment mechanism that makes constant the take-up amount of the take-up reel per single cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Nakane
  • Publication number: 20150096134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular for cleaning solar installation surfaces or photovoltaic installation surfaces, comprising a carrier, at least one cleaning roller rotatably supported at the carrier, and a rotary drive for the cleaning roller, wherein the rotary drive is designed as a fluid drive, wherein the flow of a cleaning fluid supplied to the cleaning roller for cleaning purposes is converted into a drive movement for the cleaning roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Anton Jaeger
  • Patent number: 8955187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular for cleaning solar installation surfaces or photovoltaic installation surfaces, comprising a carrier, at least one cleaning roller rotatably supported at the carrier, and a rotary drive for the cleaning roller, wherein the rotary drive is designed as a fluid drive, wherein the flow of a cleaning fluid supplied to the cleaning roller for cleaning purposes is converted into a drive movement for the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Anton Jaeger
  • Publication number: 20150034121
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus capable of quickly removing cleaning liquid that has been used in cleaning of a substrate with a roll cleaning tool from the substrate. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate; a cleaning-liquid supply nozzle configured to supply cleaning liquid onto a first region of the substrate; a roll cleaning tool configured to be placed in sliding contact with the substrate in the presence of the cleaning liquid to thereby clean the substrate; and a fluid supply nozzle configured to supply fluid, which is constituted by pure water or chemical liquid, onto a second region of the substrate. The second region is located at an opposite side of the first region with respect to the roll cleaning tool, and a supply direction of the fluid is a direction from a central side toward a peripheral side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Tomoatsu ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 8938840
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for self-cleaning a door handle (4) by utilizing the kinetic energy of opening a door (1). A cable (3), for example a multi-link chain, fixed to the door frame (2) and a gear assembly (10, 11, 12) is provided such that linear displacement of said cable is converted to potential energy in response to movement of said door. The invention provides a means for rotating a drive roller (5) to co-operate with the door handle to clean said door handle, only when the door handle is released and the door is closing or closed. The potential energy provides the energy to enable the rotation of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Hygiene Ltd.
    Inventors: Daragh Gilsenan, John Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20150020851
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning device 1 includes a substrate holding unit 10 configured to hold a substrate W, a first cleaning unit 11 having a first cleaning member 11a caused to come into contact with a first surface WA of the substrate W held by the substrate holding unit 10 to clean the first surface WA, a second cleaning unit 12 having a second cleaning member 12a caused to come into contact with the first surface WA of the substrate W held by the substrate holding unit 10 to clean the first surface WA, and a controller 50 configured to control the first and second cleaning units 11, 12 so that, when any one of the first cleaning member 11a and the second cleaning member 12a cleans the first surface WA of the substrate W held by the substrate holding unit 10, the other cleaning member is at a position apart from the substrate W held by the substrate holding unit 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakurai, Eiji Hirai, Kaoru Hamaura, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Koji Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20140283317
    Abstract: The system (1) for impregnating, with a solvent (2), a fabric (3) for cleaning the blanket and the metal printing cylinder of a printing machine includes at least one tank (4) suitable for being filled up to a certain level (9) with the solvent and at least one impregnating roller (6) placed in the tank in a position suitable for being partially immersed in the solvent, the impregnating roller having a coating made of a material having properties of resistance to the corrosion induced by the solvent and sufficient interfacial tension with the solvent to deliver a uniform micrometric film (11) of solvent toward the cleaning fabric, there being provided above the filling level of the tank an area of contact (8) between the impregnating roller and the cleaning fabric wherein the direction of the peripheral velocity to which the impregnating roller is subjectable is opposite to the direction of the feed velocity to which the cleaning fabric is subjectable, so that the impregnating roller, when driven in rotation,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Luca Pavan
  • Publication number: 20140259481
    Abstract: An optical connector cleaning tool includes a cleaning body that is fed and moved, a feeding mechanism that performs supply and take-up of the cleaning body, a housing body that houses the feeding mechanism, an extension portion that extends from the housing body, comprising a plurality of distal end tube portions, and an outer tube body through which the plurality of distal end tube portions pass, including a plurality of distal end openings from which the plurality of distal end tube portions are extended; and a head member that is passed through each of the plurality of distal end tube portions and that presses the cleaning body against the joining end face at the distal end of the extension portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko FUJIWARA, Junichi NAKANE
  • Publication number: 20140261539
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate after chemical mechanical planarizing (CMP) is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a substrate holder rotatable on a first axis and configured to retain a substrate in a substantially vertical orientation, a first pad holder having a pad retaining surface facing the substrate holder in a parallel and space apart relation, the first pad holder rotatable on a second axis rotatable parallel to the first axis, a first actuator operable to move the pad holder relative to the substrate holder to change a distance defined between the first axis and the second axis, and a second pad holder disposed in the housing, the second pad holder having a pad retaining surface facing the substrate holder in a parallel and spaced apart relation, wherein the second pad holder is couple with a rotary arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Hui CHEN, Sen-Hou KO
  • Publication number: 20140158160
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus performs scrub cleaning of a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning member having a lower-end contact surface, and a cleaning liquid supply nozzle configured to supply a cleaning liquid to the surface of the substrate. The cleaning member is configured to scrub-clean the surface of the substrate by moving the cleaning member in one direction while the cleaning member is being rotated about its rotational axis and by rubbing the lower-end contact surface of the cleaning member against the surface of the substrate which is being rotated horizontally in the presence of the cleaning liquid. The cleaning member has an inverted truncated-cone shape wherein the angle ? between the lower-end contact surface and a straight line on an outer circumferential surface of the cleaning member is larger than 90° and is not more than 150°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Tomoatsu ISHIBASHI
  • Publication number: 20140158159
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus performs scrub cleaning of a surface of a substrate by keeping a roll cleaning member and the surface of the substrate in contact with each other in the presence of a cleaning liquid. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a first chemical liquid supply nozzle comprising a nozzle configured to supply a chemical liquid toward the substrate so that the chemical liquid is brought into contact with the surface of the substrate in a first contact area extending in an elongated shape, and a second chemical liquid supply nozzle comprising a nozzle configured to supply a chemical liquid toward the substrate so that the chemical liquid is brought into contact with the surface of the substrate in a second contact area spreading in an elliptical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Tomoatsu ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 8701589
    Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Tognetti, Mark D. Morin, Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner
  • Publication number: 20140059789
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a solid material having a support side and a contact side. The contact side has an outer surface, and the outer surface is configured to become softer relative to a remainder of the solid material when exposed to an activation solution. The apparatus includes a support structure configured to support the solid material from the support side of the solid material, such that the contact side of the solid material is oriented to face a surface of the substrate, when the substrate is present. Also provided is a gimbaled structure connected to the support structure. The gimbaled structure enabling the outer surface of the contact side to substantially align in a coplanar arrangement with the surface of the substrate, when the substrate is present. A force application structure is coupled to the gimbaled structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Freer, John M. deLarios, Katrina Mikhaylichenko, Michael Ravkin, Mikhail Korolik, Fred C. Redeker
  • Publication number: 20130341124
    Abstract: A vehicle-attached lifting device and tool support is provided. The device comprises a dual-rail frame supported in an upright configuration by the vehicle tow hitch, wherein an internal subassembly support frame is positioned between the rails for the purposes of supporting different lifting and tool support subassemblies. Along the sides of the upright frame is a pair of ground support members that extend downward towards the ground to support the frame during operation, preventing the load from compressing the vehicle suspension or damaging the same. A winch controls the vertical positioning of the support frame within the dual-rail frame, which controls the position of a lifting or tool support subassembly. Many subassemblies are contemplated for use with the present invention for the purposes of assisting a user without requiring manual input therefrom. The device can also adjust with relation to the vehicle using different trailer hitch attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: James Allen Robinson, Jeremy James Robinson
  • Publication number: 20130284207
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning parabolic trough collector plants made up of cleaning vehicles with moving means, cleaning means, and operating means thereof. The cleaning vehicles are autonomous and independent of one another, and have navigation means guiding and steering the cleaning vehicle in its movement along the plant. The navigation means are made up of a relative navigation system with an inertial unit and distance sensors which measure the distance of the cleaning vehicle to the parabolic trough collector, and an absolute navigation system with a GPS positioning sub-system. A control system integrates and controls the cleaning means, operating means, moving means and navigation means of the cleaning vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SENER, INGENIERIA Y SISTEMAS, S.A.
    Inventors: Carlos Javier Vicente Pena, Francesc Massabe Munoz, Jose Ramon Villa Navarro, Soledad Garrido Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8397661
    Abstract: A tire dressing applicator station for use in car wash installations wherein the applicators are tolerant of large degrees of vehicle misalignment, misorientation and entry contact shock. In each applicator structure, an additional pivot or “knuckle” is placed in one of two support arms which are pivotally connected between floor anchors and an elongate mounting carriage to which the dressing applicator elements are attached. Flared tire guides are located on the entry ends of the applicator structures to make contact with the tires of approaching vehicles whereby one or both of the two applicator structures is/are reoriented as necessary to accommodate the actual location of the vehicle, whether it be on the intended path of travel or off to one side and/or angularly misoriented relative to die intended path of vehicle travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, David L. Tognetti, Mark D. Morin, Marshall L. Hinson
  • Publication number: 20120131756
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for self-cleaning a door handle (4) by utilising the kinetic energy of opening a door (1). A cable (3), for example a multi-link chain, fixed to the door frame (2) and a gear assembly (10, 11, 12) is provided such that linear displacement of said cable is converted to potential energy in response to movement of said door. The invention provides a means for rotating a drive roller (5) to co-operate with the door handle to clean said door handle, only when the door handle is released and the door is closing or closed. The potential energy provides the energy to enable the rotation of the drive roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SMART HYGIENE LIMITED
    Inventors: Daragh Gilsenan, John Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20120110760
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a rotary screen cleaner which includes a housing, a rotating element, a cloth supporting block and a cleaning cloth. The housing defines a receiving space therein and is formed with an opening on one side. The rotating element is pivotally provided in the housing and has one end outside the housing for being turned by a user. The cloth supporting block is made of an elastic material and is fixed in the receiving space, and has one end passing through the opening and extending out of the housing. The cleaning cloth is made of an elastic material and wrapped around the rotating shaft and the cloth supporting block. Thus, the user is able to use the cleaning cloth partially exposed outside the opening to clean a screen, without causing the screen to be scratched by the cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Kuan-Di Huang
  • Patent number: 8079105
    Abstract: A cleaning mechanism for cleaning one or both side surfaces of a plastic card substrate prior to a processing operation occurring on the cleaned side surface. The cleaning mechanism is designed so that two cleaning rollers, one cleaning roller on a first cleaning station and one cleaning roller on a second cleaning station, are simultaneously cleaned by a single cleaning tape assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventors: Milo B. Squires, Timothy J. Flitsch
  • Publication number: 20110232013
    Abstract: The invention provides cleaning implements that include head components comprising cleaning surface components and cleaning material support components. The cleaning material support components typically include cleaning material receiving areas that communicate with the cleaning surface components. Cleaning material receiving areas are generally configured to receive cleaning materials that are movable to and/or from the cleaning material receiving areas to extend over at least portions of the cleaning surface components. The invention also provides cleaning material components that include cleaning material support structures and cleaning materials. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher C. Sappenfield
  • Patent number: 7955693
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward a chemical mechanical polishing/planarizing (CMP) brush with an embedded mandrel. PVA foam injected into the substantially hollow mandrel expands through apertures in the mandrel to fill a mold in the desired shape of the brush with the foam in the mandrel being integral with the outer foam covering the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Tolland Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Drury
  • Publication number: 20110114117
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a front-side clean target surface 1a and a back-side clean target surface 1b of a edge portion of a substrate 1 by wiping surfaces 12a, 12b of a cleaning tape 12. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a presser member 11a for pressing the cleaning tape 12 against the clean target surface 1a, a presser member 11b for pressing the cleaning tape 12 against the clean target surface 1b, a tape path passing through between the presser member 11a and the clean target surface 1a and between the presser member 11b and the clean target surface 1b, a moving device for moving the cleaning tape 12 and the substrate 1 relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of the edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Sakae Kobayashi, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 7923065
    Abstract: An image removing method including heating a recording material having thereon an image to a temperature so that the image has a plasticity; pressure-contacting an uppermost stream peeling member with the recording material while the image maintains a plasticity; separating the uppermost stream peeling member from the recording material to transfer at least a portion of the image to the uppermost stream peeling member; and repeating the heating, pressure-contacting and separating steps at least one more time using at least one downstream peeling member, wherein the uppermost stream peeling member has a first outermost layer which does not have a plasticity when being pressure-contacted with the recording material, and at least one of the at least one downstream peeling member has a second outermost layer which has a plasticity when being pressure-contacted with the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Kakuji Murakami
  • Patent number: 7727336
    Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine with a broken glass removal system includes a support, a liquid container or reservoir, a pump, a liquid applicator, and a liquid permeable member. The support supports a glass sheet being washed. The liquid reservoir is positioned below the support. The pump is coupled to the liquid reservoir. The liquid applicator is coupled to the pump. The liquid applicator applies the liquid from the liquid reservoir to wash the glass sheet. Excess liquid falls into the reservoir. The liquid permeable member is positioned between the support and the liquid reservoir to catch pieces of glass to inhibit the pieces of broken glass from falling into the liquid reservoir and is moved to remove the pieces from the glass washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: GED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Robert Dickerson, Timothy Robert Hall, Robert R. Sheperd, Diana Patricia Foltz, Michael Steven Misura
  • Patent number: 7531044
    Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine with a broken glass removal system includes a support, a liquid container or reservoir, a pump, a liquid applicator, and a liquid permeable member. The support supports a glass sheet being washed. The liquid reservoir is positioned below the support. The pump is coupled to the liquid reservoir. The liquid applicator is coupled to the pump. The liquid applicator applies the liquid from the liquid reservoir to wash the glass sheet. Excess liquid falls into the reservoir. The liquid permeable member is positioned between the support and the liquid reservoir to catch pieces of glass to inhibit the pieces of broken glass from falling into the liquid reservoir and is moved to remove the pieces from the glass washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: GED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Robert Dickerson, Timothy Robert Hall, Robert R. Shepherd, II, Diana Patricia Foltz, Michael Steven Misura
  • Publication number: 20090100618
    Abstract: A building exterior wall cleaning apparatus includes a housing being provided on a top with a set of external hoisting hangers, at a front side with a spray unit, and at a rear side with at least one gas producer; at least one cleaning unit being rotatably mounted to a front side of the housing next to the spray unit; and a driving unit being mounted in the housing and connected to the at least one cleaning unit. The at least one cleaning unit may be tightly pressed against a building exterior wall by airflow produced by the gas producer and to clean the building exterior wall in one stroke of the cleaning unit, so as to enable safe, efficient, automated and unmanned building exterior wall cleaning operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Shun-Yuan CHEN
  • Publication number: 20090084403
    Abstract: A deposit adhered to a rear surface peripheral portion of a substrate is easily and reliably removed, and a cycle of maintenance such as an exchange or a cleaning of a member required for removing the deposit is extended. An outer peripheral surface of a first cleaning rotational body having a roughly cylindrical shape has an adhesive property, and is brought into contact with a substrate from its side surface to its rear surface peripheral portion. Further, an outer peripheral surface of a second cleaning rotational body, which has an adhesive property stronger than that of the outer peripheral surface of the first cleaning rotational body, is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first cleaning rotational body, and the substrate, the first cleaning rotational body and the second cleaning rotational body are integrally rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Takehiro Shindo
  • Patent number: 7137164
    Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine with a broken glass removal system includes a support, a liquid container or reservoir, a pump, a liquid applicator, and a liquid permeable member. The support supports a glass sheet being washed. The liquid reservoir is positioned below the support. The pump is coupled to the liquid reservoir. The liquid applicator is coupled to the pump. The liquid applicator applies the liquid from the liquid reservoir to wash the glass sheet. Excess liquid falls into the reservoir. The liquid permeable member is positioned between the support and the liquid reservoir to catch pieces of glass to inhibit the pieces of broken glass from falling into the liquid reservoir and is moved to remove the pieces from the glass washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Glass Equipment Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Robert Dickerson, Timothy Robert Hall, Robert R. Sheperd, Diana Patricia Foltz, Michael Steven Misura
  • Patent number: 7060137
    Abstract: A lane maintenance machine has a cleaning system that includes at least one cleaning liquid dispensing head which reciprocates back and forth transversely of the lane as the machine travels along the length of the lane. In a preferred embodiment the dispensing head emits successive squirts of liquid from a positive displacement pump, such as a peristaltic pump. The positive displacement pump provides accurate, precise metering of the cleaning liquid and affords board-by-board control of the dispensing action. A wiping assembly immediately behind the cleaning liquid dispensing head provides a web of cloth-like material looped under a compressible backup roller to wipe the applied liquid into a thin film and to pick up a measure of the liquid along with oil and dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Kegel, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Davis, Mark E. Davis
  • Patent number: 7056384
    Abstract: A bowling lane conditioning machine has dressing application mechanism that includes an elongated, non-rotating strip brush which transfers dressing from a dispensing means to another surface, such as a bristle-type, lane-engaging applicator roll, a metal transfer roll that in turn transfers the dressing to the applicator roll, or the lane surface itself. In a preferred embodiment, dressing is dispensed to an upper one of two strip brushes that extend along the length of an applicator roll and engage its bristles at circumferentially spaced locations around its periphery. Dressing dispensed to the upper strip brush migrates by gravity to the bristles of the applicator roll and becomes applied to the lane surface as the roll rotates down into engagement with the surface. No dressing is dispensed to the second strip brush, which feathers the dressing on the applicator roll and reduces splattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Kegel, LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Davis, Anthony Crews
  • Patent number: 7017489
    Abstract: A quick-change material module of a stencil wiper assembly for wiping a stencil of a stencil printer includes a supply roller to receive a roll of material, a take-up roller to receive used material, and a drive to move the material across the stencil between the supply roller and the take-up roller. The supply roller is designed to move between an operating position in which the module functions to wipe the stencil and a changing position in which the supply roller is accessible to change the roll of material. A pivot mechanism is further disclosed for pivoting the supply roller between the operating and changing positions. A frame supports the supply roller, the take-up roller, and the drive. The pivot mechanism includes at least one pivot arm having one end rotatably attached to the supply roller and an opposite end pivotably attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Perault, Randy L. Peckham, Gary T. Freeman, Frank John Marszalkowski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7014714
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the conditioning of bowling lanes, and, more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically applying a predetermined pattern of dressing fluid along the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of a bowling lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Buckley, Roy A. Burkholder, Richard A. Davis, Steven J. Gonring, Mark H. Meade, Patrick J. Mitchell, Troy A. Recknagel
  • Patent number: 6790282
    Abstract: A machine for automatically applying lane dressing travels up and down the lane to apply dressing according to a certain predetermined and preselected pattern. A single dispensing head travels back and forth across the lane as the machine moves linearly along the lane so that dressing is transferred to a buffer brush that engages the lane surface and applies the dressing thereto. The oil pattern is determined by actuation and deactuation of the dispensing head as it traverses the lane, such control of the head being provided by a special pattern control device in the nature of a cylindrical pattern tube that extends alongside the path of travel of the dispensing head. A sensor on the dispensing head detects pattern structure on the control device to responsively actuate and deactuate the head. In a preferred form, such structure takes the form of a series of metallic strips extending parallel to the path of travel of the dispensing head and spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the pattern tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kegel, LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Davis, John M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6740170
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus (9) for cleaning a peripheral part of a substrate holds a peripheral part of a substrate (1) between the elastic porous member (29) of an upper cleaning roller (16) and an elastic porous member (30) of a lower cleaning roller (17). The power of a drive motor (13) is transmitted through a drive pulley (18), a belt (26) and a driven pulley (24) to a rotating shaft (17a) to rotate the lower cleaning roller (17), and is transmitted through a drive pulley (22), a belt (25) and a driven pulley (23) to a rotating shaft (16a) to rotate the upper cleaning roller (16) in a direction opposite the direction in which the lower cleaning roller (17) is rotated. A cleaning liquid is supplied through cleaning liquid supply nozzles (31) and cleaning liquid supply pipes (31a) into core members (27, 28). Then the cleaning liquid flows through connecting holes (35) formed in the circumferential walls of the core members (27, 28) and permeates the elastic porous members (29, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshimura, Shoichi Murakami, Takeshi Sekiguchi, Nobunari Nadamoto
  • Publication number: 20040079398
    Abstract: A method of pickling a material strip is provided that prevents spots from forming and removing formed spots on a material strip that comes to a standstill during the pickling process. The material strip is passed in a first direction through at least one pickling section to form a first pickled material strip. The first pickled material strip is passed in the first direction through at least one rinsing section to form a first rinsed material strip. The first rinsed material strip is sensed when it comes to a standstill. Pickling solution is applied to at least a portion of the first rinsed material strip when the first rinsed material strip has come to a standstill to form a second pickled material strip. The second pickled material strip may then be moved in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to move the material strip back into the pickling section to form a third pickled material strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Walter Koza, Stefan Fehringer
  • Publication number: 20040010873
    Abstract: A machine for automatically applying lane dressing travels up and down the lane to apply dressing according to a certain predetermined and preselected pattern. A single dispensing head travels back and forth across the lane as the machine moves linearly along the lane so that dressing is transferred to a buffer brush that engages the lane surface and applies the dressing thereto. The oil pattern is determined by actuation and deactuation of the dispensing head as it traverses the lane, such control of the head being provided by a special pattern control device in the nature of a cylindrical pattern tube that extends alongside the path of travel of the dispensing head. A sensor on the dispensing head detects pattern structure on the control device to responsively actuate and deactuate the head. In a preferred form, such structure takes the form of a series of metallic strips extending parallel to the path of travel of the dispensing head and spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the pattern tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Mark E. Davis, John M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6594847
    Abstract: A system is provided for use in semiconductor wafer cleaning operations. The cleaning system has a top cap and a bottom cap. The top cap seals on a top surface contact ring of a wafer, and the bottom cap seals on a bottom surface contact ring of the wafer. The wafer is held between the top cap and the bottom cap. An edge clean roller is used for cleaning an edge of the wafer. A drive roller is configured to rotate the wafer, the top cap, and the bottom cap. The edge clean roller rotates at a first velocity and the drive roller rotates at a second velocity so as to facilitate an edge cleaning of the wafer by the edge clean roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Wilbur Krusell, John M. de Larios, Mike Ravkin
  • Publication number: 20030005945
    Abstract: [The present invention] provides a surface treatment method for recorded matter which can improve the weather resistance characteristics such as light resistance, gas resistance and the like of recorded matter in which images are recorded on the recording medium, as well as providing a surface-treated product using this surface treatment method, and a surface treatment apparatus. The surface treatment method of the present invention is characterized in that the surface of recorded matter in which images are recorded on a recording medium is treated using a specified treatment agent. The abovementioned treatment agent is a treatment agent which contains one or more active constituents selected from the group consisting of sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds,. fluorine compounds, natural resins and synthetic resins, or a treatment agent comprising water or an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Onishi, Shinya Yamagata, Masahiro Hanmura, Masaya Shibatani, Fumie Uehara
  • Publication number: 20020153025
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus (9) for cleaning a peripheral part of a substrate holds a peripheral part of a substrate (1) between the elastic porous member (29) of an upper cleaning roller (16) and an elastic porous member (30) of a lower cleaning roller (17). The power of a drive motor (13) is transmitted through a drive pulley (18), a belt (26) and a driven pulley (24) to a rotating shaft (17a) to rotate the lower cleaning roller (17), and is transmitted through a drive pulley (22), a belt (25) and a driven pulley (23) to a rotating shaft (16a) to rotate the upper cleaning roller (16) in a direction opposite the direction in which the lower cleaning roller (17) is rotated. A cleaning liquid is supplied through cleaning liquid supply nozzles (31) and cleaning liquid supply pipes (31a) into core members (27, 28). Then the cleaning liquid flows through connecting holes (35) formed in the circumferential walls of the core members (27, 28) and permeates the elastic porous members (29, 30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshimura, Shoichi Murakami, Takeshi Sekiguchi, Nobunari Nadamoto
  • Patent number: 6464796
    Abstract: A method of applying a fluid to a brush is provided. The method includes outputting a flow of fluid from a shaft to an area between the shaft and a distributor where the flow of fluid is restricted by the distributor to generate a uniform pressure buildup inside of the distributor. The method further includes delivering the fluid from the area through at least one opening in the distributor to an outer surface of the distributor where the outer surface of the distributor abuts an inner surface of a housing. The method additionally includes dispensing the fluid from between the outer surface of the distributor and the inner surface of the housing to an outer surface of the housing through at least one perforation in the housing, the housing being attached to a brush. The method also includes applying the fluid through the brush where the fluid is received from the outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Vail, Mike Wallis
  • Patent number: 6290428
    Abstract: A machine for dispensing a sealing compound to an area of application and a method of sealing cracks in pavement is provided. The machine includes a frame structure, a disposable container removably mounted to the frame structure, a discharge tube member rupturing the opening in the bottom of the container, and a controllable valve in the discharge tube member to control the flow of the sealing compound from the disposable container to the area of the application. The frame structure may support a blower to clean the crack and supports a squeegee member mounted to a box member into which the sealing compound is received from the discharge tube member, to evenly spread the sealing compound within the crack and in the nearmost areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Allen M. Hall, Craig A. Hall, Steven M. Hall
  • Patent number: 6247197
    Abstract: A brush assembly includes a distributor having a slot matrix formed in an outer surface of the distributor, the slot matrix including a plurality of longitudinal slots intersecting a plurality of annular slots. The brush assembly further includes a housing having an inner surface abutting the outer surface of the distributor, a brush mounted on the housing and a shaft. During use, the flow of liquid from the shaft to the housing flows through the longitudinal slots and annular slots of the distributor. By appropriately selecting the dimensions and numbers of these slots, the flow of liquid from the shaft to the housing is readily redistributed. For example, the flow of liquid is redistributed to provide a greater amount of liquid to the ends of the brush than to the center of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Vail, Mike Wallis
  • Patent number: 6223378
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for applying to a floor (2) a sheet material drawn from a reel (5) of a strip (6), which device comprises a frame (7) and two rollers (8, 9) guided in rotation on the frame around parallel axes, on which a strip (6) of material (4) is disposed so that a generator of each roller is selectively placed in contact with the floor (2) by an application means during the utilization of the device (1) in a back-and-forth movement; a handle (3) articulated to the frame (7) around an axis (3A) parallel to the axes of the rollers; a means for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor (2) and the winding of the soiled strip (6) onto a receiving mandrel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Beuvry Nov, SARL
    Inventor: Christian Watellier
  • Patent number: 6189173
    Abstract: In a device for removing toner or similar substance deposited on a recording sheet or similar sheet, projections are formed on a back-up member and located at portions on which the rear of a separating member slide. While a sheet is passed through a pressing portion in contact with the separating member, the projections raise the rear of the separating member toward the surface of the sheet carrying the toner. Hence, even solitary particles of the substance adjoining relatively thick and large masses of the substance can contact the front of the separating member. Hence, the solitary particles are prevented from remaining on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Saito, Tooru Maruyama, Hisao Watanabe