Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a chuck table that holds a workpiece through a protective tape, where the protective tape is attached to one surface of an annular frame so as to cover an opening of the annular frame and the workpiece is attached to the protective tape on an inner side of an inner circumferential edge of the opening of the annular frame; a grinding unit for grinding the workpiece; and a frame cleaning unit that cleans the other surface located on a side opposite to the one surface of the annular frame obtained after grinding of the workpiece, and wherein the frame cleaning unit has either: (i) a first cleaning member configured and arranged for making contact with the other surface of the annular frame and having flexibility, or (ii) a second cleaning member that jets at least either gas or liquid from above the other surface of the annular frame.

Abstract: A tool and methods of removing films from bevel regions of wafers are disclosed. The bevel film removal tool includes an inner motor nested within an outer motor and a bevel brush secured to the outer motor. The bevel brush is adjustable radially outward to allow the wafer to be inserted in the bevel brush and to be secured to the inner motor. The bevel brush is adjustable radially inward to engage one or more sections of the bevel brush and to bring the bevel brush in contact with a bevel region of the wafer. Once engaged, a solution may be dispensed at the engaged sections of the bevel brush and the inner motor and the outer motor may be rotated such that the bevel brush is rotated against the wafer such that the bevel films of the wafer are both chemically and mechanically removed.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus can include a housing adapted to move across a surface to be cleaned, and an edge cleaning brush provided on the housing. The edge cleaning brush can include an attachment hub connectable with a drive coupling for rotating the brush, a cleaning implement configured to contact the surface to be cleaned, and a tensioner hub applying downward force onto the cleaning implement. Drive couplings for the edge cleaning brush are also disclosed, such as drive couplings including a worm and belt that are indirectly drive via a brushroll.

Abstract: An optical lens includes: (i) a temporary coating for protection against degradation at least partially covering a surface of the lens, the temporary protective coating including an outermost layer mechanically degradable through friction and/or contact, and (ii) a removable film having a first side and a second side, which adheres to the outermost layer of the temporary protective coating through its first side, the first side of the removable film including at least one surface portion, which, when applied to the outermost layer of the temporary protective coating, includes at least one adherent zone and at least one non-adherent zone distributed across the surface portion.

Abstract: A paint roller sleeve assembly and a method for washing it for reuse. The sleeve assembly includes a core of a size to fit a conventional paint roller handle. The core is compressible by hand radially, to allow a tubular flexible outer cover including a backing layer and a layer of paint-carrying fiber pile to be removed for washing and thereafter be replaced on the core for reuse.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved paint roller wherein ribs are incorporated into either the roller core or the nap. Alternatively, the improved paint roller may use individual ribs positioned between the roller core and the nap. The incorporation of ribs into the roller core/nap assembly improves application of coating material to the nap and subsequent transfer of coating material to a surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a dovetail in a dynamoelectric machine is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, at least two pads for treating, cleaning or polishing a dovetail surface, at least a pair of guide wheels for aligning the apparatus within the dovetail, and at least one motor connected to the pads. The motor is operatively configured to rotate the pads. The dovetail surface is treated, cleaned or polished by sliding the apparatus along the dovetail and activating the motor to rotate the pads.

Abstract: A rotary buffing and finishing system includes a polymeric foam cushioning layer that has a graded compression load deflection which is interposed between a backing plate and a relatively thin performance layer that is removably attached to the foam cushioning layer. The backing plate is flexible but has a compression load deflection greater than the cushioning layer, and the cushioning layer includes two foam layers of graded compression load deflection that decreases from a rear face to a front face. The system provides improved performance over thicker and more expensive performance layers while reducing operator fatigue.

Abstract: Selected surfaces of a cellular polymeric foam surface finishing pad are heated to cause the surface cells to partially collapse or to fully collapse and glaze over. The selected surfaces may be the planar pad faces or may be formed in one or more depressions formed in the planar faces. The areas of partially collapsed cell structures in the operating face of the pad provide a slow down in the rate of polish or compound absorption, increasing the effectiveness of the finishing process. The fully collapsed cell glazed surface on the rear attachment face of the pad prevents the migration of moisture through the pad to the pad attachment mechanism.

Abstract: A buffing ball is formed by compressing a stack of generally circular buffing pads along a central axis. The individual pads have a generally wave-like outer peripheral surface having valleys and mounds. When compressed together, the mounds form small knobs that are ideal for buffing or cleaning intricate surfaces.

Abstract: A system for applying liquid coating such as paint to a surface including a spindle-shaped roller cover having painting fabric permanently attached to the roller cover body and that can match the nap of the paint fabric used in a conventional roller used to paint flat surfaces; and a paint pan adapter which enables the user to use the corner-painting roller cover in a conventional paint pan as a reservoir for holding the coating material. The adapter is provided with a V-shaped grille which has a plurality of holes. The grille is elongated like a trough. Part of the length of the grille is submerged in the coating material and part is not. The trough along which the roller cover roles makes it possible for the roller cover to pick up paint from the reservoir of the paint pan and to remove excess coating material from the roller cover and return it top the reservoir.

Abstract: A motorized scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface with contours is disclosed. The scrubbing implement includes a resilient base that includes a plurality of resilient fingers, each of which extend radially away from center of the base. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider open lower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving means pivotally fixed to the cap for receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle. A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base. A rotational scrubbing surface driven by a motor projects through a central aperture in the pad.

Abstract: A rotary buffing and finishing system includes a polymeric foam cushioning layer that has a graded compression load deflection which is interposed between a backing plate and a relatively thin performance layer that is removably attached to the foam cushioning layer. The backing plate is flexible but has a compression load deflection greater than the cushioning layer, and the cushioning layer includes two foam layers of graded compression load deflection that decreases from a rear face to a front face. The system provides improved performance over thicker and more expensive performance layers while reducing operator fatigue.

Abstract: A rotary buffer for buffing and polishing concave surfaces. The rotary buffer includes a malleable cone, a cone shaft, and a mounting shaft. The mounting shaft is configured to be received in a chuck of a rotary power tool. The cone and cone shaft work in conjunction with one another to absorb impact from a surface being buffed and polished and to prevent the rotary buffer from bouncing.

Abstract: A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface with contours is disclosed. The scrubbing implement includes a resilient base that includes a plurality of resilient fingers, each of which extend radially away from center of the base. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider open lower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving means pivotally fixed to the cap for receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle. A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base. The flexible pad is fixed around the distal ends of the fingers such that the pad may be applied to the surface to scrub the surface. The fingers and flexible pad conform to the shape of the surface.

Abstract: A painting device, which is used for painting a plurality surfaces including curvature surfaces is invented. The painting devices have various shaped paint rollers that comprising the cone-shaped, V-shaped, I-shaped, wave-shaped, trapezoid-shaped, protrude-shaped, waist-drum-shaped and etc. These shaped rollers can be used singularly or by joining two or more together to form another shaped roller. Furthermore, the covered area of the roller can be changed by varying the length of the shaped rollers and the working surfaces of some of the rollers are covered by a flexible material that allows the length to be changed. These joined surfaces (corners), round rods, rectangular beams and other such structures can be finished efficiently with these rollers, respectively. The advantages of these paint rollers are painting complex structures that have multiple surfaces or various curvature surfaces with one stroke.

Abstract: A cleaning roller. The roller comprises a shaft, a sponge sleeve, and an inflatable chamber. The sponge sleeve encloses the shaft, and the inflatable chamber is disposed between the shaft and the sponge sleeve. A central portion of the inflatable chamber is thicker than the ends of the inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber is of elastic materials. By introducing a working flow into the inflatable chamber, the thickness of the central portion of the inflatable chamber can be adjusted.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer scrubber has a brush with a nubless outer surface for cleaning the surfaces of a semiconductor wafer. The nubless brush has a body and rotates around a central axis as it contacts the wafer surface. The brush has a central section with an outer diameter less than the diameter of the end sections.

Abstract: A roller hub that is designed to fit standard roller frames. The paint loading surface of the hub has two surfaces that are oriented on a generally 90-degree angle. The intersection of the surfaces is adapted to allow a channel for excess paint to flow when the roller is loaded and pressed into operation in a comer. A removable, reusable cover that slips over the hub is held in place by material with a high degree of elasticity. The length or thickness of the nap on the edges of the cover can be shorter than the length or thickness of the nap in the middle, thereby allowing more paint to be loaded in the area of the roller where it is most needed. The roller cover is made from lambs wool or similar synthetic fiber, and the back of the cover is a porous synthetic material allowing for an easier cleaning process than other rollers.

Abstract: A vehicle washing brush assembly which includes a cylindrical holder configuration having plural cloth or foam pads secured thereto and configured to be centrifugally extended radially outwardly from the holder and into surface treating engagement with a vehicle surface. A first longitudinal length of the holder has a selected number of separate cloth or foam pads oriented around the perimeter of said holder so that the ratio of the number of cloth or foam pads per 360° of the holder to the outer diameter of the holder is in the range of 5 to 12. A second longitudinal length of said holder having a selected number of separate cloth or foam pads oriented around the perimeter of the holder so that the ratio of the number cloth or foam pads per 360° of the holder to the outer diameter of the holder is 6.0 or less.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning system incorporating an edge scrubbing roller is disclosed. The system includes a cleaning station having a first brush and a second brush. The second brush is oriented relative to the first brush so as to receive a flat circular substrate therebetween. The first brush and the second brush are configured to simultaneously scrub a first and second surface of the flat circular substrate. The cleaning station also includes a scrubbing roller that is configured to receive an edge of the flat circular substrate. The scrubbing roller has a scrubbing pad for scrubbing a first surface edge of the first surface, a second surface edge of the second surface, and an edge that is not part of either the first or second surface. The edge scrubbing provided by the scrubbing roller advantageously assists in removing edge beading, metal debris, and other particulates that form during fabrication operations, such as metal deposition.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a semiconductor wafer using a cleaning brush assembly having an arbor with: (1) an expandable member configured to have a non-expanded position and an expanded position, and (2) a cleaning brush, located about the expandable member, having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the expandable member in the non-expanded position and less than an outer diameter of the expandable member in the expanded position.

Abstract: The invention provides a double sided waffle-surfaced foam polishing pad and a polishing system with which it can be used. The double sided feature allows great versatility in the type of polishing that can be accomplished using the same pad.

Abstract: A brush alignment apparatus and method of using the same for aligning a hollow cylindrical brush on a cylindrical roller member comprising first and second ends and an outer surface defining a internal cavity, provided with a plurality of orifices extending from the outer surface to the internal cavity, a first receptacle having a channel running therethrough in fluid communication with the first end of the roller member, a second receptacle, a spine member, a first support arm supporting the first end of the roller member and a second arm supporting the second end of the roller member.