Abstract: The invention is an automated lap washer and rack system for washing and drying aluminum laps used in the processing of opthalmic lenses and consists of an enclosure containing a washing and a drying chamber through which special mounting trays, removably attached to a table top conveyor, carry aluminum laps first through the washing stage and then through the drying chamber.

Abstract: An improved garment finishing machine includes an exterior housing with an entrance and an exit. An interior garment processing chamber processes garments moving downstream from the entrance to the exit. A blower draws air through the processing chamber. An air intake is located between the blower and the processing chamber. The improvement is a continuous lint filtration system. The filtration system includes a filtration medium adapted for capturing lint entrained in air drawn through the garment processing chamber and into the intake. A roller assembly is provided for mechanically advancing the filtration medium across the intake, such that a lint-covered portion of the filtration medium is automatically replaced at the intake with a clean portion of the filtration medium.

Abstract: A low pressure blower operated airknife having a housing with an elongated primary air discharge orifice for directing a narrow width curtain of air. The airknife includes an air-augmenting shroud which defines auxiliary discharge orifices on opposite longitudinal sides of the primary air discharge orifice such that air discharging from the primary discharge orifice creates a low pressure condition adjacent the auxiliary air discharge orifices for drawing additional air through the auxiliary discharge orifices which augments the velocity and volume of the discharging air current without the necessity for increasing the air inlet pressure or blower size. The shroud may take alternative forms, including pairs of wings disposed on opposite sides of the primary discharge orifice or hollow structures that surround the airknife housing. The airknife further is adapted for low pressure direction and application of air laden particles, such as preatomized liquid particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning debris and residue from a multitude of electrical contacts of a test probe card of an integrated circuit test probe apparatus preferably comprises a silicon wafer having a grooved surface into which the test probe card is moved into pressurized contact. The grooved surface provides a grating structure that when combined with the pressurized electrical contacts will crush any intervening or attached residue particles, which will then break into smaller particles and fall away from the probe card. Pressure and relative movement of the probe card may be controlled by a variety of measurement sensors.

Abstract: A low pressure blower operated airknife having a housing with an elongated primary air discharge orifice for directing a narrow width curtain of air. The airknife includes an air-augmenting shroud which defines auxiliary discharge orifices on opposite longitudinal sides of the primary air discharge orifice such that air discharging from the primary discharge orifice creates a low pressure condition adjacent the auxiliary air discharge orifices for drawing additional air through the auxiliary discharge orifices which augments the velocity and volume of the discharging air current without the necessity for increasing the air inlet pressure or blower size. The shroud may take alternative forms, including pairs of wings disposed on opposite sides of the primary discharge orifice or hollow structures that surround the airknife housing. The airknife further is adapted for low pressure direction and application of air laden particles, such as preatomized liquid particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing system for removing contaminant particles from substrates. The processing system generally includes at least one processing enclosure having a particle removal assembly positioned therein. The particle removal assembly generally includes a substrate support member, a broadband actuator in communication with the substrate support member, and an air knife assembly positioned proximate the substrate support member. The air knife assembly is generally configured to generate a high pressure laminar flow of gas across the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A needle cleaning system, for use with a liquid dispensing system that dispenses a quantity of material through a dispensing needle or transfer pin, includes a vacuuming device coupled with a residual material collection device, wherein the collection device includes at least one appropriately shaped orifice for receiving an end of the dispensing needle or pin. The liquid dispensing system further includes a control system for periodically positioning the dispensing needle or pin relative the orifice in the collection device. The vacuuming device creates an airflow, which passes around the exterior of the needle or pin and into the collection device, thereby removing residual material from the exterior of the dispensing needle or pin without contact.

Abstract: Please add the Abstract Of The Disclosure, as set forth on the separate accompanying sheet. That Abstract Of The Disclosure is essentially the same, in content, as the Abstract which is a part of the published PCT application WO 02/066212. No new matter is being added by the presentation of this Abstract Of The Disclosure.

Abstract: A low pressure blower operated airknife having a housing with an elongated primary air discharge orifice for directing a narrow width curtain of air. The airknife includes an air-augmenting shroud which defines auxiliary discharge orifices on opposite longitudinal sides of the primary air discharge orifice such that air discharging from the primary discharge orifice creates a low pressure condition adjacent the auxiliary air discharge orifices for drawing additional air through the auxiliary discharge orifices which augments the velocity and volume of the discharging air current without the necessity for increasing the air inlet pressure or blower size. The shroud may take alternative forms, including pairs of wings disposed on opposite sides of the primary discharge orifice or hollow structures that surround the airknife housing. The airknife further is adapted for low pressure direction and application of air laden particles, such as preatomized liquid particles.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus which sandwiches a strip plate 2 between upper and lower wiper rolls 3 and 4 to squeeze out a rolling oil adhering to the strip plate 2, wherein backup rolls 5, 6 for reinforcing the wiper rolls 3, 4 each have a single sleeve 14 rotatably supported by two bearings 13 on a roll shaft, and the bearings 13 on the upper and lower backup rolls 5 and 6 are disposed on the roll shafts with a shorter span than the barrel length of the sleeve, and in point symmetry. Thus, a contact linear pressure distribution of the wiper rolls 3, 4 on the strip plate 2 can be made uniform.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning solder paste off the bottom side of a printed circuit board stencil includes a container of cleaning solution therein and a blade holder that is movable between a wiping position and the container of cleaning solution. A wiping blade is mounted in the blade holder. The blade holder, with the blade mounted thereon, is reciprocated back and forth when in communication with a stencil to be cleaned. The blade is moved from the wiping position in communication with the stencil into the cleaning solution in the container. A pneumatic piston and rotary actuator provides controlled movement of the wiping blade. The wiping blade may be vibrated during wiping to improve removal of solder paste from the stencil and the cleaning solution may be ultrasonically vibrated to improve removal of solder paste from the wiping blade. The wiping blade may also be pulsed into a sponge to remove excess cleaning solution prior to the next cleaning cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cleaning bottles made of synthetic resin so as to remove dust or impurities attached to the insides of the bottles by static electricity, in which air in an ionized state is changed into air in a neutral state and the neutr(lized air is injected into the bottles. Conventionally, a mechanism for cleaning the insides of bottles using compressed air has been mainly used. However, in this conventional system, since the compressed air in an ionized state such as cation and anion is supplied into the bottles, dust or impurities attached to the insides of bottles by static elasticity generated therein is electrically charged. Therefore, it is difficult to remove the electrically charged dust or impurities from the insides of bottles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing system for removing contaminant particles from substrates. The processing system generally includes at least one processing enclosure having a particle removal assembly positioned therein. The particle removal assembly generally includes a substrate support member, a broadband actuator in communication with the substrate support member, and an air knife assembly positioned proximate the substrate support member. The air knife assembly is generally configured to generate a high pressure laminar flow of gas across the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A device for removing dust from a moving paper web, where the dust is carried in a boundary layer of air that runs with the web, includes a first separating box mounted across the web running direction. The first separating box has a collecting duct extending across the web running direction, a curved guide surface which guides the paper web, and apparatus for deflecting the dust-laden air boundary layer into the collecting duct.

Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial cleaning facility comprising at least one treatment chamber (8) which can be put in an open position or a closed position (operating position). To ensure that the treatment chamber (8) can be loaded and unloaded without difficulty and to permit easy adaptation to a discontinuous production line (2; 3), the treatment chamber is divided up and consists of at least one lower part (13) and at least one upper part (26). The lower parts (13) can be fixed to a rotating column (9) having several arms and the upper parts (26) can be fixed to immovable holding posts (7) and be height-adjustable. In holding stations (7) the upper parts (26) and the lower parts (13) can be connected by means of lifting devices (38) and moved into the operating position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrostatic air blower which is preferably intended for use in cleaning optofibers without risking the contamination of said fibers with, e.g., metal particles that may have been loosened from electrodes used in a cleaning process. The ends of optofibers can be cleaned simply and reliably prior to welding said ends together, with the aid of said electrostatic air blower. The electrostatic air blower includes two ceramic plasma caoons (11, 12) which face towards one another at a given distance apart. Each plasma cannon includes a ceramic tube which houses an electrode. Repeated discharges between the electrodes in the tubes causes pressure waves to be generated in the air present between the tube orifices.