Abstract: The invention is an improved reflow tool for performing a reflow process on a wafer. An input robot may be used to transport wafers from an input carrier to an oven where a reflow process is performed. After processing the wafers in the oven, the wafers are transported to a storage carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the storage carrier includes a plurality of left and right slats that use chamfer tabs and centering tabs to precisely position the wafer as the wafer is loaded into the storage carrier. The storage carrier may be part of a buffer indexer that also includes an actuator for vertically positioning the storage carrier. An output robot may be used to sequentially remove the wafers from the storage carrier and to place the wafers in an output carrier. In another preferred embodiment, the power from a main power supply to the reflow tool is monitored and an uninterruptible power supply is used to power the oven and buffer indexer if power is lost.

Abstract: A keyboard etching apparatus includes a base on which a frame is fixed to support a laser beam source and a keyboard tray thereon to be spaced from each other in such a manner to allow a laser beam emitted from the laser beam source to project onto a keyboard removably supported on the keyboard tray for performing etching operation on the keyboard. A keyboard supply cart having a plurality of non-etched keyboards held therein and a keyboard collecting cart for collecting etched keyboards are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the frame and movable along rails fixed on the base. A conveyor system is arranged between the keyboard supply cart and the keyboard collecting cart for sequentially moving each of the non-etched keyboards received in the keyboard supply cart to the keyboard tray to be etched by the laser beam and to simultaneously move the etched keyboard from the keyboard tray to the keyboard collecting cart to be collected therein.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a substrate. The system includes a substrate heating station, a processing station, a conveyor for transporting the heated substrate from the substrate heating station to the processing station and a conveyor heating station. A substrate transfer station is located between the substrate heating station, the conveyor heating station and the processing station for the transfer of the heated substrate to the conveyor in a thermally controlled environment isolated from contaminants. The substrate transfer station includes a housing having an interior chamber, first and second inlets for the separate passage of a substrate and conveyor into the interior chamber, and an outlet for the egress of the substrate and conveyor. The transfer station also includes a heater and a guide assembly for directing the conveyor between the conveyor inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A continuous furnace for the heat-treatment of workpieces comprising an endless chain-like conveyer belt (18) consisting of a ceramic material and having a plurality of links (34, 34', 34", 34'"; 36, 36',36', 36""; 38, 38', 38") which are arranged one beside the other and one behind the other and which are interconnected by rods extending transversely to the feeding direction (19). The arrangement provides that a plurality of separate rods (40, 44, 48) are provided one behind the other, viewed over the full width of the conveyor belt (18), and that gaps (42, 46, 50 to 55) remaining between the separate rods are offset laterally, viewed in the feeding direction (19).

Abstract: In a device for unloading X-ray film cassette a nozzle is provided, positioned at a front side of the cassette to be unloaded, for blowing air into a gap between a slightly open lid and the remaining part of the cassette. The nozzle is switched on for short intervals to ensure blow air stream which generate vacuum under the film stuck to the lid to pull the film back towards the bottom of the cassette so that a reliable separation of the film by a sucker is ensured.

Abstract: In a device for loading and unloading X-ray film cassettes at least one air blowing nozzle is provided which is positioned at the front open end of the cassette below the film inserting rollers so as to generate an air cushion between the film being inserted into the cassette and the bottom wall of the cassette during the insertion process.

Abstract: A vibrating discharge apparatus for discharging particulate stored material from a surge or blending bin or the like, having a discharge end, a discharge apron defining an support surface near the bottom of the bin extending in a substantially horizontal plane along a conveyance path to the discharge end. The apron is directed along a downwardly curving convex apron path sloping downwardly from the horizontal plane at the discharge end and comprises a plurality of rigid elongated parallel transversely extending slat members each having a main slat body portion and a thin plate-like lip projecting therefrom to overlie the adjacent slat member.

Abstract: A discharging apparatus for a large diameter, generally vertically walled reaction vessel in which a recessed dish or receiving structure having the same diameter as the reaction vessel is mounted beneath the lower discharge end of the reaction vessel. There is an aperture in the floor of this receiving structure and a rotating impeller urges material received from the reaction vessel through this aperture into a smaller diameter recessed receiving structure which is also equipped with a rotating impeller to remove material to a screw conveyor for removal from the system. This screw conveyor can be significantly smaller than would be required using a conventional screw conveyor reaction vessel discharge.

Abstract: A hopper for use in a dry ash removal system is structured with a front elevational profile which converges from top to bottom while the side elevational profile of same diverges from top to bottom to allow substantially uniform hopper cross-sectional area from top to bottom and thereby reduce incidence of ash bridging within the hopper.

Abstract: A system for sterilizing can-sealed products, stored in aligned groups in a carrying basket for sterilization, uses loading and unloading conveyors for the systematic loading and unloading of alternating groups of canned products and partition panels, into and out of the basket. Pool conveyors on the entrance and exit sides of a sterilization unit for sterilizing the products, conveys and temporarily stop the basket prior to and after sterilization.

Abstract: A conveyor for removing billets from an induction heating furnace and for separating them from following billets to which they may have become adhered employs a roller having a contoured surface. The roller is rotatably mounted about an axis skewed relative to its central axis so that it wobbles as it rotates, imparting a reciprocating force on the billet to separate it from the following billet to which it is adhered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the continuous firing of green ceramic articles, such as capacitors. In accordance with the invention a mixture of articles to be fired and heat resistant particulate matter in selected proportions is caused to descend a heated tube defining a furnace. Articles and particulate material such as sand are continuously introduced at the upper end of the furnace and removed at the lower end, after a predetermined dwell time within the furnace to effect firing. Removal is effected by progressively advancing a conveyor which is in partial blocking condition of the lower end of the furnace across the lower end of said furnace whereby the mixture of sand and fired ceramic articles is removed at a selected rate which is a function of the speed of the conveyor, whereby the dwell time in the furnace is closely controlled.

Abstract: Apparatus for servicing coke ovens has a framework movable along the coke oven battery. A horizontally rotatable and vertically pivotable boom has one end mounted on the gantry and a coke oven work tool on the other. The framework includes a coke quenching apparatus and conveying equipment.