Abstract: In order to provide a treatment installation for treating workpieces that is of simple construction and enables optimised workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment installation should include a treatment chamber and a conveying device, by means of which the workpieces are suppliable to the treatment chamber, are removable from the treatment chamber, and/or are conveyable through the treatment chamber in a conveying direction.

Abstract: An arrangement for heat treating component parts. The arrangement has a first temperature control station for heat treating component parts and a second temperature control station for heat treating component parts, wherein the first temperature control station and the second temperature control station each have a temperature control device, on each of which a functional device is placeable. The functional device is a charging device for carrying component parts to be temperature-controlled or a device of the temperature control device. The arrangement further has a charging station, on which the functional device is placeable, and a handling system for handling the functional device, wherein the handling system is configured to convey the functional device between the charging station, the first temperature control station and the second temperature control station.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for heating at least one workpiece in a furnace by which the workpiece is heated by heating facilities. An exemplary method comprises heating a complete workpiece with the heating facilities. The exemplary method also comprises moving the workpiece out of the furnace such that a first portion of the workpiece is still inside the furnace while a second portion of the workpiece is outside the furnace and holding the workpiece at this position for a predetermined time period. Finally, the exemplary method comprises moving the complete workpiece out of the furnace.

Abstract: A rotary tube furnace (1) comprising an insulated heating chamber (4), the insulated heating chamber having a product discharge outlet (21) and a process tube inlet (39), a heating element (14) operatively arranged to selectively heat the heating chamber, a generally horizontally extending process tube (2) supported for rotation relative to the heating chamber, the process tube having a first portion (36) generally arranged outside of the heating chamber and a cantilevered second portion (37) extending from the first portion into the heating chamber and terminating at a discharge end (38) within the heating chamber, a feed mechanism (40) configured and arranged to feed product into the process tube, and a bearing assembly operating between a support frame (34) and the first portion of the process tube and configured and arranged to support the process tube and transmit rotational torque to the process tube.

Abstract: A wood treatment system that includes at least one wood treatment vessel and a bundle lift system for loading and unloading a bundle of wood from a cart used to transport the bundle into and/or out of the treatment vessel. The lift system vertically disengages the bundle of wood from the cart within the interior of the vessel, thereby allowing the cart to be removed from the vessel prior to initiating treatment. The lift system, which can be physically separate from or physically coupled to the cart, is entirely disposed within a lower portion of the interior volume of the wood treatment vessel.

Abstract: A wood treatment method and apparatus that utilizes at least two carts for transporting bundles of wood into, out of, and between at least two wood treatment vessels. In certain situations, each of the carts can move along a dedicated path and can be located exterior to the vessels during treatment. As a result, the process can have a minimal cycle time, while maximizing throughput from the facility.

Abstract: A wood treatment method and apparatus that includes a cart drive system for enabling the movement of at least one wood-transporting cart into and/or out of a wood treatment vessel. The wood-transporting cart can have a length greater than the maximum internal dimension of the wood treatment vessel. The cart drive system can include at least one active drive component and at least one passive drive component. The active drive component can be physically separate from the cart and permanently fixed outside the interior of the wood treatment vessel. The passive drive component can be physically coupled to the cart and operable to move with the cart as it transports the bundle of wood into and/or out of the wood treatment vessel.

Abstract: A wood treatment method and apparatus employing a bundle support structure to support a bundle of wood during transportation and treatment of the bundle. The bundle support structure rests on a movable cart during transportation of the bundle, but is detached from the movable cart during treatment of the bundle.

Abstract: A material feed system for melter kettles which provides an area for a tender to load material to be charged into a melter kettle at a location which is safely remote from a flame conductor assembly that allows any flames or gasses that build up in melter kettle to be released. The material feed system also includes an air intake duct through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.

Abstract: Methods for forming a TCO layer on a substrate are generally provided and include sputtering a TCO layer on a substrate from a target including cadmium stannate. A cap material (e.g., including cadmium) is deposited onto an outer surface of an indirect anneal system, and the TCO layer can be annealed at an anneal temperature while in contact with or within about 10 cm of the cap material. An anneal oven is also generally provided and includes an indirect anneal system defining a deposition surface and an anneal surface such that a cap material deposited on the anneal surface of the indirect anneal system is positioned to be in contact with or within about 10 cm of a thin film on the substrate. A cap material source can be positioned to deposit the cap material onto the deposition surface such that the anneal surface comprises the cap material.

Abstract: A material feed system for melter kettles which provides an area for a tender to load material to be charged into a melter kettle at a location which is safely remote from a flame conductor assembly that allows any flames or gasses that build up in melter kettle to be released. The material feed system also includes an air intake duct through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes a stacking tray stacking the recording medium, a heater heating the recording medium to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which developer on the recording medium is erased, a detector disposed downstream in a recording medium carrying direction from the heater to detect an image on the recording medium, a recording medium carrying mechanism picking up the recording medium, from the stacking tray sheet by sheet and carrying the picked-up recording medium, a storage box storing the image-erased recording medium by size, a lateral aligning mechanism disposed in the storage box so as to align the recording medium in the lateral direction, and a controller controlling the alignment operation of the lateral aligning mechanism.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes a recording medium height sensor sensing the height of recording mediums stacked on a discharge tray, a discharge tray lifting and lowering mechanism lifting and lowering the discharge tray, a shifting mechanism shifting and discharging the recording mediums, and a controller controlling a discharging operation so that the height of recording mediums on the discharge tray is equal to a desired height on the basis of the output of the recording medium height sensor.

Abstract: An automatic feed oven for material processing (1) comprising an insulated heating chamber (4), the heating chamber having the product discharge outlet (21) and a material inlet (39), a heating source (14) operatively arranged to heat the heating chamber, a chamber feed mechanism (40) operatively arranged to feed material into the chamber through the material inlet, the chamber feed mechanism comprising a receptacle (6) operatively arranged to receive material, a linear actuator (42) operatively arranged to move the receptacle between a fill position (55) outside the chamber and a discharge position (56) within the chamber, a rotational actuator (43) operatively arranged to rotate the receptacle between a receiving position (57) and a releasing position (58), and a receptacle feed mechanism (44) operatively arranged to feed material into the receptacle when the receptacle is in the fill position.