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US3633281A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process and apparatus for handling workpieces which have a large surface area relative to their thickness

Assignee: Vits Maschinenfabrik GmbH
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Filing: 1970-02-04
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-02-04
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Abstract

Abstract The workpieces are contacted at least on one side with a gaseous and/or vaporous fluid and are at least maintained in a floating condition during treatment of the workpiece. The fluid is transformed into source flows which are distributed over the workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid. The source flows are expanded so that they have divergent radial jets extending from said source in a top plan view taken onto said workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid. A slight convexity toward said workpiece is imparted to said divergent radial jets in a view taken at right angles to the firstmentioned direction of view and the direction of flow and parallel to a center plane of the workpiece. The radial jets which are convex toward the workpiece are subsequently transformed into a plane flow, which is parallel to tee center plane of the workpiece.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hilmar Vits

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 04:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H23/00; B65H23/04; B65H23/24; F; F26; F26B; F26B13/00; F26B13/10; F26B13/101; F26B13/104; B65H2406/00; B65H2406/10; B65H2406/11; B65H2406/112

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 183 words
A process of handling workpieces which have a large surface area relative to their thickness, in which process said workpieces are contacted at least on one side with a gaseous and/or vaporous fluid and are at least maintained in a floating condition during such treatment of the workpiece, said process comprising the steps of transforming said fluid into source flows which are distributed over the workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows which are distributed over the workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows so that they have divergent radial jets extending from said source in a top plan view taken onto said workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, imparting to said divergent radial jets a slightly convexity toward said workpiece in a view taken at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of view and the direction of flow and parallel to a center plane of the workpiece, and subsequently transforming said radial jets which are convex toward the workpiece into a plane flow which is parallel to the center plane of the workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 183 words
A process of handling workpieces which have a large surface area relative to their thickness, in which process said workpieces are contacted at least on one side with a gaseous and/or vaporous fluid and are at least maintained in a floating condition during such treatment of the workpiece, said process comprising the steps of transforming said fluid into source flows which are distributed over the workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows which are distributed over the workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows so that they have divergent radial jets extending from said source in a top plan view taken onto said workpiece surface contacted by the flowing fluid, imparting to said divergent radial jets a slightly convexity toward said workpiece in a view taken at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of view and the direction of flow and parallel to a center plane of the workpiece, and subsequently transforming said radial jets which are convex toward the workpiece into a plane flow which is parallel to the center plane of the workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said flowing fluid is caused to contact said workpiece so as to maintain the same in a floating condition and to convey said workpiece in the direction of flow of said fluid in contact with the workpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said divergent radial jets have an angle of divergence of at least 90*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said divergent radial jets have an angle of divergence of at most 180*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said divergent radial jets have an angle of divergence between 105* and 135*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said divergent radial jets have an angle of divergence of approximately 120*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and including the step of subjecting the workpiece to the action of microwave energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
A process as set forth in claim 7, in which said flowing fluid is caused to contact said workpiece so as to maintain the same in a floating condition and to convey said workpiece in the direction of flow of said fluid in contact with the workpiece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 168 words
A process of handling endless webs which have a large surface area relative to their thickness, in which process said webs are contacted at least on one side with a gaseous and/or vaporous fluid and are at least maintained in a floating condition during such treatment of the web, said process comprising the steps of transforming said fluid into source flows which are distributed over the web surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows so that they have divergent radial jets extending from said source in a top plan view taken onto said web surface contacted by the flowing fluid, imparting to said divergent radial jets a slightly convexity toward said web in a view taken at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of view and the direction of flow and parallel to a center plane of the web, and subsequently transforming said radial jets which are convex toward the web into a plane flow which is parallel to the center plane of the web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 168 words
A process of handling endless webs which have a large surface area relative to their thickness, in which process said webs are contacted at least on one side with a gaseous and/or vaporous fluid and are at least maintained in a floating condition during such treatment of the web, said process comprising the steps of transforming said fluid into source flows which are distributed over the web surface contacted by the flowing fluid, expanding said source flows so that they have divergent radial jets extending from said source in a top plan view taken onto said web surface contacted by the flowing fluid, imparting to said divergent radial jets a slightly convexity toward said web in a view taken at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of view and the direction of flow and parallel to a center plane of the web, and subsequently transforming said radial jets which are convex toward the web into a plane flow which is parallel to the center plane of the web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 47 words
A process as set forth in claim 9, in which said flowing fluid is caused to contact said web so as to maintain the same in a floating condition and to convey said web in the direction of flow of said fluid in contact with the web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 35 words
A process as set forth in claim 9, in which said web which is in a floating condition and in contact with flowing gaseous and/or vaporous fluid is subjected to the action of microwave energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 73 words
A process as set forth in claim 9, in which said flowing fluid is caused to contact said web so as to maintain the same in a floating condition and to convey said web in the direction of flow of said fluid in contact with the web and said web which is in a floating condition and in contact with flowing gaseous and/or vaporous fluid is subjected to the action of microwave energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 148 words
Apparatus for maintaining workpieces which have a large surface area relative to their thickness in floating condition comprising, in combination, a wall which adjoins a space filled with gaseous or vaporous fluid under pressure, said wall having a plane surface facing a workpiece and being substantially parallel thereto, said wall being formed with at least one arcuate discharge slot for discharging of fluid under pressure from said space, said arcuate discharge slot being defined between a first arcuate edge of a first wall portion located in one plane with the remainder of said wall and a corresponding arcuate edge spaced in a direction normal to said plane surface from said first arcuate edge and provided on second wall portion which has a divergent guide surface facing the workpiece and merging with said plane surface of said wall and guiding the fluid which has flown through said discharge slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 148 words
Apparatus for maintaining workpieces which have a large surface area relative to their thickness in floating condition comprising, in combination, a wall which adjoins a space filled with gaseous or vaporous fluid under pressure, said wall having a plane surface facing a workpiece and being substantially parallel thereto, said wall being formed with at least one arcuate discharge slot for discharging of fluid under pressure from said space, said arcuate discharge slot being defined between a first arcuate edge of a first wall portion located in one plane with the remainder of said wall and a corresponding arcuate edge spaced in a direction normal to said plane surface from said first arcuate edge and provided on second wall portion which has a divergent guide surface facing the workpiece and merging with said plane surface of said wall and guiding the fluid which has flown through said discharge slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said second wall portion has in a plan view viewed from the workpiece a configuration of a circular sector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the distance of said guide surface in said direction from said plane surface gradually decreases from said second arcuate edge to the transition between said guide surface and said plane surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 60 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said second wall portion has in a plan view viewed from the workpiece a configuration of a circular sector, and wherein the distance of said guide surface in said direction from said plane surface gradually decreases from said second arcuate edge to the transition between said guide surface and said plane surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 62 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14, and including transitional wAll portions between said second wall portion and the remainder of said wall and extending radially outwardly from opposite ends of said arcuate slot, said transitional surfaces diverge in the direction of flow of said fluid through said discharge slot and the angle included between said divergent transitional surfaces is between 90*-180*.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the height of said discharge slot is between one-twentieth and one-third of the radius of curvature of said arcuate edges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said guide face is concavely curved toward the workpiece between said arcuate edge and the transition of said guide surface with said plane surface, the radius of curvature of said concave curvature being a multiple of the radius of curvature of said arcuate edges.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said guide surface is convexly curved toward said workpiece at the transition of said guide surface with said plane surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2848820A Cited
US3181250A Cited
US3272415A Cited
US3384282A Cited
US3304619A Cited
US3449836A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-01-10 1975-07-12 1976-01-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-01-10 1979-07-12 1980-01-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-01-10 1983-07-12 1984-01-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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