In one aspect, a method for permeating color into components includes the step of placing substrates inside a carrier. The method includes the step of placing the carrier inside an ultrasonic cleaning tank of an ultrasonic cleaning machine. The method includes the step of performing an ultrasonic cleaning in the ultrasonic cleaning tank. After the ultrasonic cleaning, the method transports the carrier with a robotic arm to a washing tank. The method includes the step of inserting, with the robotic arm, the carrier into the washing tank and neutralizing a substrate with water in the washing tank. The method includes the step of feeding warm water into a channel of the washing tank up to a specified level. The method includes the step of steaming the washing tank for a specified steaming time.

In one aspect, a method for permeating color into components includes the step of placing substrates inside a carrier. The method includes the step of placing the carrier inside an ultrasonic cleaning tank of an ultrasonic cleaning machine. The method includes the step of performing an ultrasonic cleaning in the ultrasonic cleaning tank. After the ultrasonic cleaning, the method transports the carrier with a robotic arm to a washing tank. The method includes the step of inserting, with the robotic arm, the carrier into the washing tank and neutralizing a substrate with water in the washing tank. The method includes the step of feeding warm water into a channel of the washing tank up to a specified level. The method includes the step of steaming the washing tank for a specified steaming time.

An apparatus for conveying viscous material from a drum-like container with a container bottom and a circumferential container wall extending from the container bottom to a container upper side and being open at the container upper side has, for closing the container a follower plate having a material outlet attached to a conveyor pump. The follower plate has an annularly circumferential wiper ring that has a radially outwardly extending contacting part for contact against an inside face, turned toward the follower plate, of the container wall. The contacting part can be pressurized with a variable pressing force for pressing against the inside face (36) of the container wall. The follower plate is mounted by moans of at least one vertically extending retaining rod on a horizontally extending crosspiece mounted on or close to a first end on a lifting device for raising and lowering of the crosspiece. Its second end is free. This task is accomplished by an apparatus having the features according to one aspect of the invention as well as by a method having the features according to another aspect of the invention. Advantageous further developments of the invention are subject matter discussed below.

An apparatus for conveying viscous material from a drum-like container with a container bottom and a circumferential container wall extending from the container bottom to a container upper side and being open at the container upper side has, for closing the container a follower plate having a material outlet attached to a conveyor pump. The follower plate has an annularly circumferential wiper ring that has a radially outwardly extending contacting part for contact against an inside face, turned toward the follower plate, of the container wall. The contacting part can be pressurized with a variable pressing force for pressing against the inside face (36) of the container wall. The follower plate is mounted by moans of at least one vertically extending retaining rod on a horizontally extending crosspiece mounted on or close to a first end on a lifting device for raising and lowering of the crosspiece. Its second end is free. This task is accomplished by an apparatus having the features according to one aspect of the invention as well as by a method having the features according to another aspect of the invention. Advantageous further developments of the invention are subject matter discussed below.

What is provided is a novel and improved dross removal device capable of more efficiently collecting a bath surface dross using a dross robot, and a dross removal method.

In order to solve the problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dross removal device including: a dross robot that is configured to collect a bath surface dross present on a bath surface of a coating bath; a dross sensor that is configured to measure an intensity of infrared light from the bath surface of the coating bath; a dross sensor control device that is configured to specify a position of the bath surface dross according to a temporal change amount in the intensity of the infrared light; and a dross robot control device that is configured to cause the dross robot to collect the bath surface dross at the position specified by the dross sensor control device.

What is provided is a novel and improved dross removal device capable of more efficiently collecting a bath surface dross using a dross robot, and a dross removal method.

In order to solve the problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dross removal device including: a dross robot that is configured to collect a bath surface dross present on a bath surface of a coating bath; a dross sensor that is configured to measure an intensity of infrared light from the bath surface of the coating bath; a dross sensor control device that is configured to specify a position of the bath surface dross according to a temporal change amount in the intensity of the infrared light; and a dross robot control device that is configured to cause the dross robot to collect the bath surface dross at the position specified by the dross sensor control device.

An edge banding machine includes a foundation, an adhesive applying mechanism, a motor, a chain guide and a chain. The adhesive applying mechanism is detachably attached to foundation and includes an adhesive tank and an adhesive shaft that extends into the adhesive tank and has a lower end provided with a first sprocket. The adhesive shaft draws adhesive from the adhesive tank. The motor is fixed to the foundation and has a power-take-off shaft that has a second sprocket. The chain engages with the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The chain guide is attached to the foundation and has a guide wheel extending into the chain for pushing against the chain, so that the chain can move between a tensioned position and a relaxed position.

An edge banding machine includes a foundation, an adhesive applying mechanism, a motor, a chain guide and a chain. The adhesive applying mechanism is detachably attached to foundation and includes an adhesive tank and an adhesive shaft that extends into the adhesive tank and has a lower end provided with a first sprocket. The adhesive shaft draws adhesive from the adhesive tank. The motor is fixed to the foundation and has a power-take-off shaft that has a second sprocket. The chain engages with the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The chain guide is attached to the foundation and has a guide wheel extending into the chain for pushing against the chain, so that the chain can move between a tensioned position and a relaxed position.

An applicator is disclosed for applying sealant to a moving substrate. The applicator includes a wheel having a periphery. A plurality of spaced apart footprints extends around the periphery of the wheel and each footprint has a sealant receiving feature. A reservoir is provided for containing a supply of sealant to be applied to the moving substrate. The wheel is rotatably mounted at least partially in the reservoir such that as the wheel rotates, each of the spaced apart footprints repeatedly moves through a supply of sealant in the reservoir to pick up a charge of sealant, around one side of the wheel toward the moving substrate, adjacent the moving substrate to transfer the sealant charge to the substrate, and around the other side of the wheel back toward the supply of sealant. At least one stop is formed on each of the footprints for inhibiting sealant picked up by the footprint from being urged rearwardly on the footprint by high speed rotation of the wheel. A backstop may be formed at a trailing end of each footprint and mid-stops may be formed between a leading end of each footprint and the trailing end.

An applicator is disclosed for applying sealant to a moving substrate. The applicator includes a wheel having a periphery. A plurality of spaced apart footprints extends around the periphery of the wheel and each footprint has a sealant receiving feature. A reservoir is provided for containing a supply of sealant to be applied to the moving substrate. The wheel is rotatably mounted at least partially in the reservoir such that as the wheel rotates, each of the spaced apart footprints repeatedly moves through a supply of sealant in the reservoir to pick up a charge of sealant, around one side of the wheel toward the moving substrate, adjacent the moving substrate to transfer the sealant charge to the substrate, and around the other side of the wheel back toward the supply of sealant. At least one stop is formed on each of the footprints for inhibiting sealant picked up by the footprint from being urged rearwardly on the footprint by high speed rotation of the wheel. A backstop may be formed at a trailing end of each footprint and mid-stops may be formed between a leading end of each footprint and the trailing end.