An electromagnetic propulsion system for electrically conductive articles, such as aluminum beverage cans. Currents in coils disposed along a passageway induce currents in aluminum cans in the passageway. The electromagnetic fields produced by the coil currents and the eddy currents in the cans interact to produce forces that propel the cans along the passageway. A coil drive supplies the coils with a low-frequency current to propel the cans and a high-frequency current to heat the cans. The coils are arranged as solenoids encircling the passageway or as planar arrays bracketing the passageway. Besides being used to propel aluminum cans, the coils can be used to spin cans. The electromagnetic propulsion systems are shown in can washers and dryers.

A container-treatment machine having plural treatment stations for treating containers includes a transport element that rotates about a vertical machine axis, thereby moving the treatment stations circumferentially. A first transfer star supplies untreated containers simultaneously to corresponding treatment stations that are next to each other in the circumferential direction. A second transfer star removes treated containers simultaneously from corresponding treatment stations.

An automated can adjustment system for a can cleaning system and associated method is disclosed. The automated can adjustment system can store different stage height information corresponding to various cans with different heights in a controller. The stage height information corresponding to the different can heights is associated with and recallable by various preset buttons operatively coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to communicate with the one or more drive mechanisms to adjust one or more stage heights based on the stage height information recalled when a particular preset button is selected. Different stage heights may be changed by then selecting a different preset button associated with a can having a different height.

A modular unit for washing and drying containers for pharmaceutical use includes a load transfer unit configured to take a plurality of containers for pharmaceutical use from an associated input transfer unit, a washing tower, a group of grippers configured to take said containers for pharmaceutical use from the load transfer unit and loading them onto said washing tower, at least one washing station, at least one drying station and at least one unloading station for said containers for pharmaceutical use. The washing tower is configured to move the containers for pharmaceutical use through said washing stations, drying stations and unloading stations. The drying station includes at least one lower drying nozzle configured to direct a flow of air from the bottom to the top inside the containers and at least one upper drying nozzle configured to blow air from above.

A substrate stocker system that may include a high-density storage chamber that comprises a plurality of compartments, each storing one or more high density substrates, one or more robots configured to move one or more compartments of the high-density storage chamber for cleaning, and a cleaning module configured to clean the one or more compartments, while the one or more compartments hold corresponding one or more substrates.

A container-processing machine includes a rotor with processing positions formed thereon, a transfer station, and a static lifting element used by all the processing positions. Each processing position has a processing head and a container carrier. The lifting element is a static lifting element that is used by all of the processing positions. When the processing position is at the transfer station, the lifting element causes relative motion between a container carrier and a processing head of the processing position. This causes the processing position to transition between receiving and discharge states.

A process for sterilizing and rinsing containers, the process comprising the following steps: sterilizing the containers with a sterilizing solution coming from a first tank; after sterilization, subjecting the containers to a first rinsing by dispensing towards them a first amount of sterile water from a UHT device in a first rinsing tract of an advancement path of the containers; after the first rinsing, subjecting the containers to a second rinsing by dispensing towards them a second amount of sterile water from said UHT device in a second rinsing tract of the path; and collecting at least part of exhaust sterile water dropping from the containers undergoing the second rinsing and sending it to the UHT device.

A method for treatment of a plastic transport box for conveyance and atmospheric storage of substrates including walls bounding a volume intended for storage of substrates, and a station for treatment of transport boxes for conveyance and atmospheric storage of substrates, the method including: at least one plasma treatment in which at least one interior wall of the transport box is subjected to a plasma of a treatment gas at a gas pressure lower than 10000 pascals.

A container-treatment machine having plural treatment stations for treating containers includes a transport element that rotates about a vertical machine axis, thereby moving the treatment stations circumferentially. A first transfer star supplies untreated containers simultaneously to corresponding treatment stations that are next to each other in the circumferential direction. A second transfer star removes treated containers simultaneously from corresponding treatment stations.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wafer storage container cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning chamber that cleans a wafer storage container including a shell including an opening on one surface and a gripped portion on another surface crossing the one surface with the opening, and a door detachable from the opening; and a transfer robot including a robot hand that individually grips the shell and the door. The robot hand includes a shell gripping portion including a pair of first gripping claws that are movable toward and away from each other along a first straight line; and a door gripping portion including a pair of second gripping claws movable toward and away from each other along a second straight line intersecting the first straight line in a top view. The cleaning chamber cleans the shell with the opening facing downward.