A wafer basket station includes a semiconductor wafer basket containing therein a number of semiconductor wafers and an elevating device which raises and lowers the wafer basket to bring a desired wafer in its taken out height. A wafer detecting device is formed with a transmission type optical sensor disposed inclined so that the optical axis thereof passes a center of a semiconductor wafer at the desired height, but not to pass adjacent wafers of the semiconductor wafer. The elevating device o...

A surgical spinal waxer is disclosed with a plurality of differently contoured surfaces for applying bone wax to a number of differently contoured portions of lamina in the spine. The different surfaces include a concave surface, a convex surface, two flat side surfaces, at least one which has a depression for holding bone wax and at least one which has an abraded area, a butted flat pushing surface, and a flat top surface. The shapes and dimensions of the different surfaces all correspond to th...

A tool for applying wax to the underside of a ski, the device comprising a hollow block of aluminum fitted with an electric heater therewithin, the heater being secured to a hollow handle through which an electric extension cord extends to communicate at one end with the heater and at its opposite end being provided with a male plug for inserting into an electric outlet socket; the block when being properly heated being particularly suitable for softening and applying the wax; and the block havi...

Disclosed is a system mounted with a transportable container for carrying articles such as semiconductor wafers which comprises a non-volatile memory used to store the identity, status and history of the articles in the container. Further, the system includes means for transmitting data from the memory to an information processor associated with a processing station which processes the articles in a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes data processing capability and both recei...

An apparatus for waxing vehicles for use in conjunction with commercial "car wash" operations. Vehicles are transported by a chain driven conveyor mechanism through a wax application station, passed to a second conveyor mechanism for movement through a drying station, and on to a third conveyor mechanism for passage through a polishing station. A computer system controls the waxing process and operates various pneumatic positioning devices, positioning wax application heads, drying blowers, and ...

Water based waxing mixtures for protecting surfaces providing ionically neutral ingredients adhering to the surface while repelling environmental impurities, such as dirt. Surface precleaning need not precede the wax application because of an exchange, which takes place between the mixture and surface dirt. The mixture constitutes an emulsion of an organic phase in an aqueous phase. The aqueous phase amounts to 70 percent to 92 percent by weight, while the organic phase provides the remainder of...

A reversible rotary shampoo machine or floor waxer is provided which consists of a reversible motor and a reversing switch having a safety off position electrically connected in a circuit to the reversible motor, with the reversing switch mechanically interlocked to the on/off switch so that the on/off switch must turn off the motor before the reversing switch is permitted to change the direction of rotation of the reversible motor, in order to prevent damage to the reversible motor, or accident...