Apparatus for processing articles in a series of process solution containers

Claim 1

An apparatus in an enclosed housing for the processing of solid materials comprising: (a) a carrier for containing said solid materials, said carrier affixed to an end of a rotor arm; (b) a plurality of containers horizontally affixed to a base; (c) vertical traversing means for raising and lowering said carrier from and into each said container, said vertical traversing means comprising a first carriage attached to said rotor arm and engaged to moveable vertical shafts; (d) horizontal traversing means for positioning said rotor arm and carrier above each of said containers, said horizontal traversing means comprising a second carriage moveably engaged to fixed horizontal shafts and to said vertical shafts; (e) drive means for rotating said rotor arm and carrier in a vertical plane within said housing whereby said carrier and solid materials contained therein are subjected to centrifugal force; (f) means for moving sequentially said second carriage to a preselected sequence of positions along said horizontal shafts; (g) means for timing preselected periods during which said carrier remains lowered in each said container; and (h) means for timing a preselected period of rotation of said rotor arm at a preselected rotational frequency subsequent to raising said carrier from each said container.

Claim 2

An apparatus in an enclosed housing for the processing of solid materials comprising: (a) a carrier for containing said solid materials, said carrier affixed to an end of a rotor arm; (b) a plurality of containers horizontally affixed to a base; (c) vertical traversing means for raising and lowering said carrier from and into each said container, said vertical traversing means comprising a first carriage attached to said rotor arm and engaged to moveable vertical shafts; (d) horizontal traversing means for positioning said rotor arm and carrier above each of said containers, said horizontal traversing means comprising a second carriage moveably engaged to fixed horizontal shafts and to said vertical shafts; (e) drive means for rotating said rotor arm and carrier in a vertical plane within said housing whereby said carrier and solid materials contained therein are subjected to centrifugal force; (f) means for moving sequentially said second carriage to a preselected sequence of positions along said horizontal shafts; (g) means for timing preselected periods during which said carrier remains lowered in each said container; and (h) means for timing a preselected period of rotation of said rotor arm at a preselected rotational frequency subsequent to raising said carrier from each said container.