PLASMA-ASSISTED PROCESSING IN A MANUFACTURING LINE

WIPO Patent Application WO2003096381

A3

Methods and apparatus are provided for plasma-assisted processing multiple work pieces in a manufacturing line. In one embodiment, the method can include placing the work pieces (320) in movable carriers, moving the carriers on a conveyor (310) into an irradiation zone, flowing a gas into the irradiation zone, igniting the gas in the irradiation zone to form a plasma (e.g., by subjecting the gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst), sustaining the plasma for a period of time sufficient to at least partially plasma process at least one of the work pieces (320) in the irradiation zone, and advancing the conveyor (310) to move the at least one plasma-processed work piece out of the irradiation zone. Various types of plasma catalysts are also provided.

DOUGHERTY MICHAEL L SR (US)
KUMAR DEVENDRA (US)
KUMAR SATYENDRA (US)

PCT/US2003/014055

July 08, 2004

May 07, 2003

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DANA CORP (US)
DOUGHERTY MICHAEL L SR (US)
KUMAR DEVENDRA (US)
KUMAR SATYENDRA (US)

A62D3/00; B01J7/00; B01D53/86; B01D53/92; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J37/34; B22F3/105; C01B3/02; C21D1/06; C21D1/09; C21D1/38; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/20; F01N3/24; F01N3/28; F01N3/30; F01N9/00; F27B17/00; F27D3/12; F27D11/08; F27D11/12; G21K5/00; H01J37/32; H01M8/06; H05B6/68; H05B6/78; H05B6/80; H05H1/24; H05H1/46; C22B4/00; F01N13/10; (IPC1-7): B23K26/00

US4151034A	1979-04-24
US5847355A	1998-12-08
US5224117A	1993-06-29
US4877589A	1989-10-31

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