Gas delivery system with moving knife

A system for preparing a work piece with pressurized gas from a gas source, the system comprising:

• (a) a holder for holding the work piece, the work piece having a first target surface and a second target surface;
• (b) a first knife for placement in fluid communication with the gas source, the first knife including a first outlet for discharging the pressurized gas towards the first target surface for impinging upon the first target surface;
• (c) a first support supporting the first knife and configured to allow the first knife to move laterally relative to the first target surface while the first knife is directing the pressurized gas toward the first target surface with the first target surface being maintained substantially stationary by the holder;
• (d) a second knife for placement in fluid communication with the gas source, the second knife including a second gas outlet for discharging the pressurized gas towards the second target surface for impinging upon the second target surface;
• and
• (e) a second support supporting the second knife and configured to allow the second knife to move laterally relative to the second target surface while the second knife is directing the pressurized gas toward the second target surface with the second target surface being maintained substantially stationary by the holder.

A system for preparing a work piece with pressurized gas from a gas source, the system comprising:

• (a) means for holding the work piece having a target surface;
• (b) an outlet means being placed in fluid communication with the gas source, the outlet means discharging the pressurized gas towards the target surface for impinging upon the target surface;
• and
• (c) means for moving the outlet means laterally relative to the target surface while the outlet means is directing the pressurized gas toward the target surface with the target surface being maintained substantially stationary.

A method for treating a target surface of a work piece, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) holding the work piece;
• (b) discharging pressurized gas from a knife towards the target surface for impinging upon the target surface;
• and
• (c) moving the knife laterally relative to the target surface while the knife is directing the pressurized gas toward the target surface with the target surface being maintained substantially stationary.

A system for treating a work piece with pressurized gas from a gas source, the system comprising:

• (a) a holder for holding the work piece having a target surface;
• (b) a knife including an outlet for discharging the pressurized gas towards the target surface for impinging upon the target surface;
• and
• (c) a manifold assembly that allows the knife to move across the target surface between a first position and a second position, the manifold assembly being in fluid communication with the gas source, the manifold assembly including a first outlet and a spaced apart second outlet, wherein pressurized gas flows from the first outlet to the knife when the knife is in the first position and pressurized gas flows from the second outlet to the knife when the knife is in the second position.