Patent ID: 8316869

Claim:
A system for processing flat articles comprising: a rotatable support for supporting a flat article in a substantially horizontal orientation; a transducer assembly comprising a transducer for generating acoustic energy and a transmitter acoustically coupled to the transducer, the transducer assembly positioned so that a portion of the transmitter is adjacent a top surface of the flat article on the support so that a first meniscus of liquid is formed between the portion of the transmitter and the top surface of the flat article when liquid is applied to the top surface of the flat article; and a reflective member having a convex outer surface that terminates in an apex, the apex forming an elongate edge extending along a length of the reflective member, the reflective member positioned so that the elongate edge is adjacent a bottom surface of the flat article on the support, a second meniscus of liquid formed between the elongate edge of the reflective member and the bottom surface of the flat article when liquid is applied to the bottom surface of the flat article; and the reflective member positioned so that at least a fraction of the acoustic energy that is generated by the transducer assembly passes through the first meniscus, the flat article and the second meniscus and is reflected back toward the bottom surface of the flat article.