Patent ID: 8104662

Claim:
An inert environment enclosure comprising: a wall defining an interior of said enclosure and an exterior of said enclosure; at least one gas inlet coupled to provide gas to said interior of said enclosure; an object inlet through which production objects enter said enclosure; an object outlet through which said production objects exit said enclosure; and wherein at least one of said object inlet and said object outlet includes a top-side flow obstructer and a bottom-side flow obstructer for inhibiting gases from the exterior of said enclosure from entering said interior of said enclosure, said top-side flow obstructer being adapted to contact top surfaces of said production objects, said bottom-side flow obstructer being adapted to contact bottom surfaces of said production objects; at least one of said top-side flow obstructer and said bottom-side flow obstructer includes a first plate and a flexible material mounted on said first plate, said flexible material being adapted to slidably contact said production objects; said flexible material includes a mounting portion and a free portion, said mounting portion being fixably mounted with respect to said first plate, said free portion extending from said first plate to slidably contact passing production objects; said first plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and an opening passing through said first surface and said second surface; and said flexible material is disposed through said opening such that said first surface of said first plate faces said free portion of said flexible material and said second surface of said first plate faces said mounting portion of said flexible material.