Patents Examined by Charles W Kling
  • Patent number: 8240319
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) to process used materials for input into a manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a housing (10) having a top surface (15) and providing a plurality of chambers arranged in descending order. A series of locations (20) are positioned under said top surface and through which used materials are to pass. Each said location being provided for receipt of a predetermined used material. A descending path (25) extends from each said location and provides for the transfer of used material from the respective location successively through the chambers. The chambers include a sensing chamber (30) downstream of said locations and having sensing means (35) operable to sense the composition of used material located within said sensing chamber. The sensing means being operable to activate an alarm if the used material has been placed by a user in an opening for receipt of a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Aldous Montagu Hicks
  • Patent number: 8230705
    Abstract: A fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly which can be attached and detached to/from a detergent supply apparatus, and temporarily stores a fluid detergent and a fabric softener until they are selectively introduced into a washing room in water supply is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Bo Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 8220292
    Abstract: A method for determining the water storage capacity of textiles, wherein the rinsing phase has at least one rinsing sequence which follows a drying sequence. The method is characterized in that a first water absorption is measured during the wetting phase and a second water absorption is measured during at least one of the rinsing sequences, in that the two water absorption measurements are compared with one another and the water storage capacity of the textiles is defined using the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Gundula Czyzewski, Ingo Schulze
  • Patent number: 8215136
    Abstract: A multiple laundry machine is provided. The multiple laundry machine may include multiple washing spaces capable of separately washing relatively small amounts of laundry in each. The multiple laundry machine may include a casing, and a plurality of individual laundry machines arranged in the casing. Each of the individual laundry machines provided in the casing may conduct washing operations in a different manner so as to provide washing capability of different sizes and types of loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joo Yeon Kim, Kyung Ah Choi
  • Patent number: 8215322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a tub in which utensils and the like are received for cleaning by the spraying of liquid, such as a wash liquid, within the tub, with a sequester located within the tub to sequester the particles removed from the utensils by the liquid and that remain in the tub near a drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan Robert Fountain, Dennis L. Kehl, James P. Tomey, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 8210188
    Abstract: A dishwasher with both a single use dispenser and a bulk dispenser, where wash aid can be selectively dispensed into a wash chamber of the dishwasher directly from the single use dispenser or indirectly from the bulk dispenser through the single use dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Wilcox, Brent Allen Deweerd
  • Patent number: 8210191
    Abstract: A spray assembly for an automatic dishwasher is provided comprising a conduit system for receiving pressurized washing liquid, and an elongated spray arm including an upper surface and a lower surface. The spray arm includes a dividing wall between the upper surface and the lower surface. The spray arm includes a plurality of orifices formed in the upper surface and the lower surface for distributing the liquid throughout the dishwasher. The dividing wall and the upper surface define an upper interior compartment and the dividing wall and the lower surface define a lower interior compartment. The conduit includes a water feed system and a water diverting mechanism for selectively diverting water into the upper compartment, the lower compartment, or both the upper and the lower compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Errin Whitney Gnadinger, Mohan Ponnaganti
  • Patent number: 8201569
    Abstract: A fluid inlet for a dishwasher configured to help manage acoustic emissions is provided. The fluid inlet includes a nozzle that defines a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices and a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices. The large diameter orifices may define a diverging cross-section. The relatively small-diameter orifices may be interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relative larger diameter orifices. The fluid inlet may further include an enclosure defining a vertically descending channel from the nozzle toward a bottom of a tub of the dishwasher and one or more dampers within the enclosure such that the water exiting the nozzle cascades down onto and over the dampers and out of the enclosures through one or more outlets of the enclosure to the bottom of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Goodyear, Mario Ascander Colon
  • Patent number: 8196439
    Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed. A laundry machine includes a drum rotatably provided in a cabinet, a substance supply device to generate water based substance and to supply the water based substance to the drum, a water supply source to supply water to the substance supply device, a pump positioned between the substance supply device and the water supply source, a connection unit to connect the pump with the water supply source, and a supporting module to support the water supply source, the pump and the substance supply device. The connection unit is configured of a coupling member having both opposite ends connected with the water supply source and the pump, respectively, the connection unit formed at a predetermined portion of the supporting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Dong Geun Lee, Yeon Sik Choi, Ju Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 8181660
    Abstract: A treatment liquid permeation unit comprises: at least one vibration unit; and a vibration transmission unit for transmitting a vibration from the vibration unit. The vibration transmission unit is positioned between an adhesive with which a wafer is combined to a supporting plate or an adhesive adhered to a surface of the wafer and the vibration unit. A vibration from the vibration unit is transmitted via the vibration transmission unit. This promotes the treatment liquid for dissolving the adhesive to permeate the adhesive to which the treatment liquid is supplied. Therefore, the treatment liquid can more uniformly permeate the adhesive in a shorter time. This allows the treatment liquid for dissolving the adhesive to permeate the adhesive with which the wafer is combined to the supporting plate or to permeate the adhesive adhered to the surface of the wafer in a shorter time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Nakamura, Junichi Katsuragawa, Yasumasa Iwata
  • Patent number: 8181659
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a UV generator that sterilizes dishes is provided. The dishwasher includes a tub that holds dishes to be washed, a sump that holds washing water, a spray nozzle that sprays the washing water into the dishwasher, and at least one UV generator that directs a UV beam into the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Shin, Mi Son Ahn, Ji Ho Kim, Chang Woo Song, Kyung Ah Cho
  • Patent number: 8181492
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of generating hot air and steam to be supplied into a rotary tub using a single heater. The washing machine includes a rotary tub to receive laundry, a heating duct defining a channel to supply hot air to the rotary tub, a heater mounted in the heating duct, and a steam generating part heated by the heater to generate steam to be supplied to the rotary tub. The steam generating part includes an object heated by contacting the heater. The object includes a tubular member having an outer surface contacting the heater and a hollow part for steam generation defined therein. The object may include a steam generating plate having one surface contacting the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung Yull Yang, Sang Yeon Pyo, Jae Ryong Park, Tai Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 8171758
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a balancer capable of rapidly reducing vibration of a spin tub. The drum type washing machine includes a spin tub which is rotated by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, a rear balancer having an annular shape and being coupled to the spin tub, and a shaft flange provided at a center portion thereof with the rotating shaft and coupled to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub. The rear balancer is supported on a rear surface of a rear cover by the shaft flange. Thus, the balls accommodated in the balancer are prevented from moving out of the balancer, even if the balancer is broken due to long-period use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ja Young Kim, Ito Michiaki, Doo Young Ryu, Myung Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 8174162
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine which includes a tub which holds laundry, a drum which is disposed in and rotates within the tub, a stator which is fixed to the tub, and a rotor which is fixed to the drum. The rotor includes a frame, a bushing installed on the frame, a motor shaft having an end which is inserted in and fixed to the bushing, a bearing interposed between the motor shaft and the tub, and at least one guide disposed between the motor shaft and the bushing at an end of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Cha Seung Jun, Byoung Wook Min
  • Patent number: 8161777
    Abstract: A washing machine with a removable basket that comprises a fixing structure of the tank that has a frame (10) provided with orthogonal projections (11) on the base, including springs (30) on the upper edges and shock-absorbers (40) on the lower edges; a tank (20) that has, in the intermediary region of the surface, a ring (201) that connects the springs (30), said tank (20) having the base provided with a bearing (21) fixed, on the external extremity, onto a moving pulley (22) actuated by a motor (23), the motor and an electric pump being fixed at the base of the tank (20); a structure for supporting the basket (50) is arranged in the inner portion of the tank (20), said supporting structure (50) having a set of arms that follow the shape of the tank (20), with the arms being centrally joined on an axis (51) attachable to the bearing (21) of the tank (20) and attached directly to the mechanical set of the washing machine, and a removable basket (60) arranged in the inner portion of the tank (20) and fixed, on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Aurimar Antonio Bassanezi Loss
  • Patent number: 8146612
    Abstract: A warewash machine sump collects hot cleaning water that is recirculated in the chamber during cleaning. A drain line is for draining cleaning water from the sump. A fresh water input system includes at least a hot water input and a cold water input. The fresh water input system has a common input line in communication with the hot water input and the cold water input. A cold water input valve and hot water input valve are provided. The drain line and the common input line are arranged in a heat exchange relationship. A temperature sensor arrangement is associated with the drain line for determining temperature of the cleaning water traveling through the drain line. A controller controls the hot water input valve and cold water input valve based upon the temperature sensor arrangement output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, Matthew D. Naveau, Gregory L. Caylor, Stephen T. Miranda, Steven J. Kirk
  • Patent number: 8141569
    Abstract: A structural member is designed to define a fluid distribution conduit receiving cavity within its interior volume. An elongate extruded plastic cover snap-fits onto the member to conceal the conduit but permits nozzles and the like to extend therethrough so that fluid may be distributed from the conduit and/or serviced as necessary without removing the cover. The cover effectively supports the conduit by trapping it against a compression pad on the cavity floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry S. Turner
  • Patent number: 8136540
    Abstract: An improved portable cleaning system for use in cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles, fin-fans, towers and other elongated components. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure that receives and cleans the component and a control unit that controls the operation of the system. The cleaning unit has a cleaning enclosure defining a chamber sized and configured to receive the component through a sealable lid. A roller assembly rotates the component while a spray assembly sprays cleaning fluid over and into the rotating component. The cleaning fluid is heated in the chamber using surface heating elements attached to heat transfer plates along sections of the chamber walls. A vapor recovery system captures and treats toxic vapors. In use, the cleaning system is transported to a facility to clean the components on-site using cleaning fluid supplied by the facility and discharging waste to the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Gary I. Hays
  • Patent number: 8136537
    Abstract: An actuation device includes a driving member, a driven member and an actuating arrangement operable for producing a movement of the driving member. The driven member has a seat into which is operatively inserted, with the possibility of relative movement, an engagement part of the driving member. The driving member has a seat which, in at least one position of the actuation device, at least partially faces the seat of the driven member. The two seats are longitudinally extended and the actuation device further includes at least one floating body, capable of moving between the two seats when they face each other at least in part. The driving member and the driven member are configured for preventing accidental or irregular displacements of the floating body, particularly accidental or irregular displacements due to knocks, vibrations and similar mechanical stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michele Cerrano, Franco Musso, Daniele Sforzin
  • Patent number: 8132580
    Abstract: A substrate processing system that enables foreign matter adhered to a rear surface or a periphery of a substrate to be completely removed. A substrate processing apparatus performs predetermined processing on the substrate. A substrate cleaning apparatus cleans the substrate at least one of before and after the predetermined processing. A jetting apparatus jets a cleaning substance in two phases of a gas phase and a liquid phase and a high-temperature gas towards the rear surface or the periphery of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriya, Tadashi Onishi, Ryo Nonaka, Eiichi Nishimura