Patents Examined by Kathryn S. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 6785982
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a coated web is taught that reduces dryer induced mottle. The apparatus comprises a plurality of ducts positioned in series within an enclosure, the coated web travelling through the enclosure in a direction of travel, each duct including an arcuate portion terminating in a discharge nozzle, each discharge nozzle directed such that air exiting therefrom is flowing generally parallel to the coated web and in the direction of travel of the web; and at least one of the plurality of ducts having a baffle plate extending back therefrom toward another one of the plurality of ducts upstream thereof, the baffle plate being generally parallel to the coated web. Each duct preferably also includes a plate extension projecting from a bottom portion of the discharge nozzle in the direction of travel of the web, the plate extension being substantially parallel to the coated web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Roger K. Yonkoski, Amy Schweighardt
  • Patent number: 6785981
    Abstract: A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a pressure sensing device having a body configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: In-O-Vate Technologies
    Inventor: Richard John Harpenau
  • Patent number: 6785980
    Abstract: A compressed air supply system includes a compressor and an air dryer connected to receive compressed air from the compressor. The dryer includes a desiccant bed through which the compressed air flows to provide dry compressed air, and a blow-through valve operable to connect the desiccant bed to atmosphere. Secondary and primary reservoirs located remotely from the dryer are connected to receive dry compressed air from the dryer. Control components integral with the dryer are provided for controlling a charging operation by controlling air flow from the compressor through the dryer for charging the primary and secondary reservoirs with dry compressed air. The control components also control a purging operation by controlling air flow from the secondary reservoir through the dryer desiccant bed and through the blow-through valve to atmosphere in order to purge the dryer, while maintaining an initial air pressure within the primary reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Koelzer
  • Patent number: 6772533
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder dryer of a paper machine, has at least one drying cylinder (10) and at least one roll (11, 12) located at a different height to the cylinder and at a distance to it in the machine direction. A paper web (14) travels from the drying cylinder (10) to this roll (11, 12). Dry air is brought to the dryer through a beam (13) located in front of the web (14) in the machine direction, the air is directed by means of nozzles (33) in the beam into a throat (21) between the drying cylinder (10) and the web (14) mainly to intensify the drying effect. A doctor (27) keeps the surface of the drying cylinder clean. The beam (13) forms with the roll (12) a smooth, high channel (25), at least on the side of the roll (12), for the passage of the web during a disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Reijo Hassinen, Jari Jonkka, Markku Lyytinen, Mika Saari
  • Patent number: 6772537
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-heat drying method which allows a catalytic substance and the like to be deposited uniformly onto a workpiece to be dried in a dramatically short time as compared to a prior art method, and also an apparatus therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Koy Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6769198
    Abstract: A conditioning device to change the moisture content of printing stock, in which the stock is brought into contact with at least one endless cloth that absorbs moisture. The endless cloth is heated by heated transport rolls. A reduction of the moisture content contributes to a reduction of distortions of the printing image in two-sided printing, especially in digital printing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kai-Michael Gundel, Gerhard Klukas, Andreas Schweizer
  • Patent number: 6769196
    Abstract: A condenser of a condensing-type clothes dryer includes a plurality of condensing ducts provided in a middle portion of a circulation duct, the condensing ducts condensing air being circulated there-through after being discharged from a drum; and a plurality of cooling fins provided to be in contact with an outer surface of the condensing ducts, wherein an interval or a pitch of the cooling fins is different partially according to a flow rate of air blown from a cooling fan for a heat-exchange with air flowing through the condensing duct. At this time, the pitch or interval of the cooling fins is narrow at a portion where air blown from the cooling fan flows fast, and the pitch or internal of the cooling fins is wide at a portion where air blown from the cooling fan flows slowly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Park, Choon Myun Chung, Mu Yong Choi, Dae Yun Park, Kyung Seop Hong
  • Patent number: 6766596
    Abstract: A door/lid for an appliance, such as a washer or dryer, includes a tempered glass panel upon an inner surface of which is applied one or two screen printed borders of fusible ceramic printing medium defining a substantially opaque peripheral border bounding a central viewing area through which clothing associated with a washer or dryer can be viewed when the door/lid is closed. An injection molded narrow encapsulation, border or rim surrounds an edge of the tempered glass panel and effects a water-tight seal therewith. Third ceramic printing means in the form of instructions or safety rules in applied to the first or second printing medium but is indiscernible from the outside when the door/lid is closed. When the door/lid is open, the instructions/safety rules are totally divisible, upright and readable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Gemtron Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Bienick, Howard Daley
  • Patent number: 6766593
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for drying solvent-based ink is described, in which the ink is applied onto plastic cassettes for histological preparations and/or on glass specimen slides (17) for microscopic thin sections. The apparatus (1) comprises a hot-air blower (2) and/or a flash device (3) for drying the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Laudat, Holger Metzner, Roland Walter
  • Patent number: 6766589
    Abstract: A portable hand dryer has an air blower and, optionally, an air heater. The hand dryer includes a laterally protruding male electrical plug having at least two prongs which provides electricity to the blower and which allows the hand dryer to be supported from a structure wall. In one embodiment, the male plug can be folded flush with the rear wall of the hand dryer. In another embodiment, the hand dryer also has a laterally extending distal prong which provides additional support for the hand dryer along a structure wall. In yet another embodiment, the hand dryer comprises a spacer on a rear wall of the hand dryer to separate the rear wall from the structure wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Maria Regina Bory, Christopher Gregory Bory
  • Patent number: 6763606
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying ionized particles is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ionized particle emitter for emitting ionized particles against an object; and an electric potential maintainer for maintaining electric potential of the object at a predetermined level such that the ionized particles emitted against the object by the ionized particle emitter are continuously attracted to the object while the electric potential is maintained. A method for applying ionized particles is also disclosed. The method includes emitting ionized particles against an object, and maintaining electric potential of the object at a predetermined level such that the ionized particles are continuously attracted to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Itaru Saida
  • Patent number: 6757987
    Abstract: A method for producing powder paints which comprises the steps of: a) preparing a paste comprising at least one thermosetting plastic resin, at least one curing agent, at least one pigment and water and making the paste flow in the form of a thin layer and under conditions of high turbulence in contact with a wall at a predetermined temperature; b) drying the paste by making it flow into a thin and turbulent layer in contact with a heated wall and optionally with a flow of heated gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Vomm Chemipharma S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppina Cerea
  • Patent number: 6754976
    Abstract: The in-wall dryer vent for venting to another floor is used to vent clothes dryer exhaust to a floor other than that on which the clothes dryer is located. The invention has an upper portion adapted for installation within the three and one-half inch cavity inside a wall constructed with standard two-by-four studs, and has a lower portion that expands to a width of at least four inches from front to back. The upper portion has a flanged opening adapted to extend through drywall and attach to standard clothes dryer outlet coupling devices. The lower portion has an outlet tube adapted for coupling to standard dryer vent piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: David G. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6751889
    Abstract: A dryer has a blower and means for dividing an airflow into two separate chambers. A drying channel is defined between the two chambers and material to be dried passes along the channel. The walls between the chambers and the channel are apertured to allow air to flow into the channel. The channel increases in cross-sectional area along the length thereof such that air flowing along the channel is subject to a pressure drop. The air thus flows substantially in one direction along the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Leslie R. Wells
  • Patent number: 6748672
    Abstract: A wafer dryer for use in a semiconductor cleaning apparatus includes an internal bath, an external bath, a solution supply line, a solution drain line, a pump, and drying means. The solution drain line has a first drain line and a second drain line. A pump for constantly maintaining a speed of a drained solution is installed on the first drain line. The drying means has an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) nozzle, a first gas spray nozzle for spraying N2 gas, and a second spray nozzle. The second spray nozzle is installed on all inner sidewalls of the external bath and has a plurality of holes. Thus, no wave is produced at a surface of the drained solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: DNS Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hee Lee, Sang-Wha Lee
  • Patent number: 6745489
    Abstract: Spin drying of a stack of flats such as egg trays is performed within a housing by movement of a rotatable lifting head into engagement with the undersurface of the stack. A stack lifting device lifts the lifting head and the stack of flats positioned thereon vertically upwardly into engagement with a drive engagement device thereabove which is rotatably powered by a drive with an optional braking device. Operation of the drive will cause rotation of the lifting head, the stack of flats and the drive engagement device simultaneously. The stack of flats will be held between the lifting head engaging the lower surface thereof and the drive engagement device engaging the upper surface thereof for fixedly securing these three elements together during powered rotation thereof. The rotation will spin off any liquids remaining on the flats such as would be present after being washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 6745491
    Abstract: An intermediate assembly has a vertical plate with a rectangular opening. The intermediate assembly has a container with side walls and a rear wall and a horizontal upper wall. The upper wall has parallel side edges rearwardly and a semicircular edge forwardly. A securement frame has a forward periphery with a rearward projection removably positioned within the opening in the plate. A tube assembly includes an upper tube positionable above the upper wall and a lower tube coaxial with the upper tube and positionable below the upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Rodolfo Hernandez-Zelaya
  • Patent number: 6742278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of wood, and is particularly concerned with a method for increasing the permeability of wood, especially moist wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: The University Of Melbourne
    Inventors: Peter Vinden, Francisco Javier Romero, Grigory Torgovnikov
  • Patent number: 6742279
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a spin rinse dry (SRD) chamber for a semiconductor processing system. The SRD chamber includes a selectively rotatable substrate support member having an upper substrate receiving surface formed thereon, and a selectively rotatable shield member positioned above the upper substrate receiving surface, the rotatable shield member having a substantially planar lower surface that may be selectively positioned proximate the upper substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Lubomirsky, Joseph J. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6742284
    Abstract: The invention is a drying system and a method for its use, the drying system having a container containing a product to be dried and a dryer. The dryer includes an inlet for providing the drying air, a drying air pathway, and a furnace for heating the drying air. The drying air flows through a supply route to the container, where the drying air dries the product and is converted into a return air. The return air flows through a return route back to the dryer. The return air flows through a return air pathway and a heat exchanger which intersects the return air pathway and the drying air pathway. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the return air to the drying air. The return air is exhausted through an outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a tobacco barn and the product is tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Dryer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Dinh