Patents Examined by Pallavi Chitta
  • Patent number: 11255034
    Abstract: A dynamic imbalance detection system capable of whether a washing machine is in a dynamically imbalanced position by using big data and executing an AI algorithm or a machine learning algorithm in a 5G communications network environment built for IoT. The system includes a washing machine and a server communicating with the washing machine. The washing machine includes a vibration sensor attached to a washing machine cabinet and a controller receiving a vibration signal detected by the vibration sensor during the operation of the washing machine and processing the vibration signal into vibration data. The server receives the vibration data from the controller and trains a machine learning algorithm on a training dataset that is obtained by processing one or more features among a displacement magnitude, a displacement ratio, and a displacement phase, and determines result values of dynamic balance and dynamic imbalance labeled with the one or more features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ju Hyoung Lee, Bon Kwon Koo, Sang Hyun Lee, Hyun Ji Park
  • Patent number: 11248326
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid and a water supply valve for supplying the wash fluid during a fill cycle. A controller is configured for detecting when a pressure sensor of a water level detection system is partially blocked and implementing an incremental fill process. Specifically, the controller is configured for determining a remaining fill volume for the wash fluid to reach the target fill volume, opening the supply valve to provide a fraction of the remaining fill volume into the sump and then closing the supply valve, determining that a sump pressure measured by the water level detection system has stabilized, and repeating these steps until a stopping criterion occurs, such as when a fill cycle limit or a target volume is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan James Scheckelhoff, Ryan Ellis Leonard
  • Patent number: 11242640
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a fabric treating appliance and/or a dish treating appliance, incorporating both a bulk dispensing system and a single-use dispensing system, with a single-use dispensing cup having an output that is selectively coupled to one of a treating chamber of the appliance or a bulk treating chemistry reservoir of the bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Sayer J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 11236455
    Abstract: A control unit comprises a calculation unit, a determination unit, and a motor rotation control unit. The calculation unit calculates the rate of change in water level, which indicates the amount of change in water level per a predetermined period of time, on the basis of the result of sensing by a water level sensor in connection with a water supply stroke. The determination unit determines whether laundry having a waterproof property is contained in a drum or not on the basis of the rate of change in water level during the water supply stroke calculated by the calculation unit. When it is determined that laundry having a waterproof property is contained in the drum, the motor rotation control unit controls the operation of a driving motor such that the drum is rotated at a predetermined number of rotations or less during the dewatering stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohyagi, Nobuhiko Shinohara, Minsu Kim, Hiroki Takita
  • Patent number: 11227778
    Abstract: A wafer cleaning apparatus includes a spin base, a first arm, and a second arm. The spin base is configured to support a wafer. The first arm is disposed above the spin base and configured to supply a chemical solution. The second arm is movably positioned above the spin base, and the second arm is configured to supply a first cleaning solution above the spin base when the first arm abnormally stops supplying the chemical solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shyue-Ru Doong, Feng-Ju Tsai
  • Patent number: 11214906
    Abstract: An inner drum of a washing machine has a plurality of hollow lifting ribs arranged on the side wall of the drum that communicate with the interior of the drum. At least one drainage port communicating with the hollow portions of the lifting ribs is formed in the side wall of the drum. A sealing valve is located inside each lifting rib at each drainage port. During high-speed rotation of the drum, valve bodies of the sealing valves move along a radial center direction of the drum under a centrifugal force, to open the drainage ports. Through this arrangement, discharging water flow in the drum to the outside from the hidden drainage ports is achieved. Meanwhile, centrifugal force during the high-speed rotation of the drum is used to control valve cores of the sealing valves such that the drainage ports are automatically opened for drainage from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yimin Li, Chunfeng Lao, Xinghui Hao, Di Wu, Peishi Lv
  • Patent number: 11191420
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a pump, a spray assembly, a first fluid path, and a second fluid path. The first fluid path may extend from a first path inlet to a first path outlet to recirculate air within a wash chamber. The first path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between the wash chamber and the first path outlet. The second fluid path may extend from a second path inlet to a second path outlet to direct ambient air to the wash chamber. The second path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between an ambient environment surrounding the dishwashing appliance and the second path outlet. The second path outlet may be defined in fluid communication between the second path inlet and the wash chamber downstream from the second path inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Matthew David Mersch
  • Patent number: 11186938
    Abstract: To provide a structure in which a fixing member having the same shaft length can be employed in both two cases, wherein an actuator of a first case is fixed together with an auxiliary unit to a supporting member, and the actuator of a second case is fixed solely to the supporting member; a clutch device; and a washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Oshima
  • Patent number: 11168423
    Abstract: A dye fixing section in a foam indigo dyeing machine for dyeing traveling sheets of textile yarn. The dye fixing section receives traveling sheets of yarn to which indigo dye in leuco form has been applied and penetrated partially through the yarn. Oxygen is applied to the substrate to set the dye at the level of penetration achieved as it enters the dye fixing section, to produce yarns in the sheet with outer dyed rings and undyed cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Gaston Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph W. Aurich
  • Patent number: 11166617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher having a heat pump, including a dishwasher body provided with a tub configured with a washing space therein and a sump provided at a bottom of the tub to temporarily accommodate washing water; a spray arm provided inside the washing space to spray washing water; a circulation pump that pumps the washing water of the sump; a washing water guide that guides the washing water pumped by the circulation pump to the spray arm; a heat pump provided with a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion apparatus, and a condenser provided to exchange heat in contact with the washing water of the washing water guide; and a controller that controls the heat pump to increase the temperature of the washing water of the washing water guide. As a result, it may be possible to suppress heat loss from being generated while heating washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangheon Yoon, Changyoon Jung
  • Patent number: 11160433
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance and a spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, and a cammed diverter valve. The manifold body may be mountable within a wash chamber. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first spray zone, and a second spray zone. The first spray zone may include a first spray outlet. The second spray zone may include a second spray outlet spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The cammed diverter valve may be mounted within the manifold body and be movable between a first zone position and a second zone position. The first zone position may direct wash fluid to the first spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the second spray zone. The second zone position may direct wash fluid to the second spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the first spray zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Horn, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham, Craig Curtis, John Edward Dries
  • Patent number: 11155951
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for breaking a unit dose package in a chamber within a post located in a basket of a laundry washing machine. The method includes filling the basket and the chamber, increasing a rotation speed of the basket and/or the post to raise the water level in the basket and lower the water level in the chamber to cause a unit dose package within the chamber to move downwards; reducing the rotation speed to lower the water level in the basket and raise the water level in chamber to cause the unit dose package within the chamber to move upwards; and repeating the steps of increasing and reducing the rotational speed to cause the unit dose package to break open and at least partially dissolve. A laundry washing machine configured to perform this process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yihong Li, Anthony Lufkin, Allison White, Terry Anderson
  • Patent number: 11136707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus in which an induction module heats the drum uniformly using a magnetic field to dry laundry or heat wash-water, and center and front and rear regions of the drum are uniformly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Beomjun Kim, Sangwook Hong, Woore Kim, Hongjun Cho
  • Patent number: 11066774
    Abstract: A dispenser for the laundry treating appliance has a siphon for handling liquid treating chemistries and a float mechanism for handling solid treating chemistries, especially in the form of powders, in the same chamber. The dispenser can thus be operable for either or both types of treating chemistries with a single chamber and without having to reconfigure anything.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Marcos Javier Rios Acebal
  • Patent number: 11047083
    Abstract: A dispensing device for a liquid, including a reservoir inside which a holding chamber for a liquid is defined; a ram movable inside the holding chamber, wherein between the ram and the seat a variable volume working chamber is defined, able to communicate with the holding chamber; and a non-return valve, arranged at the outlet opening and downstream of the seat. During the stroke of the ram from a forward end-of-stroke position to a backward end-of-stroke position the liquid flows from the holding chamber to the working chamber, and during the stroke of the ram from the backward end-of-stroke position to the forward end-of-stroke position the liquid is dispensed out from the working chamber through an outlet opening. The device further includes an actuating group arranged outside of the holding chamber and capable of contactlessly controlling motion of the ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ELBI INTERNATIONAL S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Marone
  • Patent number: 11041268
    Abstract: An anti-overflow device at a drum water injection port for a drum washing machine comprises a water flow baffle. The water flow baffle extends along an outer drum to an inner drum and is installed at the water injection port, and water flow is blocked to run back into the water injection port along with the inner drum at a high speed. The anti-overflow device further comprises a blocking rib, and the blocking rib is arranged on the inner side of the water injection port and close to the outer drum. The drum washing machine comprises the anti-overflow device at the drum water injection port. The principle of fluid mechanics is adopted in the anti-overflow device at the drum water injection port, the change of liquid flow in the drum is realized, and the anti-overflow effect is good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bencai Huang, Qidui Liang, Jingde Li
  • Patent number: 11000855
    Abstract: An unclogging system for the plumbing of a sink/garbage disposal assembly including a water supply line, a sink drain waste line, a garbage disposal waste line, and an end-outlet tee having a first inlet, a second inlet connected to the sink drain waste line, and an interior baffle disposed adjacent to the first inlet. The system includes a coupling adaptor having a waste-in end attached to the garbage disposal waste line, a waste-out end attached to the first inlet, a hollow interior for the passage of fluid/waste therethrough, and an inlet port. A water jet tube extending through the inlet port into the interior directs water toward the waste-out end and at the baffle. A solenoid valve allowing a flow of water from the water supply line to the water jet tube is coupled to a power outlet, which simultaneously powers the solenoid valve and the garbage disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Richard A. Moon
  • Patent number: 10980394
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes: a tub that defines an washing chamber; spray nozzles configured to spray washing water into the washing chamber; a sump configured to store washing water; a steam nozzle configured to supply steam to the washing chamber; a washing pump housing coupled to the sump and connected to the spray nozzles or the steam nozzle; a heater configured to heat washing water in the washing pump housing; a washing motor configured to rotate an impeller; a washing water outflow pipe defining an outflow path protruding outward from one side of the washing pump housing; a steam discharge pipe that extends from a discharge port defined at a circumferential surface of the washing water outflow pipe; and a first protrusion disposed in an upper portion of the outflow path and disposed downstream of the discharge port in a flow direction of the washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangwoo Woo, Minseong Kim, Hyungman Park
  • Patent number: 10968553
    Abstract: The invention discloses a waterless fiber dyeing machine suitable for mixed fluid medium, including a dyeing tank, a carbon dioxide pressurizing system and a polar medium pressurizing system, a fiber loading system, a circulating dyeing system, a carbon dioxide recycling system, a polar medium separating and recycling system and an automatic unloading system. Since there are pressurizing systems and separating and recycling systems for carbon dioxide medium and polar medium, dyeing with the mixed fluid medium is realized in the waterless dyeing tank and the circulating dyeing system thereof; the hydrophobic carbon dioxide fluid medium is effectively modified, so that the dyeing performance and effect of the dye molecules on the hydrophilic natural fiber are improved. The fiber loading system and the unloading system can significantly improve the fiber loading efficiency, the discharging efficiency of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jiajie Long
  • Patent number: 10883904
    Abstract: An automatic wetting apparatus includes a frame, and a wetting device, an air blowing device, a driving device and a station turntable. The frame is provided with a loading station, an wetting station, a unloading station and an air blowing station, the driving device includes an output end connected with the station turntable, the wetting device is cooperated with the wetting station, the air blowing device is cooperated with the air blowing station, the station turntable is provided with a support unit, the support unit is provided with a through hole, and the support unit is selectively rotatable to align with the loading station, the wetting station, the unloading station or the air blowing station, under an action of the driving device. The processes for loading, wetting and unloading are coherent, and the wetting accuracy and the wetting efficiency are high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FINEETEX (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xumin Wu