Patents Examined by Rita R. Patel
  • Patent number: 7360546
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a semiconductor wafer comprising: a double container including an inner container with an upper opening for accommodating a substrate to be cleaned and an outer container having an airtight space accommodating the inner container therein, the inner container being communicated to the outer container through the upper opening; a cleaning liquid supply conduit for supplying a cleaning liquid into the inner container; an inner container drain conduit for draining the cleaning liquid from the inner container; a solvent-containing gas supply conduit for supplying a solvent-containing gas into the inner container for drying the substrate; a solvent-resolving gas supply conduit for supplying a solvent-resolving gas into the inner container for resolving a solvent component attached on the substrate; an exhaust pipe for exhausting the gases from the double container, and an outer container drain conduit for draining the liquid spilled from the inner container to the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Doi
  • Patent number: 7356865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing contaminants from a solvent based cleaning fluid. An article cleaning apparatus comprises an ultrafiltration filter having a pore size of about 0.01 microns to about 0.2 microns. A method for performing a solvent based cleaning process using an article cleaning apparatus comprises passing a solvent based cleaning fluid through an ultrafiltration filter having a having a pore size of about 0.01 microns to about 0.2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Rulon Young Rawson, David Najewicz
  • Patent number: 7354484
    Abstract: A cleaning processing apparatus comprises a spin chuck for holding a wafer W, an under plate being positioned to face the back surface of the wafer W with a prescribed gap provided therebetween, a support member for supporting the under plate, and a nozzle hole formed to extended through the plate member and the support member. A chemical liquid, a pure water and a gas can be supplied into a nozzle hole through opening-closing valves, and the chemical liquid and the pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole can be sucked by a sucking device. A pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole is sucked and removed by using the sucking device after the processing of the wafer W with a pure water and, then, a gas is spurted onto the back surface of the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takehiko Orii, Masahiro Mukoyama, Hiromitsu Nanba
  • Patent number: 7347212
    Abstract: There is provided a filter device that enables less frequent manual or self cleaning of the filter surface. The filter is particularly suitable for an aquiferous domestic appliance, such as a dishwashing machine, in which the cleaning effect occurring with alternating pumping is further increased, such that manual cleaning of the filter surface need take place less often, or, respectively, self-cleaning of the filter surface occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Rosenbauer
  • Patent number: 7341066
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub disposed inside a cabinet, for storing water; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, for washing laundry; and a steam generating apparatus disposed at the cabinet, for generating steam supplied to the inside of the drum, by using high-frequency induction heating. Accordingly, by generating steam using high-frequency induction heating, a structure of the steam generating apparatus can be simplified, and performance of generating steam can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Kyung Chul Woo, Jin Woong Kim, Si Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7340924
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine having a gasket blocking a gap between a laundry entrance and a tub to prevent particles from being put therein. The present invention includes a cabinet having a first opening through which a laundry is put in, a tub having a second opening at a tub front side, a drum provided in the tub to have a third opening at a drum front side corresponding to the second opening, a rotation mans having a rotational shaft penetrating a rear side of the tub to be connected to the drum, a door opening/closing the first opening, and a gasket blocking a gap between the first and second openings to prevent leakage of water and blocking a gap between the second and third openings to prevent a particle from being put between the tub and the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gon Kim, Yu Beom Kang, Sang Man Je
  • Patent number: 7340792
    Abstract: A sensor for determining the level of the liquid in the lye container for removing foam in the lye container of a drum washing machine with a lye discharge system arranged on the floor of the lye container with a lye pump during a program step, which is provided for dehydrating the lye container. Its sensor signal P is recorded during operation of the lye pump. According to the present invention the sequence p/t of the sensor signal contains a component ?p/?t, whereof the presence indicates the presence of foam in the measuring region. Further, in the presence of the component a foam treatment measure suiting the type of component is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Haugeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Gundula Czyzewski, Ingo Schulze
  • Patent number: 7337635
    Abstract: Washing agent dispenser for a household washing machine, namely a dishwasher, which dispenser has a body (2) delimiting at least a recess (3) for containing a certain amount of washing agent, comprising occlusion means (4,5) for said recess (3). According to the invention, said occlusion means (4,5) are capable of taking at least two different operating conditions for a partial opening of said recess (3), one for loading said amount of washing agent, the other for its subsequent dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Cerruti, Giovanni Perucca, Fabio Nebbia, Stefano Belfiore
  • Patent number: 7334941
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing items comprises a generally cylindrical mesh housing; a first wall and a second wall, said first wall and said second wall being positioned within said housing so as to define first, second and third compartments in said housing; an opening in each of said compartments through which an item to be washed can be placed in or removed from a respective compartment; and a closure device for closing said compartments to retain said items in said compartments when said items are being washed. The first wall and said second wall may each comprise an endless pocket and a stiffener disposed within said pocket. A polymer loop may be used to stiffen said first wall and said second wall. A method of using the apparatus to wash various items, including those of delicate fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Home Creations Ltd.
    Inventor: David S Fenster
  • Patent number: 7322368
    Abstract: A plasma cleaning gas for CVD chamber is a gas for cleaning silicon-containing deposits on the surface of a CVD chamber inner wall and the surfaces of members placed inside the CVD chamber after film forming treatment on a substrate by a plasma CVD apparatus. The cleaning gas includes 100% by volume of fluorine gas which gas can generate plasma by electric discharge. When 100% by volume of fluorine gas is plasma-generated by electric discharge and then used as a cleaning gas, an extremely excellent etching rate can be attained and further plasma can be stably generated even in the total gas flow rate of 1000 sccm and at a chamber pressure of 400 Pa. Further, the uniformity of cleaning can be also ensured in the above conditions. Additionally the fluorine gas concentration is 100% so that the apparatus is not complicated and thereby the cleaning gas has excellent practicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Akira Sekiya, Yuki Mitsui, Yutaka Ohira, Taisuke Yonemura
  • Patent number: 7323066
    Abstract: A device and method for cleaning paint accessories and particularly roller covers and/or other paint accessories simultaneously or individually. A spray head has a fluid inlet engageable to a source of fluid and a fluid collection chamber in communication with the fluid inlet. A plurality of spray apertures are radially spaced within the spray head to be adjacent the nap of a roller cover during use. A sealing surface positioned within the radius of the spray apertures seals off an end of the roller cover. A housing having an inner cavity for receiving a roller cover has a diameter sized to create cleansing fluid flow through the nap of a roller cover. A plurality of outlet apertures in communication with the inner cavity are radially spaced to be adjacent a nap portion of a roller cover during use. A plurality of decreased diameter nestable sleeves adapted to fit in the housing are also provided to accommodate variously circumferentially dimensioned paint rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Collin Budron
  • Patent number: 7318442
    Abstract: An automatic car wash system is provided for processing multiple vehicles simultaneously. The system according to one embodiment includes an elongate path, a plurality of stations for processing the vehicle, at least two detectors for indicating the presence of the vehicles. The system provides instructions to the drivers of the vehicles so that the vehicles travel through the system under their own power, and thus conveyor systems can be avoided, yet throughput remains high. In one embodiment, the system includes a radio transmitter that is operable to direct specific information to each of the vehicles via radio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Michael MacDowell
  • Patent number: 7308900
    Abstract: An engine and high pressure pump are mounted onto a wheeled chassis. High pressure water is distributed to a rotating wand and nozzle assembly on the wheeled chassis so that as the chassis is moved along a linear path, high pressure water is sprayed onto an underlying surface to clean the surface. Optional diffusion plates may be used to prevent high pressure water from being sprayed directly onto the underlying surface in part of the rotational path defined by the wand and nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Otterson
  • Patent number: 7293436
    Abstract: An improved water supply assembly for a washing machine is provided which prevents breakage of a water supply hose due to freezing. The water supply assembly includes a detergent box assembly provided in a cabinet so as to communicate with a tub of the washing machine, and a water supply valve assembly connected to the detergent box assembly by a hose so as to control a flow of water into the washing machine. By positioning the water supply valve assembly higher than the detergent box, the hose extending therebetween is oriented at a downward slant, thus causing any excess water remaining in the hose after the flow of water into the washing machine has been cut off to naturally drain into the detergent box assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Hwan No, Jong Seok Kim, Han Ki Cho, Yeon Su Jung, Jung Hoon Kang, Young Hoon Ha, Myung Sik Park
  • Patent number: 7293437
    Abstract: A drum washing machine having a gasket to prevent leakage of water in the tub and the laundry from being stuck in a laundry opening part. The washing machine including a cabinet having a first opening through which a laundry is put in the cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet to have a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a drum installed in the tub to have a third opening corresponding to the second opening, and a gasket including a leakage preventing part having one end connected to a rim of the first opening and the other end connected to a rim of the second opening to prevent water leakage and a laundry-stuck preventing part provided on an inner circumference of the leakage preventing part to prevent the laundry from being stuck in a space between the first and third openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon, Kang Mo Choi
  • Patent number: 7293572
    Abstract: Cleaning equipment for cleaning a moving surface particularly in a paper machine includes a washing head with a chamber in it opening onto the surface to be cleaned and nozzle elements arranged inside the chamber. The cleaning equipment also includes vacuum means and removal means. The vacuum means are arranged in the washing head. In addition, the washing head is arranged to be movable relative to the removal means that are fitted in a fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomi Honkala, Jari Laine, Petteri Venetjoki
  • Patent number: 7287535
    Abstract: A work washing apparatus including a transfer unit for controlling forward and rearward movements of a work, a table moved by the transfer unit, carrying out the washing of the work from upper and lower surfaces thereof and provided with water/air pipes, an upper surface washing unit provided on an upper surface of the transfer unit and having upper surface washing nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the washing unit, side surface washing units provided on both side surfaces of the transfer unit and having side surface nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rotational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the upper surface washing unit, a lower washing unit provided on a lower surface of the transfer unit and having lower surface washing nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rotational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fine Machine Kataoka Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7275868
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a laundry retaining device comprising a strap and a bag. The strap is suitable for retaining larger articles of clothing that have openings to pass the strap through, such as shirts and shorts. The bag, preferably a mesh bag, retains smaller articles of clothing or articles that do not have openings to pass the strap through. The device allows for the washing and drying of a set or several sets of clothes at once without having to sort and recreate each set of laundered clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: David S. Miller
  • Patent number: 7275553
    Abstract: A cleaning processing apparatus comprises a spin chuck for holding a wafer W, an under plate being positioned to face the back surface of the wafer W with a prescribed gap provided therebetween, a support member for supporting the under plate, and a nozzle hole formed to extended through the plate member and the support member. A chemical liquid, a pure water and a gas can be supplied into a nozzle hole through opening-closing valves, and the chemical liquid and the pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole can be sucked by a sucking device. A pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole is sucked and removed by using the sucking device after the processing of the wafer W with a pure water and, then, a gas is spurted onto the back surface of the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takehiko Orii, Masahiro Mukoyama, Hiromitsu Nanba
  • Patent number: 7272960
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided which has a structurally reinforced apparatus for accurately sensing a water level. The washing machine includes a housing, a tub installed in the housing, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a water level sensing apparatus for sensing a water level in the tub/drum so as to provide an appropriate water level for each washing step. The water level sensing apparatus includes an air chamber installed in communication with the tub. The air chamber stores a predetermined amount such that the water present in the system develops a pressure on the stored air. The water level sensing apparatus also includes a sensor installed at an end of a tube connected to the air chamber which determines a water level by sensing an air pressure in the tube, and a protecting member which prevents disassembly and breakage of the air chamber and the tube during operation of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Hwan No, Jong Seok Kim, Han Ki Cho, Yeon Su Jung, Jung Hoon Kang, Young Hoon Ha, Myung Sik Park