Work Handled In Bulk Or Groups Patents (Class 134/25.1)
  • Patent number: 11823929
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus for performing a cleaning treatment on substrates. The apparatus includes an indexer block with an indexer robot, a treating block including a cleaning unit, and a path block disposed between the indexer block and the treating block. The indexer robot includes a guide rail, a base, an articulated arm, and a hand. The guide rail is positioned so as not to overlap a mount position of a substrate in the path block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yuzo Uchida, Noriyuki Kikumoto, Hiroyuki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11684232
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Dishcare Inc.
    Inventor: Sri Rama Prasanna Pavani
  • Patent number: 11594436
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus for performing a cleaning treatment on substrates. The apparatus includes an indexer block with an indexer robot, a treating block including a front face cleaning unit and a back face cleaning unit as treating units, and a reversing path block including a plurality of shelves on which substrates are placed, and having a reversing function. The indexer robot includes a guide rail, a base, an articulated arm, and a hand. The guide rail is positioned so as not to overlap a mount position of a substrate in the reversing path block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yuzo Uchida, Noriyuki Kikumoto, Hiroyuki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11576415
    Abstract: A produce wash system, method, and short-term wash treatment are provided. For example, the produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device followed by a wash device, a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment is applied using a spray device that creates micrometer sized droplets, and wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time. The pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTWASH SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: James M. Brennan, Danny Elmer Lindstrom, Christopher Michael McGinnis, Eric Child Wilhelmsen
  • Patent number: 11503960
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher for washing fruits and vegetables with less water and minimum energy use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
    Inventor: Halil Sayir
  • Patent number: 11420237
    Abstract: An installation for melting metallic scraps, and particularly adapted for melting aluminium scraps, includes a system for cleaning the metallic scraps, and in particular for cleaning the scraps from organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: North American Construction Service LTD
    Inventor: Timothy Stephen Hordley
  • Patent number: 11187693
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems, methods, and devices for determining saturation pressure of an uncontaminated fluid. Downhole saturation pressure measurements and downhole OBM filtrate contamination of a contaminated fluid may be obtained and a relationship may be determined between the saturation pressure measurements and OBM filtrate contamination. The relationship may be extrapolated to zero OBM filtrate contamination to determine the saturation pressure of the uncontaminated fluid. In some embodiments, OBM filtrate contamination may be determined from downhole saturation pressure measurements during pumpout of a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Christopher Harrison, Adriaan Gisolf, Cosan Ayan, Michael Mallari Toribio, Chetankumar Natwarlal Desai, Oliver Clinton Mullins, Matthew T. Sullivan, Elizabeth Smythe
  • Patent number: 11177125
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a semiconductor wafer, including: inserting a semiconductor wafer into a hydrofluoric acid tank filled with hydrofluoric acid to immerse the semiconductor wafer in the hydrofluoric acid; pulling out the semiconductor wafer from the hydrofluoric acid tank; and then inserting the semiconductor wafer into an ozone water tank filled with ozone water to immerse the semiconductor wafer in the ozone water for cleaning. The semiconductor wafer is inserted into the ozone water tank at a rate of 20000 mm/min or more at least after a lower end of the semiconductor wafer comes into contact with the ozone water until the semiconductor wafer is completely immersed in the ozone water. A method for cleaning a semiconductor wafer which can prevent and remove contaminant from re-adhering in a method in which a semiconductor wafer is cleaned by immersion in hydrofluoric acid and then cleaned by immersion in ozone water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensaku Igarashi, Tatsuo Abe
  • Patent number: 11141683
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing low micron solids from a mixture of recovered oil based drilling fluid and low micron solids and diluent. A gas tight clarifier device that is designed and constructed for this purpose in a gas-tight manor so to ensure vapour cannot escape the separation process, and foreign oxygen cannot enter the process under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: RECOVER ENERGY SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Stan Ross, Matthew Scalley
  • Patent number: 11089940
    Abstract: A device for drying and polishing a plurality of items including glasses and cutlery is provided. The device includes a plurality of movable cleaning elements configured to at least one of dry and polish the items and an enclosure defining a chamber, the movable cleaning elements being within the chamber. The enclosure includes a first aperture at a first enclosure location, a second aperture at a second enclosure location, a third aperture at a third enclosure location, and a channel assembly located in the chamber. The first aperture is adapted to receive a first item, the second aperture is adapted to receive a second item, and the third aperture is adapted to enable the second item to exit the chamber. The channel assembly defines a channel path between the second aperture and the third aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MT Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Tommaso Porcelli
  • Patent number: 11040383
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for remediation of contaminated earth from hazardous substances, comprising mobile equipment that are generally available. The mobile equipment are physically separate and temporarily organised at a location in the proximity of a contaminated site when the need arises and are dispersed or disposed of following remediation of the contaminated site. The generally available mobile equipment may include earth moving excavators, truck mixers equipped with tumblers used for mixing and delivering cement-concrete to the construction site, and centrifuges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY
    Inventor: Shyam Ramchandra Asolekar
  • Patent number: 10780462
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning game, fruit, vegetables, fish, or crustacea in a container has a pipe and a connector connected to the pipe adjacent one end of the pipe. The pipe has a plurality of apertures formed in spaced relation to each other along a length of the pipe. The pipe is adapted to extend generally vertical within the container. The plurality of apertures are adapted to direct a flow of water in a generally cyclonic path in the container. The connector is adapted to introduce water into and through the pipe from a water hose or a conduit. A fastener is affixed to the pipe or the connector so as to removably affix the pipe to the a container. A spacer is affixed to the pipe so as to position the pipe a distance away from a wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: Tim McDonald
  • Patent number: 10710813
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus includes a roller system including a drive roller and one or more guide rollers configured to receive an elongated article to be cleaned. Each guide roller and the drive roller form a serpentine path for the article. The cleaning apparatus further includes a frame for supporting each guide roller and the drive roller; and a fluid delivery system for directing fluid at top and bottom faces of the article. The fluid delivery system includes one or more conduits. Each conduit is in fluid communication with a plurality of nozzles to direct fluid to the top and the bottom faces of the article. The cleaning apparatus further includes an actuator to linearly displace at least one of conduits back and forth during operation. The drive roller may be a sprocket for engaging and transporting the article. The article may be a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HYDRITE CHEMICAL CO.
    Inventor: Andy Kenowski
  • Patent number: 10543643
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a de-powdering subsystem for an additive fabrication system is described. The de-powdering subsystem may comprise a bath subsystem. The bath subsystem may comprise a reservoir configured to contain a liquid and to accept objects to be de-powdered into the liquid, and an agitation facility configured to cause currents within the liquid. The agitator facility may be at least one of (i) a pump configured to circulate the liquid within the reservoir, (ii) a heating element configured to generate convection currents in the liquid, and (iii) a stirrer driven through a linkage to a motor. The bath subsystem may comprise at least one ultrasonic transducer configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Desktop Metal, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Sachs, Jamison Go, Robert J. Nick
  • Patent number: 10479718
    Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus may be configured to facilitate a process of separating a glass ribbon along a separation path extending across a width of the glass ribbon. In one example, the glass manufacturing apparatus comprises at least one anvil-side vacuum port defined by an elongated nose and an elongated anvil member. The anvil-side vacuum port is configured to remove glass debris during the process of separating the glass ribbon. In another example, the glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a scoring device and a score-side vacuum port configured to remove glass debris generated during the process of separating the glass ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James William Brown, Tatyana Vyacheslavovna Brown, Marvin William Kemmerer, Weiwei Luo
  • Patent number: 10464812
    Abstract: Provided is a method for catalytically reducing selenium. Hydrogen peroxide is used as a catalyst, and a reducer is added to a hexavalent-selenium-containing solution for reaction so as to reduce the selenium to elemental selenium, wherein the standard oxidation-reduction potential of the reducer is lower than the standard oxidation-reduction potential of the conversion of the hexavalent selenium to elemental selenium. The present method can further reduce a hexavalent-selenium element-containing selenic acid or selenate solution to an elemental selenium product in one step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Central South University
    Inventors: Xueyi Guo, Runze Xu, Dong Li, Qinghua Tian
  • Patent number: 10427195
    Abstract: A method and system for the reduction of contamination in soil and groundwater is provided. Cyclic oligosaccharides can be used, for example, to carry oxidants, carry activators, solubilize organic contaminants and promote biodegradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: OXYTEC LLC
    Inventor: Raymond G. Ball
  • Patent number: 10183317
    Abstract: A method and system for the reduction of contamination in soil and groundwater is provided. Cyclic oligosaccharides can be used, for example, to carry oxidants, carry activators, solubilize organic contaminants and promote biodegradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: OXYTEC LLC
    Inventor: Raymond G. Ball
  • Patent number: 10040075
    Abstract: Separation of hydrophobic particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid is performed by providing a fluidized bed as a relatively non-turbulent contacting mechanism in a flotation cell incorporating a settling chamber located immediately above the fluidized bed. Hydrophobic particles attach to bubbles in the fluidized bed and rise to the interface with the settling chamber where non-hydrophobic particles flow over the lip of an internal launder and are removed as tailings at. The hydrophobic particles attached to bubbles float upwardly in the relatively placid settling chamber where unwanted gangue can fall back to interface. The bubbles form a froth layer at the upper surface of the settling chamber, and flow over the launder lip carrying the hydrophobic particles. An operation of the apparatus is kept stable by recirculating fluid from the settling chamber via pip and pump to mix with new feed entering at duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES LIMITED
    Inventor: Graeme John Jameson
  • Patent number: 10029249
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ion exchange regeneration for resins onsite at an industrial facility are disclosed. The resins can be boron selective resins and the systems and methods can utilize onsite regeneration, recycling of certain effluent streams, and/or treated water as a main water source for regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Vittur, Ronald Matherly, Jiasheng Cao
  • Patent number: 10001002
    Abstract: Methods including placing particles that are substantially dry in a hopper; conveying the particles from the hopper via a conveyance to an open-air gap; adding a fluid to the particles in the hopper, the particles in the conveyance, or both, thereby reducing an amount of a dust produced at the open-air gap. The particles may be sand, silica, gravel, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, composite particulates, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Adam Fisher, Calvin Lynn Stegemoeller, Wesley John Warren
  • Patent number: 9894909
    Abstract: Thorough spraying and draining freshly cut produce and the equipment processing it in a one-pass system that uses a dilute solution of chilled ultrapure water and chlorine dioxide or chlorine or both significantly reduces bacterial counts. Raw produce is sprayed as it is conveyed to cutting heads and as the cut pieces fall into a hopper above a conveyor. The conveyed cut produce is vibrated and tumbled while being sprayed from above. At the end of the process, the cut produce is sprayed with potable water and deposited in a dryer basket. Drainage from the equipment is collected and processed through a multi-stage water filtration system to potable quality. The near freezing water temperature, its ultra-purity, and the concentrations of biocides in the sanitizing spray are carefully established, monitored and maintained by a process controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: McEntire Produce, Inc.
    Inventors: Carter McEntire, R. C. McEntire, Jr., Tom Lovelace, David Morris
  • Patent number: 9702022
    Abstract: A method for removal of organic coatings from loose aluminum scrap includes passing the scrap through a Multiple Hearth Furnace operatively maintained in the range of 500° F.-1600° F. Each hearth in the furnace is independently temperature controlled and held under a slightly negative pressure environment. The hearths heat the scrap such that pyrolysis of the coatings occurs within the hearth. Organic compounds liberated during this process are partially or entirely consumed within the furnace combustion products are exhausted through the top. Hydrogen fluoride contained in the products of combustion is incinerated prior to final discharge from the system and routing to additional environmental equipment for particle removal. Scrap is continuously fed into the top of the furnace, and agitated and mechanically moved within each hearth toward an output of another hearth therebelow. The agitation and movement of the scrap exposes the scrap to the hearth atmosphere to assist in processing of the scrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Furnace Company
    Inventors: William A. Mansfield, Donald Whipple
  • Patent number: 9675192
    Abstract: The ordered food and drink conveying apparatus includes: a main belt conveyor to form a conveying path leading to a customer seat from a kitchen side of a restaurant; an auxiliary belt conveyor to be provided in extension from the main belt conveyor on the kitchen side to elongate the conveying path; and a control unit to operate the auxiliary belt conveyor and the main belt conveyor upon a conveyance start operation being performed and to convey the dish of the food and drink placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor to the customer seat, the control unit setting the auxiliary belt conveyor in a stop state enabling placement of the dish to be conveyed next on the auxiliary belt conveyor before stopping the main belt conveyor upon the dish being transferred onto the main belt conveyor from the auxiliary belt conveyor by performing the conveyance start operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ishino Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Ishino, Kunihiko Motooka, Shigeru Kubo
  • Patent number: 9548225
    Abstract: An edge bead removal apparatus is provided. The edge bead removal apparatus includes a clamping unit configured to clamp a cylindrical reticle and cause the cylindrical reticle to incline with a pre-determined angle and to rotate around a central axis. The edge bead removal apparatus also includes an edge bead removal solvent nozzle configured to spray an edge bead removal solvent to remove edge beads on both edges of the cylindrical reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Qiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9511156
    Abstract: A method for sterilizing an antiseptic solution includes providing a plurality of containers containing the antiseptic solution, the antiseptic solution having an initial purity, selecting a sterilization temperature from about 85° C. to about 135° C. and an sterilization time from about 1 minute to about 19 hours, heating the antiseptic solution in the plurality of containers to the selected sterilization temperature, maintaining the temperature for the selected sterilization time, and terminating the heating of the antiseptic solution when the sterilization time expires. After terminating the heating, the antiseptic solution in the plurality of containers has a post-sterilization purity. The sterilization temperature and the sterilization time are selected such that after terminating the heating, the antiseptic solution is sterile and have a post-sterilization purity of at least about 92% and the percentage point change in purity from the initial purity to the post-sterilization purity is at most about 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Carefusion 2200, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Degala, Christopher Matthew McGinley, Kenneth Bruce Thurmond
  • Patent number: 9505146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile apparatus and a method for concrete production, comprising a cooling apparatus for cooling bulk material, in particular aggregates for concrete production. The cooling apparatus (100) comprises a bulk material hopper (110), a wetting apparatus (120) and an air supply apparatus (130). The cooling apparatus has a bulk material feeder (140) for feeding bulk material into the bulk material hopper via a bulk material feeder path (141), the bulk material feeder and the wetting apparatus being adapted and disposed in such a way that bulk material to be fed comes into contact on at least one part of the bulk material feeder path with water that is being discharged from the wetting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LINTEC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Matthias Nederstigt
  • Patent number: 9494577
    Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of wells for conducting analysis of three-dimensional cell samples (e.g., tissue samples) and methods for experimenting with a three-dimensional sample. A removable insert for use with the apparatus enables plunger-driven perfusion of the three-dimensional sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Seahorse Biosciences
    Inventors: Paul McGarr, Andy C. Neilson, Jay S. Teich
  • Patent number: 9296572
    Abstract: Preferred nose cones 100 associatable with a tail spout 120 of a sand handler and a vacuum hose 130 of a vacuum system are described herein. A method for containing respirable and/or inhalable particles 140 created in an industrial process is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Associated Research-EDC Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon Gerald Houghton, Matthew Charles Templeton
  • Publication number: 20150144159
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to mechanisms for cleaning wafers is provided. A method for wafer cleaning includes cleaning wafers by a wet-bench cleaning operation. The method also includes thereafter cleaning each of the wafers by a single-wafer cleaning operation. In addition, a cleaning apparatus for enhancing the performance of the above method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shang-Yuan YU, Shao-Yen KU, Chien-Wen HSIAO, Hong-Jie XU, Jui-Chuan CHANG, Wen-Chang TSAI
  • Patent number: 9034109
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils and a spraying system spraying liquid in the treating chamber, to determine at least one parameter of the cycle of operation based on the set of load condition by selectively spraying liquid in multiple portions of the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Barry E. Tuller
  • Patent number: 9028619
    Abstract: A system and method for securing tokens to be cleaned includes a tray with a curved surface defining a channel extending along a first direction and spacers projecting from the curved surface into the channel. The spacers are disposed at regular intervals along the first direction. The curved surface also has at least one opening. The tokens may be inserted into the channel between adjacent spacers and the tray holding the tokens can be submerged into a cleaning liquid. Identical trays containing tokens can also be stacked and together submerged into the cleaning liquid. The tray holding the tokens can be placed on a drying surface that has a drainage hole, and wetness remaining on the tokens can be sucked through the hole in the channel and the drainage hole by a vacuum or blown through the hole in the channel and drainage hole by an air blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Phillip Alston Hewitt
  • Publication number: 20150083166
    Abstract: A water treatment system including an enclosure for water to be treated, a multiplicity of biomass carriers located within the enclosure, at least one airlift in the enclosure for raising the water and the biomass carriers and at least one mechanical biomass carrier accumulated residue removal apparatus operative to remove accumulated residue from the biomass carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Nir Assulin, Shmuel Eliraz, Ohad Reinhartz
  • Publication number: 20150059810
    Abstract: An improved apparatus, system, and method for removing debris from lightweight components are disclosed. The improved apparatus can include an air mover, a cyclonic chamber in fluid communication with the air mover, an enclosure component operably attached with the cyclonic chamber, and a debris collection component in fluid communication with the cyclonic chamber. The lightweight components positioned inside the cyclonic chamber can be moved, rotated, or carried by cyclonic airflow, causing the lightweight components to hit against one another or against the sidewall, so as to separate the debris clung thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: GARLOCK PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ian W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8961702
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation.
    Inventor: Nabil M. Lawandy
  • Publication number: 20150027926
    Abstract: A demulsifier and dispersant for treating petroleum crude oils and biofuels prior to desalter and heater treater processing can also be used to treat slop oils and clean drill cuttings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: MALCERA, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gordon K. Goldman
  • Patent number: 8938996
    Abstract: A treatment agent metering information evaluator of a washing machine includes a reader that reads portion-wise metering information from an information carrier of a storage container that is in close proximity to the reader, a controller that receives the portion-wise metering information from the reader, a meter that meters portions of treatment agent from the storage container into a treatment process of a washing treatment program, and storage that stores empirical information about experiences of the use of the treatment agent during the treatment process for subsequent application of the treatment agent. The reader includes a transmitter for transmitting the empirical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Robby Reinholz, Ingo Schulze
  • Patent number: 8932409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a stack of secure instruments is disclosed. Each secure instrument includes a substrate, visual data and a security feature. The method and apparatus include exposing the stack to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean each secure instrument and not compromise each security feature and each visual data, and maintaining a securing mechanism on the stack during exposure of the stack to the supercritical fluid such that cleaning each secure instrument includes one or more substances from each secure instrument into the supercritical fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Nabil Lawandy
  • Patent number: 8900373
    Abstract: A method of cleaning containers in a container cleaning machine, in which the containers are moved in receptacles to a cleaning area, where both the containers and the receptacles are at least partially submerged in a dipping bath of liquid cleaning medium. The containers are positioned such that closed portions of the containers are at an equivalent or higher vertical position than mouth portions of the containers. A nozzle arrangement is used to produce a jet of a cleaning medium which impinges the interior of a corresponding container. The jet has a force which is insufficient to move the container from its resting position in its corresponding container receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Molitor, Klaus Jendrichowski
  • Patent number: 8882929
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of washing (or pre-washing) silverware/flatware, or one or more other objects/parts is provided. The apparatus and method utilizes a fluid-push/pull system and method in which generally an entire volume of fluid is pushed or pulled through a cavity in which the silverware/flatware or other objects/parts are located. A cavity is filled with fluid, a mass of silverware or other parts is located within the cavity, generally an entire volume of fluid is pumped out of the cavity, and the pumped fluid is directed back into the cavity to create a generally continuous flow of generally an entire volume of fluid through the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Unified Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Cantrell, Mark Churchill, Michael P. Licata, David Gast
  • Patent number: 8876981
    Abstract: A method of collecting cut hair is disclosed. The steps include providing a vacuum source and a filter assembly having a top piece, a bottom piece, and a filter member. The assembly has a generally circular perimeter. A vacuum is applied to the assembly interior, and the cut hairs are moved through the aperture and into the assembly. The cut hairs are circulated in a collecting vortex and collected on the filter member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Surgical Site Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry H. Panzer
  • Patent number: 8858723
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for integrated cleaning of objects comprising a sequence of wet cleaning and vacuum drying in a same process chamber. The present integrated cleaning process can eliminate moving parts, improving the system reliability. Vacuum decontamination can be included for degassing and decontaminating the cleaned objects. In an embodiment, a cleaner system combines various movements into an integrated movement to be handled by a robot, for example, to improve the throughput. For example, an integrated robot movement comprising picking up a closed container from the input load port, moving both the lid and body together, and then depositing the body and lid separately into the appropriate positions in the cleaner to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Dynamic Micro System, Semiconductor Equipment GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Publication number: 20140299160
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a stack of secure instruments is disclosed. Each secure instrument includes a substrate, visual data and a security feature. The method and apparatus include exposing the stack to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean each secure instrument and not compromise each security feature and each visual data, and maintaining a securing mechanism on the stack during exposure of the stack to the supercritical fluid such that cleaning each secure instrument includes one or more substances from each secure instrument into the supercritical fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SPECTRA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nabil Lawandy
  • Patent number: 8852351
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils and a spraying system spraying liquid in the treating chamber, to determine at least one parameter of the cycle of operation based on the set of load condition by selectively spraying liquid in multiple portions of the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Barry E. Tuller
  • Patent number: 8821787
    Abstract: A catalytic composition with a corrosion-inhibiting effect on metal surfaces is described. Also described, is a corrosion-inhibiting process and use of a corrosion inhibitor. Further, the catalytic composition can have a corrosion-inhibiting effect on metal surfaces in contact with an esterification medium comprising a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, wherein the composition comprises as a catalyst, a strong protonic acid and, as corrosion inhibitor, an iron(III) carboxylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rhodia Poliamide e Especialidades Ltda
    Inventors: Carlos Eduardo Marenco, Wagner Lourenco, Renato Bresciani, Sergio Martins, Mario Pattaro, Wellington Bonifacio, João Carlos Lazarini
  • Publication number: 20140224276
    Abstract: A system and method for securing tokens to be cleaned includes a tray with a curved surface defining a channel extending along a first direction and spacers projecting from the curved surface into the channel. The spacers are disposed at regular intervals along the first direction. The curved surface also has at least one opening. The tokens may be inserted into the channel between adjacent spacers and the tray holding the tokens can be submerged into a cleaning liquid. Identical trays containing tokens can also be stacked and together submerged into the cleaning liquid. The tray holding the tokens can be placed on a drying surface that has a drainage hole, and wetness remaining on the tokens can be sucked through the hole in the channel and the drainage hole by a vacuum or blown through the hole in the channel and drainage hole by an air blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Surf City Gaming, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip Alston Hewitt
  • Publication number: 20140202499
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has an indexer block and a processing block. One side of the processing block has a vertical stack of a plurality of top surface cleaning units and the other side of the processing block has a vertical stack of a plurality of back surface cleaning units. Reversing units for reversing the substrate W are provided one above the other between the indexer block and the processing block. For example, one reversing unit is used for reversing the substrate before a back surface cleaning processing by the back surface cleaning unit or for other purposes, and the other reversing unit is used for placing the substrate W after a top surface cleaning processing by the top surface cleaning unit or for other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichiro MITSUYOSHI, Jun SHIBUKAWA, Shinji KIYOKAWA, Tomohiro KUREBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8778088
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device 10 preliminary cleans the work 50 in a bucket 12 housed in an input tank 15, then further cleans the work 50 in buckets 13, 14 housed in cleaning tanks 16, 17 by agitating cleaning liquid while inverting the buckets to transfer the work to a subsequent bucket. Particularly, the bottom of the cleaning tank is formed such that the nearer to a center of the bottom, the deeper the bottom becomes. The cleaning liquid overflowing from the cleaning tanks are stored in auxiliary tanks 22, 23. First and second ejection units 29a, 29b are arranged at different heights in the cleaning tank to generate a circulating flow in the cleaning liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Itoham Foods Inc., Mayekawa Mfg, Co., Ltd, Hosoda Kogyo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishimoto, Masaya Ichihara, Yo Komatsu, Satoshi Mashiba, Suguru Sakuramoto, Shinji Shimamura, Ryuzo Urakami
  • Patent number: 8764905
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning lithography components including contacting a substrate having residue including organic compounds and graphitic carbon deposited on a surface thereof with hydrogen peroxide vapor. The hydrogen peroxide vapor is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of 100 nm to 350 nm forming hydroxyl radicals. The hydroxyl radicals react with the residue to remove the residue from the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Zimmerman, Christof G. Krautschik
  • Patent number: 8758520
    Abstract: Methods of acidic warewashing are disclosed. The compositions can include other materials including surfactants and chelating agents, and are preferably phosphorous free. Methods of using the acidic compositions are also disclosed. Exemplary methods include using the acidic compositions together with other compositions, including alkaline compositions and rinse aids employed in an alternating alkaline/acid/alkaline manner. The methods also include acidic compositions that serve multiple roles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Monsrud, Michael S. Rischmiller, Daniel Osterberg, John Mansergh