Recirculation Of Treating Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 34/77)
  • Patent number: 11812760
    Abstract: A method for roasting coffee beans comprising the steps of a) heating the coffee beans until the temperature of the coffee beans is at least 180° C.; b) injecting a stream of oxygen-containing gas into the flow of hot air after the burner; and c) maintaining the injection of the stream of oxygen-containing gas until the end of the roasting process to mitigate the concentration of carbon monoxide in the roasting chamber, and wherein the coffee beans are roasted in a rotating fluidized bed roaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Kevan Arthur Elsby, Sean Mackay Murphy
  • Patent number: 11702791
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus may include a drum in which laundry is stored, an air flow passage through which air is circulated, and a heating duct configured to supply hot air to the drum. The air flow passage and heating duct may be configured to prevent or reduce or cooling or condensing of moisture in the circulated air. A steam compressor may be provided to compress some of the air flowing through the air flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yoonsung Choi, Cheolhwan Kim, Sedong Lee
  • Patent number: 10883220
    Abstract: A laundry machine (100) is disclosed. The laundry machine (100) includes a cabinet (110) defining an exterior of the laundry machine (100), a tub (120) provided to the cabinet (110), a drum (150) rotatably provided in the tub (120), a suction duct (162) positioned on an outer circumferential surface of a rear portion of the tub (120) to suction air from the tub (120), a discharge duct (168) positioned at a front of the tub (120) to supply air to the tub (120), a connection duct (163) positioned between the suction duct (162) and the discharge duct (168), the connection duct (163) being provided with a heat exchanger (200, 300) for heating of the air, and a circulation fan (167) positioned between the connection duct (163) and the discharge duct (168) to circulate the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongjo Ryoo, Jaehyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10816266
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a low pressure laundry treating appliance having a cabinet defining an interior, and a drum provided within the interior, the drum including at least an inner wall and an outer wall. Pressure differentiations and flash evaporation can enable drying without excess use of conventional heating methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 10724795
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a horizontal paddle dryer that is used for normal or vacuum drying of soaked substances that are in the form of dry powder mixtures or granulates in a manufacturing process and are soaked and mixed (normally with solvents) due to technological needs. Once drying is completed, the interior of the dryer needs to be washed due to various types of substances that differ from each other in content and properties. The construction of the horizontal paddle dryer of the invention allows simple and effective washing of the horizontal paddle dryer without an additional removal of washing heads during the washing of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: BRINOX, D.O.O.
    Inventor: Slavislav Savić
  • Patent number: 10633784
    Abstract: A heat pump clothes dryer comprising a circulating air path consisting of a drying drum and a drying air path for circularly flowing drying air; and a heat pump system consisting of an evaporator, a throttling device, a condenser and a compressor successively connected end to end for circularly flowing a refrigerant medium. The condenser and the evaporator are disposed on the drying air path, and perform heat exchange with the drying air. The compressor has independent suction compression chambers, each suction compression chamber being switchably connected in series or in parallel. When the dryer starts drying in a low-temperature environment, the suction compression chambers of the compressor operate in a parallel state, so that the air displacement of the compressor is increased to improve the flowing activity of the refrigerant medium in the heat pump system, so as to avoid occurrence of frosting of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: QINGDAO JIAONAN HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Sheng Xu, Huacheng Song, Shiqiang Shan
  • Patent number: 10550468
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transfer chamber; an upper gas supply mechanism for supplying a gas into an upper region of the transfer chamber through a first gas supply port; and a lower gas supply mechanism configured to supply the gas into a lower region of the transfer chamber through a second gas supply port. The upper gas supply mechanism includes a first buffer chamber at a back surface of the first gas supply port; a pair of upper ducts at both sides of the first buffer chamber; and a first ventilation unit at lower ends of the pair of upper ducts. The lower gas supply mechanism includes a second buffer chamber at a back surface of the second gas supply port; a lower duct at lower surface of the second buffer chamber; and a second ventilation unit at a lower end of the lower duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Tomoshi Taniyama, Kenji Shirako
  • Patent number: 10494757
    Abstract: A method for controlling an expansion valve of a frequency conversion heat pump clothes dryer. The open degree of the valve is adjusted through parameters such as the operation time/power/current at a frequency of the frequency conversion compressor; a reference value of the operation time/power/current at a certain frequency is set, and compared with an actual value of the operation time/power/current at the certain frequency of the compressor; if the actual value of the operation time is less than the set reference value or the actual value of the power/current is greater than the reference value, the open degree of the expansion value is increased; and if the actual value of the operation time is greater than the set reference value or the actual value of the power/current is less than the set reference value, the open degree of the expansion valve is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng Xu, Huacheng Song, Shujun Tian, Shiqiang Shan
  • Patent number: 9976242
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus having a heat pump cycle for performing a washing cycle and a drying cycle is provided. The clothes treating apparatus may include a drum configured to accommodate a item to be treated; a heat pump cycle having a first evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve to heat air introduced into the drum; a circulation duct configured to form a circulation passage of air that has passed through the drum; a circulation fan configured to circulate the air; and a controller configured to drive the heat pump cycle and the circulation fan during the washing cycle to preheat at least one of the drum or the circulation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongjo Ryoo, Daeyun Park, Yongju Lee
  • Patent number: 9903652
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a drying function, and more particularly, a clothes treating apparatus having a drying function, capable of fast drying a large quantity of targets to be dried by employing a heater assembly, separate from a cabinet having a drum and the like therein. The clothes treating apparatus having a drying function comprises a cabinet to receive a rotatable drum therein, the cabinet defining an appearance of the apparatus, a module part mounted onto an outer surface of the cabinet, the module part having a heater assembly, a blower assembly, and a housing for accommodating the heater assembly and the blower assembly, and a link unit to connect the module part onto the rear side of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 9834882
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat pump based dryer or a combination washer and dryer device comprising a housing receiving a drum for containing associated articles to be dried by air that flows along a pathway between an outlet and an inlet of the housing. A fluid is provided in the pathway to at least partially remove moisture from the air. A heat pump includes a heat source located at least partially within the pathway and a heat sink being operatively adapted to the heat source to circulate a refrigerant therein. An enclosure at least partially containing the heat sink is arranged to accept the fluid from the pathway to exchange heat with the heat sink and return the fluid to the pathway. Fluid may be provided to the pathway by a spray nozzle adjacent the outlet or by an evaporative media downstream of a lint separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Mahendra Madhukar Patil
  • Patent number: 9708750
    Abstract: A vented laundry dryer has an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, a heat recovery system for transferring heat from the air outlet duct to the air inlet duct, and an additional heater. The heat recovery system has an evaporator, a liquefier, a condenser, and a relaxation unit, wherein the liquefier is thermally coupled to the air inlet duct, and the evaporator is thermally coupled to the air outlet duct. A relaxation property of the relaxation unit can be adjusted depending on at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater. A method for operating a vented dryer having an additional heater and a heat pump having a relaxation unit, monitoring at least one parameter connected to an activity of the additional heater and changing a relaxation property of the relaxation unit depending on the at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Höfler, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 9662731
    Abstract: A reflow oven includes a chamber housing including surfaces that are in contact with heated air mixed with contaminants, including flux, and a water-soluble layer selectively applied to the surfaces of the chamber housing. Embodiments of the reflow oven include an acrylic-based layer, such as an acrylic paint. In one embodiment, the acrylic paint includes a water-soluble polymer, a polymer emulsion, and water. The water-soluble polymer includes butyl benzyl phthalate. In some embodiments, the acrylic paint includes 1-10% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 30-55% by weight acrylic polymer emulsion, and balance water. In a certain embodiment, the acrylic paint includes 1-5% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 35-50% by weight acrylic poly emulsion, and balance water. Methods of treating surfaces of the reflow oven are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas T. Ngai, Joo Yong Tay, Wen-Feng Liu, Roberto P. Loera, Steven Dwade Cook
  • Patent number: 9651308
    Abstract: A dehumidification dryer configured and operated so at to achieve higher drying temperatures than traditionally obtainable with dehumidification driers. The invention takes advantage of refrigerants not previously used in the field of dehumidification drying to achieve temperatures in the range of 240 degrees Fahrenheit-260 degrees Fahrenheit that previously were found only in open hot air kilns. In order to make optimum use of high temperature refrigerants, the invention uses variable control rates for drying the air that is used as the drying medium, and restructures the deployment of the components of the refrigeration circuit that participates in the heat and humidity exchange central to the operation of the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Donald C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9580857
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a drum, an air suction duct forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an auxiliary fan introducing air into the air suction duct, an air exhaustion duct forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a main fan exhausting air to the air exhaustion duct from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction duct, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion duct, and a compressor and an expander forming a heat pump together with the condenser and the evaporator. The method includes measuring a discharge side pressure of the compressor, and comparing the measured discharge side pressure with a maximum allowable pressure, and determining that the auxiliary fan does not operate when the discharge side pressure is more than the maximum allowable pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyuksoo Lee, Sungmin Ye, Seonghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9285166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat pump laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed, an air duct (3) wherein the processing air cycle is realized, a processing air fan (4) that provides the circulation of the processing air, a compressor (5) that realizes the refrigerant cycle, an evaporator (6) that provides the processing air in the air duct (3) to be dehumidified, a condenser (7) that provides the dehumidified processing air to be heated, a refrigerant line (8) that provides the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor (5) to pass through the condenser (7) and the evaporator (6) to be delivered to the compressor (5) again and a cooling fan (9) that provides the compressor (5) to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Safak Tezcan, Bora Abdik, Umut Guven, Selcuk Karagoz
  • Patent number: 9278547
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a record includes an image layer-forming step of forming an image layer by applying ink containing resin and a solvent A to a recording medium, a heating step of heating the image layer to a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin, and a solvent-removing step of removing the solvent A from the image layer after the heating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Matsuhashi, Hitoshi Ohta
  • Patent number: 9238886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clothes dryer having a heat pump, the clothes dryer capable of enhancing energy efficiency by recovering waste heat to the maximum in correspondence to a capacity of the heat pump, capable of enhancing reliability by preventing overheating of a compressor and a heat exchange means, and capable of shortening drying time. The clothes dryer includes a body, drum rotatably installed in the body, a suction duct installed at the body, and configured to suck external air and to supply the external air into the drum, an exhaustion duct configured to exhaust air having passed through the drum to outside of the body, and a heat pump having a heat exchange means for recovering waste heat by heat-exchanging air passing through the exhaustion duct, wherein part of the air exhausted via the exhaustion duct is heat-exchanged with the heat exchange means of the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongjo Ryoo, Sungmin Ye, Seonghwan Kim, Seungphyo Ahn, Sungho Song
  • Patent number: 9212450
    Abstract: A condensation dryer is provided that includes a drying chamber for articles to be dried and a process air circuit in which a heater for heating the process air is located. The heated process air can be guided across the articles to be dried along a circulation route that includes a blower, an air/air heat exchanger, and a heat pump circuit having an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser. An additional heat exchanger is arranged in the heat pump circuit between the condenser and the evaporator, the additional heat exchanger being functionally coupled to the air/air heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 9139948
    Abstract: A heat pump type clothes dryer compensates for pressure loss caused by a radiator to increase the flow rate of air passing around the radiator, and suppressing introduction of ambient air through gaps formed in air flow lines to avoid degradation in drying capacity, while avoiding an increase in the power consumption or noise of a fan. The clothes dryer includes a drum to accommodate clothes, an air suction or intake line to suck air into the drum, an air exhaust line to exhaust air from the drum, a heat pump circuit including a compressor, a radiator, a pressure reducer, and a heat absorber, where the heat absorber is provided in the air exhaust line, and the radiator is provided in the air suction or intake line, a first blowing mechanism provided in the air exhaust line, and a second blowing mechanism provided in the air suction or intake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Wakizaka
  • Patent number: 9114639
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave irradiation section that dries ink present on a recording medium by using electromagnetic waves; and a fan that moves vapor evaporated from the ink, which is generated on a back side of the recording medium by irradiating the electromagnetic waves by the electromagnetic wave irradiation section, in a direction away from the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9097462
    Abstract: A home laundry drier (1) includes a laundry drum (4) which is located inside a casing (3) to rotate about an longitudinal axis (A), and a closed circuit hot-air generator (7) provided with: an air recirculating conduit (8) connected to laundry drum (4); a centrifugal fan (9) and heat-pump means (10). The heat pump means (10) includes first (12) and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers (13) located in the air recirculating conduit (8) to cool the airflow coming out from the laundry drum, and respectively, to heat the airflow returning back into laundry drum (4). The home laundry drier (1) further includes an electric motor (14) designed to simultaneously rotate both centrifugal fan (9) and the laundry drum (4) through transmission system means (16); and inverter means (23) controlling the electric motor (14) and configured to receive a predetermined speed which is associated to a nominal airflow rate within the air recirculating conduit (8) and to a nominal drum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Marcin Lorenc, Paolo Ros
  • Patent number: 9062409
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has a cabinet forming a drying chamber and a drying rack slidably mounted to the cabinet and movable between a retracted position where the drying rack is within the drying chamber and an extended position where the drying rack is exteriorly of the cabinet. A removable dividing panel is retained by the drying rack and divides the drying chamber into two horizontal and vertically extending drying chambers. A control system associated with the dryer has selectable modes to operate the divided drying chambers independently or concurrently as a single large drying chamber. A recycle system associated with the dryer permits recycling of heat air to increase drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Stan Cennon
  • Publication number: 20150082656
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1 that produces excess steam SS characterised in that the excess steam SS is condensed to an unclean condensate UC in a steam regeneration unit 3 and in that thermal energy in the unclean condensate UC is recovered by being transferred to a district heating medium HW in a heat exchanger 4 for district heating. The invention concerns also a system for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Bengt-Olof Naslund
  • Patent number: 8973283
    Abstract: A system and method for solvent recovery in a batch fluidized bed process is provided. The disclosed embodiment of the fluidized bed system includes a fluidized bed vessel adapted to contain a batch of solvent-containing product; an influent or intake circuit adapted to supply an inert fluidizing gas to the fluidized bed vessel; an effluent circuit adapted to remove the solvent containing inert fluidizing gas from the fluidized bed vessel; a first recycle circuit coupling the effluent circuit to a solvent recovery means; a second recycle circuit directly coupling the effluent circuit to the intake circuit and a flow control valve operatively disposed to divide the effluent between the first recycle circuit and the second recycle circuit based on the operating regime of the fluidized bed process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arup Nandi, Alan Cheng, John Fredric Billingham
  • Publication number: 20140345155
    Abstract: An appliance for drying laundry (100) including a drying-air moisture-condensing system comprising a heat pump system (215,220,225) with a variable-output compressor (210), and at least one drying air variable-speed fan (250) for promoting the recirculation of the drying air, the appliance being adapted to perform at least one laundry drying cycle in: at least a first drying mode wherein the compressor is driven to a first compressor mode having a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor and the fan is driven to a first fan mode having a speed course, and at least a second drying mode wherein the compressor is driven to a second compressor mode comprising a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor and the fan is driven to a second fan mode having a speed course, wherein for a
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Andrea Contarini, Massimo Viero
  • Patent number: 8832959
    Abstract: A wood chip drying system for drying wood chip includes a furnace, a drier for the wood chip and a recirculation apparatus for the recirculation of exhaust vapors into their drier. The recirculation apparatus has an exhaust vapor heater, and the wood chip drying system is designated to reduce organic compounds present in the exhaust vapor prior to the recirculation into the drier. The exhaust vapor heater includes a regenerative and/or catalytic heat exchanger which is arranged downstream after the drier and which is designated so as to heat up the exhaust vapor to a temperature which is high enough to oxidize at least a majority of particles present in the exhaust vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kronotec AG
    Inventors: Joachim Hasch, Matthias Iredi
  • Patent number: 8739430
    Abstract: A hand drying apparatus includes a main box body in which a hand insertion portion is provided for allowing insertion/pulling out of hands and a water pan is provided for collecting water drops blown away from hands. In the main box body, a drain tank is disposed for accumulating water that is collected in the water pan. The drain tank is attached to the main box body in a detachable manner. A first lock mechanism is disposed for restricting removal of the drain tank. Moreover, an operating unit is disposed for switching the operating state of the apparatus and is covered with an openable-closable operating unit cap. A third lock mechanism is disposed for restricting opening and closing of the operating unit cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukaya, Takaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8668765
    Abstract: A drying system includes a desiccant wheel that dries incoming air. The dried air is heated using a heating element to promote drying of an article within the drying system. A portion of the heated air is diverted to a secondary air path that leads away from the drum holding the article. The diverted portion is used to regenerate an area of the desiccant wheel. A secondary heating element is used to promote regeneration and located in the secondary air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Protege Enterprises
    Inventors: Charles Robert Dewald, III, Thomas L. Cristello
  • Patent number: 8618442
    Abstract: A nozzle housing assembly, which is used in a convection heating furnace for a heat treatable glass sheet. The nozzle housing assembly comprises an elongated enclosure, at least one elongated heating resistance in the enclosure for heating convection air, and orifices in a bottom surface of the enclosure for blasting heated convection air against the glass sheet. The enclosure is divided with a flow-throttling partition into a top supply duct and a bottom nozzle box, the heating resistances being housed in the latter. Flow-throttling openings present in the partition are positioned to comply with the location and shape of the heating resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Glaston Services Ltd. Oy
    Inventor: Mikko Rantala
  • Patent number: 8549769
    Abstract: A method for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wyssmont Company Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Weisselberg, Joseph Bevacqua, Robert Borre
  • Patent number: 8347520
    Abstract: In a laundry washing/drying machine involving drying by a heat pump cycle, in an initial stage of the drying operation the heat within an air circulation path is deficient and therefore it is impossible to effect quick heating of air on a drum inlet side up to a sufficiently high temperature. According to the present invention there is provided a drying unit capable of raising the drum inlet air temperature quickly up to a sufficiently high temperature in an initial stage of the drying operation and thereby shortening the drying time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 8322045
    Abstract: In one aspect, a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for forming a meniscus on a surface of a substrate by moving the substrate through a fluid; an air knife apparatus positioned to apply an air knife to shorten the meniscus formed on the surface of the substrate; and a drying vapor nozzle positioned to direct a drying vapor to the meniscus shortened by the air knife. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Stein, Younes Achkire, Timothy J. Franklin, Julia Svirchevski, Dan A. Marohl
  • Patent number: 8312640
    Abstract: A cloth dryer includes heat-pump (30), rotary tub (5) for accommodating clothes (4) to be dried, blower (12) for supplying air heated by heat radiator (23) to rotary tub (5), and heat-exchange air flow paths (22, 24) for circulating the air stayed in rotary tub (5) through heat radiator (23) via heat absorber (21). Fins striding over heat absorber (21) and heat radiator (23) allow integrating absorber (21) and radiator (23) into one body which can be thus placed within air-flow paths (22, 24). Heat-transfer reducing section (32) is formed on the fins between heat absorber (21) and heat radiator (23) for reducing the heat transfer via the fins between heat absorber (21) and heat radiator (23). The foregoing structure can prevent frost and ice produced on heat absorber (21) from growing, so that a compact cloth dryer excellent in drying performance is obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsunori Taniguchi, Hideo Nisihata, Tosiaki Andou, Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8281498
    Abstract: Disclosed are an evaporator, an evaporation method, and a substrate processing apparatus, which can increase the concentration of generated vapor of an organic solvent and efficiently heat the organic solvent. The evaporator includes a fluid tube, a liquid organic solvent supply device for supplying the organic solvent liquid to one end of the fluid tube, and heating units for heating the fluid tube. The fluid tube has a cross section that increases from the one end to the other end. When the organic solvent liquid supplied to one end of the fluid tube is heated, the organic solvent vapor is discharged from the other end of the fluid tube. The substrate processing apparatus includes the above-described evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mikio Nakashima, Yuji Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8266812
    Abstract: An apparatus for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Wyssmont Company Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Weisselberg, Joseph Bevacqua, Robert Borre
  • Patent number: 8256131
    Abstract: Method and device for drying circuit substrates (13), in particular semiconductor substrates, in which a circuit surface (30) of the circuit substrate is flushed using a flushing liquid (10) in a flushing step and the circuit surface is dried in a subsequent drying step, the circuit substrate being moved in the flushing step in the direction of its planar extension transversely and in relation to a liquid level (28) of the flushing liquid in such a way that a liquid meniscus forms at a transition area between the circuit surface and the liquid level, which changes because of the relative movement, and thermal radiation (36) is applied to the transition area wetted by the liquid meniscus in the drying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Pac-Tech—Packaging Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Elke Zakel, Ghassem Azdasht
  • Patent number: 8205352
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Lewis, Michael Biese, Garrett H. Sin, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Balaji Chandrasekaran, Tak Fan (Kerry) Ling
  • Publication number: 20120073157
    Abstract: An apparatus for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: WYSSMONT COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Edward Weisselberg, Joseph Bevacqua, Robert Borre
  • Patent number: 8137440
    Abstract: A dryer and a drying apparatus attachable to a dryer are disclosed. A wheel having desiccant material is located in line and in close proximity with a heating element. The wheel includes a first portion positioned in an inlet air path and a second portion positioned in an outlet air path. The desiccant material removes water molecules from air within the inlet air path, and lowers the vapor pressure of the incoming air. In the outlet air path, heated air flows through the second portion to transfer energy to the desiccant material. The wheel rotates to change the desiccant material within the portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Protégé Enterprises
    Inventors: Charles Robert Dewald, III, Thomas L. Cristello
  • Patent number: 8133327
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing method that prevents generation of watermarks on a substrate and can be performed at a low cost. The method controls the ambient humidity around the substrate depending on the kind of the chemical liquid, when the substrate is processed with the chemical liquid. The control of the humidity is performed at least in a drying step that dries the substrate W. In one embodiment, the ambient humidity around the substrate is controlled when a fluid containing IPA as a drying fluid is supplied to the substrate W after processing the substrate W with the chemical liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yoshichika Tokuno, Hiroshi Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 8037617
    Abstract: A soil remediation apparatus for treating contaminated soil comprises an air deck unit and a remediation unit. The air deck unit comprises an enclosure with a contaminated soil inlet and a remediated soil outlet; at least one conveyor located inside the enclosure and operable to convey soil from the enclosure inlet to the enclosure outlet; and contaminated air extraction means having an inlet in fluid communication with the enclosure and an outlet, and operable to extract air from the air deck unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Russell Gary Kossowan
  • Patent number: 7980000
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Lewis, Michael Biese, Garrett H. Sin, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Balaji Chandrasekaran, Tak Fan (Kerry) Ling
  • Patent number: 7971368
    Abstract: In a hand drying apparatus, an infrared light absorber absorbs infrared light, when a hand is not present, emitted from an infrared light emitter provided on an inner surface of a drying space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukaya, Syunichi Mori, Yasuyuki Itoigawa
  • Patent number: 7954344
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a water chamber for holding water, the water chamber having a heater mounted thereto for heating the water, a steam chamber for holding steam generated as the water is heated, a water supply line for supplying the water to the water chamber, and a steam discharge line for discharging steam from the steam chamber, wherein the water chamber has a vertical direction length relatively greater than a horizontal direction length and the steam chamber has a horizontal direction length relatively greater than the horizontal length of the water chamber. A dryer or washing machine may include the steam generator described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Mun Kim, Jong Deuk Bae, Heung Gi Kim, Ki Chul Woo, In Geun Ahn, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Kyu Won Lee, Young Soo Kim, Ji Maeng Kim
  • Patent number: 7866057
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for the care of washed articles having with a container for receiving washed articles; a process air supply which is operationally connected to the container in fluid communication therewith whereby process air flows through the container during appliance operation; and a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the process air supply for dehumidifying the process air exiting the container, the domestic appliance comprising a supplementary heat exchanger for lint filtering operationally disposed in the process air supply in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Kai Nitschmann, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 7866061
    Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a water tub, a rotating container located in the tub, a drive unit rotating the container, an air circulation blower circulating air in the tub, and a heat pump formed by circularly connecting an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a discharge airflow path leading to the outside of the clothes dryer, an airflow path switching unit switched so as to open the portion between the container and the evaporator in an airflow path in the drying operation, and to open the discharge airflow path in cooling a place where the clothes dryer is placed, an air inlet located in an upper wall between the evaporator and the condenser in the airflow path, an air discharge blower introducing air outside the airflow path from the air inlet to be passed through the evaporator, and a cooling device that cools down the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Ha Products Co., Ltd., Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Tatsumi, Koji Kashima
  • Patent number: 7797854
    Abstract: An apparatus serves for the treatment of particulate material and comprises a process chamber for the reception and treatment of the particulate material. The process chamber has a bottom provided with a passage orifice through which the process air can be introduced into said process chamber and an outlet for the discharge of said process air from said process chamber. A device for conditioning said process air and for circulating said process air in a circuit through said process chamber said outlet and back to said bottom has at least one fan for circulating said process air at least one condenser and at least one process air heater. A filter arrangement is provided for removing solids from said process air flowing out of said process chamber. A second chamber is arranged around said process chamber within said second chamber at least parts of said filter arrangement at least parts of said device for conditioning the process air are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Herbert Huettlin
  • Patent number: 7785398
    Abstract: A dryer and a drying apparatus attachable to a dryer are disclosed. A wheel having desiccant material is located in line and in close proximity with a heating element. The wheel includes a first portion positioned in an inlet air path and a second portion positioned in an outlet air path. The desiccant material removes water molecules from air within the inlet air path, and lowers the vapor pressure of the incoming air. In the outlet air path, heated air flows through the second portion to transfer energy to the desiccant material. The wheel rotates to change the desiccant material within the portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Protégé Enterprises
    Inventors: Charles Robert Dewald, III, Thomas L. Cristello
  • Patent number: 7774953
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to dry the hands of individuals. The system may include a pedestal, an air pedal and powder pedal hinged to the pedestal, a chamber having a dome connected to a shroud to define a chamber interior. The chamber interior may be divided into a first divided area, a second divided, and an overhead area that connects the first divided area to the second divided area. Each dived area may include a perforated tube to deliver pressurized air and powder into the chamber interior. An air compressor may be connected directly to the perforated tubes and connected to a powder chamber. In addition to pressurized air being delivered to the chamber interior, powder optionally may be delivered to the chamber interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Napoli I. Duran