Patents Examined by Cristi J Tate-Sims
  • Patent number: 11098427
    Abstract: The laundry processing device according to the present invention comprises: a first washing unit for doing laundry; and a second washing unit having a washing space independent from the first washing unit and provided with a tub of a smaller capacity than the first washing unit, wherein the first washing unit comprises: a first display unit; a first laundry amount detecting unit for measuring the amount of laundry in the first washing unit; and a first control unit for displaying, on the first display unit, a guide message recommending use of the second washing unit if the amount of laundry measured by the first laundry amount detecting unit is less than a first set value. When the amount of laundry is relatively small, the user is induced to use the second washing unit, thereby reducing power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woonghyun Lee, Jain Koo, Suncheol Bae
  • Patent number: 11098798
    Abstract: A clutch device may include an actuator and a clutch member. The actuator may include a clutch motor; a reduction gear mechanism; an output member to be operated by a drive force of the clutch motor; a support plate in which the reduction gear mechanism is disposed on a first face side and a connection part electrically connected between members is disposed on a second face side; a first case member which covers the support plate from the first face side; and a second case member which covers the support plate from the second face side. An end part of the support plate may be sandwiched between the first case member and the second case member and the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisayoshi Aruga
  • Patent number: 11087996
    Abstract: A dry cleaning apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support supporting a substrate within the chamber, a shower head arranged in an upper portion of the chamber to supply a dry cleaning gas toward the substrate, the shower head including an optical window transmitting a laser light therethrough toward the substrate support, a plasma generator generating plasma from the dry cleaning gas, and a laser irradiator irradiating the laser light on the substrate through the optical window and the plasma to heat the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-Min Shin, Seok-Hoon Kim, Young-Hoo Kim, In-Gi Kim, Tae-Hong Kim, Sung-Hyun Park, Jin-Woo Lee, Ji-Hoon Cha, Yong-Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 11081334
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a wafer trimming and cleaning apparatus, which includes a blade that is configured to trim a damaged edge portion of a wafer, thereby defining a new sidewall of the wafer. The wafer trimming and cleaning apparatus further includes water nozzles and an air jet nozzle. The water nozzles are configured to apply deionized water to the new sidewall of the wafer to remove contaminant particles generated by the blade. The air jet nozzle is configured to apply pressurized gas to a first top surface area of the wafer to remove the contaminant particles generated by the blade. The first top surface area overlies the new sidewall of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-He Chou, Sheng-Chau Chen, Ming-Tung Wu, Hsun-Chung Kuang
  • Patent number: 11078615
    Abstract: Disclosed are a lifter having an improved structure to improve washing performance and a washing machine having the lifter. The washing machine includes a drum and a lifter coupled to the inside of the drum, wherein the lifter is provided in the form of a closed curve in which a space is formed at a central portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hee Lee, Jeong Hoon Kang, Kwan Woo Hong, Dae Uk Kang, Min Sung Kim, Ju Bum Han
  • Patent number: 11066773
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drawer provided to be ejected from the cabinet. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a tub provided inside the drawer, providing a space where water is stored. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, providing a space where laundry is stored. The laundry treating apparatus further includes an inlet provided in the tub, inserting laundry into the drum. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a support unit provided between the tub and drum to prevent one surface of the tub having the inlet from being bent toward the drum and ejected to the outside of the tub through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11051687
    Abstract: A machine for treating a medical apparatus, such as an endoscope washer-disinfector, can be integrated into a wall at an opening of the wall. The wall can separate a first enclosure with a controlled/non-controlled atmosphere from a second enclosure with a non-controlled/controlled atmosphere. The machine may include first and second openings configured to allow the medical apparatus to be loaded into/unloaded from the machine. The machine may also include first and second doors sealingly closing the openings. The machine may include a partitioning interface attached to the wall that closes the opening in the wall and a movable part that can be removed from the partitioning interface. The movable part can at least partially carry a pump and solenoid valve of the treatment system. The movable part can be positioned immediately adjacent to the partitioning interface when the treatment machine is in an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Affre, Jean-François Biry, Sébastien Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11051674
    Abstract: A glass rinser apparatus is provided. The glass rinser apparatus may include a spray nozzle configured to output a liquid, a shank configured to be coupled at a first end to the spray nozzle, and to transmit the liquid to the spray nozzle, and a nut configured to be coupled to the second end of the shank. The shank may be shaped so that the shank does not rotate when the nut is coupled to the second end of the shank. The cross section of the shank may be substantially circular, and may include at least one flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Matic USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Gonzalez, Tom Geordt
  • Patent number: 11053813
    Abstract: A turbine engine cleaning system includes a foam generator configured to generate foam, from a liquid detergent, to clean a turbine engine. The turbine engine cleaning system also includes an effluent capture and detergent regeneration sub-system having an inlet configured to receive an effluent from the turbine engine, processing components configured to process the effluent to regenerate a liquid detergent, and an outlet fluidly coupled with the foam generator to enable transport of the liquid detergent from the effluent capture and detergent regeneration sub-system to the foam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Rob Ray Anthony, Brian William Pfeiffer, Michael Edward Eriksen, Keith Anthony Lauria, Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11056359
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of processing units including a cleaning unit which cleans a processing object, a transport chamber provided between the plurality of processing units, a transport robot provided inside the transport chamber so as to be movable vertically, an exhaust port portion which discharges gas compressed, when the transport robot descends, from a lower portion of the transport chamber, and a liquid remaining unit which causes liquid transported to the compressed gas to remain in the lower portion of the transport chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruaki Hombo, Junji Kunisawa
  • Patent number: 11039729
    Abstract: The dishwasher of the present invention includes: a tub in which a dish washing space is formed; a sump which contains washing water supplied into the tub; a spray module which sprays washing water toward dishes; a pump which supplies the washing water stored in the sump to the spray module; an air jet generator which receives a part of the washing water discharged from the pump to form an air bubble in the washing water; and a discharge module which discharges the washing water containing the air bubble discharged from the air jet generator to a side surface of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangik Lee, Yongjin Choi, Jaechul Lee, Shinwoo Han
  • Patent number: 11033939
    Abstract: A jet nozzle and assembly for removing sludge deposits in oil storage tanks is provided. The jet nozzle can include a rigid conduit connectable to a pressurize liquid supply, a pivotal connection connected to the rigid conduit and a spray nozzle connected to the pivotal connection so that the spray nozzle can pivot around the proximal end of the spray nozzle. The assembly can include a manway cover attachable to a manway of a tank, a flange member provided on the manway cover with an aperture passing through the manway cover and inside the flange member, a valve connected to the flange member and a spool connected to the valve. A cover having an opening passing therethrough can be attached to the spool. The rigid conduit of the jet nozzle can be inserted through the opening in the cover so that the jet nozzle extends inside the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Derek J. Hengen
  • Patent number: 11028517
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of detecting and mitigating out-of-balance conditions includes obtaining a subwasher load weight after adding water to the wash tub and obtaining a displacement threshold based at least in part on the subwasher load weight. The wash basket is spun at a first, low speed and the displacement amplitude of the wash tub is measured using a measurement device, such as an accelerometer and gyroscope. The measured displacement amplitude is then compared to the displacement threshold and if the displacement amplitude exceeds the displacement threshold, an agitation element is rotated to agitate or redistribute the load of articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11021832
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes: a tub providing a space for storing water; a drum disposed in the tub in a rotatable manner to provide a space for storing clothing; a detergent box which is disposed outside the tub to provide a space for storing a detergent, and receives supply of water only from the tub; a tub through-hole passing through an inner circumferential surface of the tub; and a connection part having one side communicating with the tub through-hole and the other side communicating with the detergent box so that at least a portion of water moving in the direction of the inner circumferential surface of the tub due to a centrifugal force generated when the drum rotates is introduced into the detergent box, mixed with the detergent, and then discharged back to the inner circumferential surface of the tub again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongsoo Lee, Keunjoo Kim, Sangwook Lee, Kyosoon Chae
  • Patent number: 11020775
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a test sample well, provided in a diagnostic test card, using a cleaning head having a cleaning tube delivering, at its free end, a cleaning fluid, and a suction tube mounted inside the cleaning tube for aspirating the contaminated cleaning fluid from its free end located in proximity to the free end of the cleaning tube. The method provides for relative displacement between the test card and the cleaning head, so that the test card occupies a cleaning position wherein the cleaning tube delivers, at its free end, the cleaning fluid to the inside of the well to be cleaned and the suction tube aspirates the contaminated cleaning fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: BIOMERIEUX
    Inventor: Frédéric Foucault
  • Patent number: 11021827
    Abstract: A method for controlling a washing machine is provided. The method may include determining an amount of laundry in an inner tub, setting a supply water level according to the amount of laundry determined, supplying the water into the inner tub until a water level in an outer tub reaches the supply water level set, setting a rotation speed of a pump motor according to the amount of laundry determined, operating the pump motor at the rotation speed set, and alternatively rotating a pulsator in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Naeun Kim, Hwanjin Jung, Sanghyun Lee, Bonkwon Koo, Sunho Lee, Dongwon Kim
  • Patent number: 11008695
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine agitator having a translucent area which facilitates visualization of the inner part of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Marcelo Piekarski, Luiz Carlos Pazinato, Fabiano Costi, Oscar Luiz Madalena, Eduardo Orthmann, Eduardo De Menezes Lino Modesto, Vicente Marconcin Vanhazebrouck, Adriano Bonatto Cardozo
  • Patent number: 11007620
    Abstract: A cleaning process monitoring system, comprising: a cleaning container comprising an inlet for receiving a cleaning solution and an outlet for draining a waste solution; a particle detector coupled to the outlet and configured to measure a plurality of particle parameters associated with the waste solution so as to provide a real-time monitoring of the cleaning process; a pump coupled to the cleaning container and configured to provide suction force to draw solution through the cleaning system; a controller coupled to the pump and the particle detector and configured to receive the plurality of particle parameters from the particle detector and to provide control to the cleaning system; and a host computer coupled to the controller and configured to provide at least one control parameter to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Charlie Wang, Yu-Ping Tseng, Y. J. Chen, Wai-Ming Yeung, Chien-Shen Chen, Danny Kuo, Yu-Hsuan Hsieh, Hsuan Lo
  • Patent number: 11000174
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one spray zone in which a liquid is recirculated from a tank to a spray tube assembly having a plurality of spray nozzles. The spray tube assembly includes a plurality of spray tubes, each including an input end and a distal end connected to a tube support, which has a fixed part and a cover movable between a closed and open positions. Each distal end has an opening that is covered in the closed position and uncovered, perhaps fully, in the open position. The tube support may include at least one latching assembly for holding the cover in the closed position. The cover and the access door may be cooperatively configured such that, when the cover is in the open position, the cover prevents the access door from moving to the closed operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Mary E. Paulus, Michael T. James, Shawn D. Waterman, Cody Topp, Robert Petrick, Vincenzo Violi, Philip Stone
  • Patent number: 10993599
    Abstract: A dish overflow protection system for a dishwasher. The dishwasher has a conveyor mechanism, a holding area, and a washing system. The dish overflow protection system has a housing including a user interface. A first sensor is disposed on the housing and is configured to take a first reading. A second sensor is remote from the housing and is configured to take a second reading. The dish overflow protection system has a control unit configured to halt operation of the conveyor mechanism where a difference between the first reading and the second reading is greater than a threshold. The user interface is usable to modify the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TCD PARTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B. Fisher, Joel Gross