Patents Examined by Irina Graf
  • Patent number: 9765469
    Abstract: The souring of wet laundry in a laundry treating appliance may be retarded by sending an alert signal indicative of an ending of a cycle of operation from the laundry treating appliance to a remote electronic device. The appliance may receive an authorization signal from the electronic device indicative of an instruction to execute an anti-sour cycle. An anti-sour cycle comprising the energizing of a fan to flow air through a laundry treating chamber may be automatically initiated for the laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Ficke, Gregory T. Heine, Gregory S. Lieto
  • Patent number: 9765467
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance configured to treat laundry according to a treating cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior and a tub located within the interior and statically mounted to the chassis, with the tub defining a liquid chamber, and having at least one suspension opening in a side of the tub. A rotatable drum is located within the liquid chamber and rotatable about a horizontal axis. An electric motor having an output shaft is operably coupled to the rotatable drum, wherein rotation of the output shaft effects a rotation of the drum. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and physically supports the rotatable drum and electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 9758919
    Abstract: Provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a drum, a circular guide, and a panel. The drum holds laundry, has a front side and a rear side opened, and has a cross-section of a noncircular looped curve in which a distance from a rotation center is not uniform. The circular guide rotatably supports a portion of the drum in which a section curvature is uniform. The panel is provided on a front side or a rear side of the drum and supports the circular guide such that the circular guide is rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sogkie Hong, Jongseok Kim, Sungmin Kim, Daeyun Park, Sungryong Kim
  • Patent number: 9752266
    Abstract: A supporting structure of a tub for a laundry machine is provided. The laundry machine includes a cabinet to form an outer appearance having a base, a tub arranged in the cabinet, a drum rotatably placed in the tub, a suspension that flexibly supports the drum, and a support, separate from the suspension, provided at the base to support vertically a weight of the tub. Due to the supporting structure of the laundry machine, a capacity of the tub of the laundry machine is increased. A support stability of the capacity-increased tub is enhanced by vertically supporting the weight of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jung Tae Song, Ig Geun Kwon, Suk Yun Moon, Soo Bong Kim, Dong Il Lee
  • Patent number: 9731688
    Abstract: A wiper system for clearing a surface of a dome includes a plurality of wiper blades that are configured to move around a circumference of the dome. Rotation of the wiper blades in a first direction around the circumference of the dome deploys the wiper blades into an upright position and rotation of the wiper blades in a second direction opposite the first direction stows the wiper blades into a collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Graham Doorley, Paul Thomas Hansen Karplus, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 9723968
    Abstract: A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes a wash container for holding items to be washed. The wash container has a front loading opening and is reinforced by a reinforcement element along at least one front edge region of the wash container. A cover arrangement is provided to at least partially cover at least one gap formed outside a water-conducting region of the wash container between the wash container and at least one surface running along the front edge region of the wash container. The cover arrangement includes at least one cover element having a fastening segment which is defined by an I-shaped cross section and extends in its longitudinal direction parallel to the surface. The I-shaped fastening segment is fixed in a fastening segment having a U-shaped cross section and configured on the reinforcement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Fischer, Stefan Kasbauer, Norbert Näβler
  • Patent number: 9708747
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of operation thereof are provided for shifting between different modes such as wash, rinse, and/or spin modes. A clutch is used to shift between the different modes of operation. Alignment of the clutch, particularly the clutch teeth, is provided so as to allow for proper engagement of the clutch and motor or to properly align the clutch teeth for disengagement and locking with locking teeth carried upon e.g., a platform lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Simeon Chupka, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Jeffrey Lynn Jessie, Richard D. Suel, II
  • Patent number: 9695541
    Abstract: A drum washing machine and a control method thereof. The drum washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub including a first tub part and a second tub part, a drum, an inlet provided at one side of the second tub part and supplying condensed water, and at least one flow path provided on one surface from among the inner surfaces of the second tub part opposite the drum and guiding flow of the condensed water to increase a contact area between the condensed water supplied from the inlet and the second tub part. The drum washing machine improves the structure of the tub to effectively inject condensed water, and may thus increase condensing efficiency. Further, the drum washing machine improves the structures of the tub and the drying duct, and may thus prevent accumulation of lint and lowering of performance of the drum washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Doo Kim, Jung Hyuk Lee, Kyung Up Lim, Nam Kyu Jun, Yong Sok Lee, Hyung Sub Lim, Min Hee Kang
  • Patent number: 9668637
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for spraying wash water at an inside a washing tub and a dishwasher having the same, the nozzle assembly including a nozzle configured to rotate on a rotating axis thereof, an inside rotor having a shape of a cylinder and configured to rotate according to a rotation of the nozzle while coupled to the rotating axis, and an outside rotor case having a larger radius than a radius of the inside rotor to accommodate the inside rotor therein, and having an opening hole through which the rotating axis passes, and the rotating axis of the nozzle revolves around a circumference of the opening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Lee, Jung Yoon Hahm, Hyung Kwen Ham
  • Patent number: 9655496
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation and including a tub having a bottom wall for at least partially defining a treating chamber in which dishes may be received for treatment, at least one sprayer provided on the bottom wall, and having at least one opening through which liquid is emitted into the treating chamber, and a recirculation circuit fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer such that liquid emitted into the treating chamber may be directed back to the sprayer for recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Baldwin, Mike S. Hemry, Barry E. Tuller, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9643218
    Abstract: A turret-type cleaning apparatus including a cleaning chamber; a center post; a turret head turnably supported by the center post; tool support members arranged in the turret head; tool support shafts rotatably supported in the respective tool support members; cleaning tools to be attached to the respective tool support shafts; a spindle shaft rotatably supported in the center post; a spindle drive device to rotate one of the cleaning tools; a turret drive device to turn the turret head; and a joint device having a groove portion formed in the spindle shaft, and a key provided on each of the tool support shafts and to be inserted in the groove portion so as to be capable of sliding in the groove portion, the joint device allowing engagement between the spindle shaft and one of the tool support shafts, and allowing turning of the turret head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SUGINO MACHINE LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki Haremaki, Toru Sumiyoshi, Masaaki Sugimura
  • Patent number: 9632019
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning deposits and accretions from an end plate of a sensor body, for accommodating a measuring apparatus for determining one or more physical and/or chemical, process variables. The sensor body is sealed against penetration by liquid and a wiper is provided having a wiper blade for cleaning the end plate. The wiper is arranged as a subcomponent on a peripheral, appended module, wherein geometries of the wiper and the peripheral, appended module are so embodied that the wiper in the case of rotary movement from a rest position into a cleaning position, with the lower edge of the wiper blade being flush with the upper edge of the end plate, in the cleaning position, and in order that the wiper cleans the end plate by contact of the wiper blade with the end plate, and the wiper then returns to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Hasan-Özkan Karagöz, Michael Littmann, Thilo Krätschmer
  • Patent number: 9631312
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry mating apparatus includes a first treating device including a cabinet that defines an exterior appearance thereof, with an opening to load and unload laundry therethrough, a first space positioned in the cabinet to treat the laundry loaded through the opening, and a door that opens and closes the opening, a second treating device provided underneath a support, the second treating device including a second space to treat laundry. A surface of the cabinet, in which the opening is provided, includes an inclined portion projected in a direction away from a front surface of the second treating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jonghee Han, Jeaseok Seong, Yoonsang Kim, Wookjun Chung, Kyungah Lee, Junghwan Lee, On Kim, Nerry Son, Hoil Jeon, Yeji Um
  • Patent number: 9623450
    Abstract: A rotating shaft is provided to extend downward from the inside of a spin motor. A plate supporting member is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft. A spin plate is supported in a horizontal attitude by the plate supporting member. A substrate holding mechanism is provided at the periphery on the spin plate. The lower end of an annular member is formed to be opposite to an annular region extending along the periphery on the upper surface of the substrate held by a spin chuck. A distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the lower surface of the spin plate is larger than a distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the lower end of the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9607865
    Abstract: A substrate processing device 100 includes a cleaning liquid supply unit 114 supplying a cleaning liquid to a surface of a substrate W, a solvent supply unit 115 supplying a volatile solvent to the surface of the substrate W supplied with the cleaning liquid to replace the cleaning liquid on the surface of the substrate W with the volatile solvent, a heating unit 117 heating the substrate W supplied with the volatile solvent, and a drying unit 118 drying the surface of the substrate W by removing a droplet of the volatile solvent produced on the surface of the substrate W by a heating operation of the heating unit 117, and the heating unit 117 and the drying unit 118 are arranged in a course of transportation of the substrate W transported from the solvent supply unit 115.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Konosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furuya, Takashi Ootagaki, Yuji Nagashima, Atsushi Kinase, Masahiro Abe
  • Patent number: 9587340
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus including housing means having a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and a second lower chamber located beneath the cylindrical cage; at least one recirculation means; access means; pumping means and a multiplicity of delivery means, wherein the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage includes a drum including perforated side walls wherein up to 60% of the surface area of the side walls includes perforations and the perforations include holes having a diameter of no greater than 25.0 mm. The method carried out by the apparatus involves cleaning a soiled substrate by treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation including solid particulate cleaning material and wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: XEROS LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Derek Jenkins, Frazer John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9587341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine for treating laundry. One embodied laundry machine may have an opening in the rear of the tub. A flexible material is connected between the drive assembly and the rear opening of the tub for sealing therebetween. The flexible material allows the drive assembly to move or vibrate relatively to the tub. The flexible material may be referred to as a flexible sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Tae Song, Soo Bong Kim, Ig Geun Kwon, Hee Tae Lim, Min Gyu Jo
  • Patent number: 9587343
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of a laundry machine. The control method of a laundry machine included with a balancer for performing a balancing step at least three times in a spinning cycle, the control method comprising a step configured to balance the drum at least one time before and while a rotation speed of the drum passes a transient region, a step configured to determine an irregular vibration region of the laundry machine and a balancing step implemented at least one time before a rotation speed of a drum enters the irregular vibration region, while the rotation speed is passing the irregular vibration region and after the rotation speed passes the irregular vibration region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hyuk Jang, Bon Kwon Koo, Young Suk Kim, Hyun Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 9579695
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cleaning body head unit, a first load detection unit, and a buoyancy imparting unit. In the cleaning body head unit, a cleaning body, a shaft configured to support the cleaning body, a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the shaft, and a base member are integrally retained by a base member. The first load detection unit includes one end connected to the base member of the cleaning body head unit to detect the load received from the cleaning body head unit. The buoyancy imparting unit is connected to the other end of the first load detection unit and imparts buoyancy to the cleaning body head unit via the first load detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kohei Mori, Hirokazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9579157
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a flushing chamber having opposite proximal and distal ends, and a length extending between the proximal and distal ends. An inlet port of the cleaning device is in fluid communication with the flushing chamber and configured for fluid connection to a source of fluid. The flushing chamber is selectively openable along its length to an open position, in which the distal end portion of the medical instrument is insertable into the flushing chamber, and selectively closable along its length to a closed position, in which the distal end portion of the medical instrument is enclosed and fluidly sealed within the flushing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: John Robert Moberg