Patents Examined by Jiping Lu
  • Patent number: 8756828
    Abstract: An appliance having a dispensing system and a detection system for detecting failure modes related to the dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Dalton, Fredrick E. Chernetski, Karl D. McAllister
  • Patent number: 8720078
    Abstract: The automatic hair dryer with fluid dispenser is used for smoothing and drying hair. The fluid dispenser is in the form of a tank, which is built into the handle of the hair dryer. When filled with water, the dispenser is capable of discharging a water spray during the drying process and smoothing the hair as it dries, enabling the user to style the hair into any desired hairstyle. A comb is attached to the upper portion of the hair dryer housing, and a moisture sensor is positioned on the teeth of the comb for determining the wetness of the hair, adjusting the heat and intensity of the air being produced by the fan over the heating elements, which is then blown onto the hair. The wetter the hair, the faster and hotter the air will blow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Fawzi Q.M.A.O.A. Behbehani
  • Patent number: 8720079
    Abstract: A grain aeration assembly is provided for a hopper bottom bin, and includes a plurality of curved wall segments sized to pass through the manhole of the bin. The wall segments are assembled inside the bin to form a cylindrical tower extending upwardly. The wall segments include an internal frame and inner and outer screens. The tower is supported above the sloped floor of the bin by a plurality of legs. An air conduit extends between the tower and an exterior fan, which provides forced air into the space between the inner and outer screens of the wall segments. The air flows outwardly through the screens, while grain or stored material is prevented from passing through the screens into the wall segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Woodhaven Capital Corp.
    Inventors: Juan Neufeld, Bernie Thiessen
  • Patent number: 8713815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the vacuum drying of capillary porous bulk materials. The method involves preheating of the material, its loading into the vacuum drying chamber having heating elements followed by cycle-by-cycling heating of the material and vacuum creation in the rapid vacuum impulse action mode with stage-by-stage single or multiple reduction of pressure in the range from 0.1 MPa to 0.0001 MPa followed by the exposure to vacuum unless the material temperature is stabilized. Said cycles are repeated unless the required material moisture is achieved. Cooling of the material is performed in the same drying chamber by alternating cooling in spouted bed and vacuum impulse action. The device comprises two vacuum chambers cone-shaped at their bases with heaters mounted inside them, material loading/unloading system, one or several receivers with pumps connected in parallel to them and connected via vacuum pipeline system with quick-acting valves to the drying chamber inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Twin Trading Company
    Inventors: Yakov Kuzmich Abramov, Vladimir Mihailovich Veselov, Viktor Mihailovich Zalevsky, Vitaly Grigorevich Tamurka, Vladimir Dmitrievich Evdokimov, Veniamin Sergeevich Volodin, Svetlana Nikolaevna Khapaeva, Anatoly Fedorovich Khanin
  • Patent number: 8695231
    Abstract: A control method for drying clothes is disclosed. The method finds a difference in surface temperature between clothes catching air blow and the same clothes catching no air blow, and then determines a degree of dryness in the clothes based on the difference. Based on the degree of dryness, the method determines at what time heating should start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyo Sugimoto, Tsutomu Katou, Tetsuya Ueda, Takuya Kotanagi, Ippei Oda, Kazuhiro Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8695229
    Abstract: A laundry machine, more particularly, a dryer and a control method of a dryer may be disclosed. A control method of a dryer includes (a) of supplying an additive to a drum in an initial part of a drying cycle for drying a drying object; and (b) of supplying an additive to the drum in a last part of the drying cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chul Jin Choi, Sang Hun Bae, Yang Hwan Kim, Min Ji Kim
  • Patent number: 8683711
    Abstract: A housing for modularizing a heat pump system of a clothes dryer and a clothes dryer having the same are disclosed. The heat pump system modularized housing of the clothes collectively modularizes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator and an expansion valve that constitute the heat pump system of the clothes dryer. Not only does the heat pump system is stably mounted in the clothes dryer but also components of the heat pump system can be effectively protected. In addition, the fastening procedures of each component can be unified to simplify an assembling process of the clothes dryer, and thus, the productivity can be improved. Moreover, a structure of an internal flow path of the clothes dryer can be simplified to thus improve efficiency of the heat pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Joo Han, Jung-Wook Moon, Seung-Phyo Ahn, Hyun-Uk Lee, Byeong-Jo Ryoo, Chang-Woo Son
  • Patent number: 8656605
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for reducing thermal stresses in a rotating, foraminous thin-shelled roll for drying permeable and semi-permeable webs by blocking axial flow of heated air through an axial channel formed between two corrugated layers in the shell. The axial channels extend between spaced-apart, parallel end members each having an inner face, and a plurality of alternating straight thin divider strips and bent thin strips extending axially between and evenly-spaced around the circumference of the inner faces of the end members to form an annular cylinder with radial channels therethrough. Affixing at least one impermeable insert into a radial channel so that it extends through the radial channel and across at least a portion of the faces of the two tiers of bent strips blocks the axial channel therebetween and prevents the passage of air therethrough to the end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Metso Paper USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Parker
  • Patent number: 8650772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine that can prevent as well as remove wrinkles of laundry. A laundry machine includes a drum rotatable in a cabinet; a hot air heater to supply hot air to the drum by heating air; a steam generator to supply steam to the drum; a sensor to sense a laundry amount inside the drum; and a controller to control an amount of steam supplied to the drum based on sensing results of the sensor. In another aspect of the present invention, a controlling method of a laundry machine includes sensing a laundry amount inside a drum and drying the laundry by supplying hot air to the drum. In the drying of the laundry by supplying hot air to the drum, an amount of hot air is adjusted based on the laundry amount sensed in the sensing of the laundry amount inside the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Woo Son, Sang Hun Bae, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 8650771
    Abstract: A method for operating a household appliance used for taking care of laundry. In the method, a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance is activated and is supplied with electric power for drying the laundry. The power supplied to the Peltier heat pump is varied during the drying process in accordance with a reached process phase of the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8646189
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved continuous vertical feed pistachio nut dryer that has an inner compartment defined by bulkhead walls formed of smooth and seamless outer walls of perforated sheet stock, and has an infeed chamber with a batch hopper used in conjunction with an auger to provide a structure configured to operate in a batch fill mode wherein the inner compartment is filled evenly along the length of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: James William Tjerrild
  • Patent number: 8640359
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates with a solvent vapor after treating the substrates with a treating liquid, includes a solvent vapor supply device for supplying the solvent vapor into a treating chamber, an exhaust device for exhausting gas from the chamber through an exhaust pipe, a drain pipe connected to the chamber for draining the treating liquid from the chamber, a gas-liquid separator at the other end of the exhaust pipe for receiving the gas from the exhaust device, and connected to the other end of the drain pipe for receiving the treating liquid from the drain pipe, the gas-liquid separator separating the gas and the liquid, and a mixer mounted on the exhaust pipe for mixing deionized water into the gas exhausted by the exhaust device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Patent number: 8631585
    Abstract: A home laundry drier (1) having a casing (2), a laundry drying tub (3) housed inside the casing (2), and a hot-air generator (5) for circulating hot air into the drying tub (3) along a drying circuit (4). The drier (1) has an air filter (11) fitted stably, but easily removably, inside a pocket (12) located along the drying circuit (4). And the filter (11) has a first mesh (18) defining a mesh wall of the filter (11), and the openings (18a) of which are sized to filter fluff/fibers of a size greater than or equal to a first size threshold (S1); and a second mesh (19) defining another mesh wall of the filter (11), and the openings (19a) of which are sized to filter fluff/fibers of a size greater than a minimum second size threshold (S2) lower than the first size threshold (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Sergio Pillot, Luciano Sartor
  • Patent number: 8627579
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for applying heated-air flow to wet or damp copper cable and specifically to individual mutually-insulated copper conductors within that cable including their respective paper sheath coverings. This cable can be used in telecommunications applications. Disclosed embodiments permit drying of difficult to reach wet/damp areas within a cable and between and amongst layers of wet/damp cable. A heat gun muzzle-insert attaches, at one end, to a heat gun barrel's muzzle end to extend hot air flow from the gun through the insert and through a plurality of tubes attached to its other end, This allows air flow to be pin-pointed at wet/damp areas otherwise not reachable without the tubes. The muzzle-insert attaches via threaded connection and is made from the same material as the gun to have the same thermal expansion characteristic. The hot air flow extender mechanisms can be modularized, each ha mg differently-sized pluralities of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon New York Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Rotondi
  • Patent number: 8621763
    Abstract: A fabric treatment apparatus is provided. The fabric treatment apparatus includes a treatment room adapted to receive laundry to be treated; a rack disposed in the treatment room, and adapted to support a plurality of hangers to hang the laundry; one or more electromagnets to apply attraction and repulsion to the clothes rack; and a heating unit adapted to supply at least one of hot air and steam into the treatment room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Yun Park, Jong Seok Kim, Dong Won Kim, Sog Kie Hong
  • Patent number: 8615897
    Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to increase gradually the angular velocity of the drum to provide a “soft start” for the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Wehrheim, Keith I. Hoemann, Gregory A. Peterson, L. Ranney Dohogne, Marshall J. Huggins, Gregory M. Levine
  • Patent number: 8615899
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for the non-contact drying of a web of material. The apparatus includes air flotation nozzles for floating the web, and direct air impingement nozzles for enhanced drying of the web. The nozzle arrangement is particularly well-suited to float and dry light weight webs under moderate to high tension. Increased cushion pressure is created to support the web preferably with the same horsepower as conventional arrangements. The increased cushion pressure pad of the nozzle arrangement allows for good flotation with reduced velocities below about 11,500 FPM. Machine direction wrinkles are removed and the result is positive flotation with no marking on the web or ink build up on the air bars. The nozzle arrangement includes pairs of flotation nozzles directly opposing pairs of direct impingement nozzles. A perforated member can be positioned between flotation nozzles within a pair of flotation nozzles to control return air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: MegTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael O. Rocheleau
  • Patent number: 8607470
    Abstract: A hair styling and drying apparatus has a pair of pivotally connected arms, styling surfaces on the arms, air suction and discharge orifices in the styling surfaces, and a blower for blowing air through the air orifices and recycling air between the arms. At least some suction orifices of one styling surface can align with at least some discharge orifices of the other styling surface. The blowers blow air out the discharge orifices and suck air into the suction orifices, thereby recycling much of the blown air. The apparatus can include heaters for heating the blown air and for heating the styling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Trade Box, LLC
    Inventors: David Richmond, Howard Richmond, Michael Ragosta, Bruno Meglio, Claudio Marino, Henry Yu, Jefferson McCrory
  • Patent number: 8601718
    Abstract: A method which allows items, contained in a processing chamber, to be effectively and efficiently dried from an economical point of view and the energy consumption to be thus maintained as low as possible, despite a very high drying power. The method includes subjecting a medium in a container to at least one of an evaporation step and a sublimation step, whereby the medium is cooled, and absorbing via a reversibly dehydratable material in a sorber vapor produced by the medium in the container, whereby the reversibly dehydratable material is thereby heated. Air supplied from a processing chamber to the cooled medium is cooled and dehumidified. This air is then heated via contact with the reversibly dehydratable material and fed back into the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Egbert Classen, Bernd Müller
  • Patent number: 8578624
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indirect-heat thermal processing of material, such as a dryer or evaporator for treatment of particulate material, is provided. In one embodiment, a dryer for drying particulate material comprises a plurality of heat transfer plates arranged in spaced relationship for the flow of the material to be dried therebetween. Each heat transfer plate is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A purge fluid delivery system provides a flow of purge fluid, such as air, gas or steam between the plates in a direction across the direction of flow of the material to be dried. The purge fluid delivery system provides a flow path for the purge fluid which is isolated from the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A method for the indirect-heat processing of particulate material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Solex Thermal Science Inc.
    Inventors: Neville Jordison, Niels A. Rozendaal, Peter Xingeun Huang