Patents Examined by John McCormack
  • Patent number: 10138590
    Abstract: A method of drying laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber in which the laundry is received for drying comprises moving the treating chamber to redistribute the laundry, supplying air to the treating chamber to define a supply air flow, exhausting the supplied air from the treating chamber to define an exhaust air flow, heating the air supplied to the treating chamber by actuating a heater at full output to define a first heating phase and then cycling the heater ON/OFF to define a second heating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Carow, Moeed Mukhtar, Sanjida Tamanna
  • Patent number: 10132565
    Abstract: The invention is based on a star-shaped rotation dryer (1) for segmenting a fluidizing chamber 4) into process compartments (11), whereby the star-shaped rotation dryer (1) is pivot mounted and features dividing wall (9) or similar for the conveyance of solid particles along a conveyance path, whereby a flow-receiving base (10) is detachably mounted below the star-shaped rotation dryer (1); the invention further relates to a method of spray-coating solid particles for the purpose of agglomeration, coating, layering, spray granulation or pelletization, whereby the retention time spectrum of the solid particles inside the fluid-bed apparatus (2) has a margin of at least 1:3 (alternatively tRTD90?3 tRTD10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Jacob, Reinhard Boeber, Raoul Pila, Heinz Pritzke
  • Patent number: 10130115
    Abstract: Technologies for controlling food dehydration in a low-oxygen environment include a control device and an enclosed drying chamber. The control device receives sensor data from environmental sensors disposed within the drying chamber. A concentration of oxygen within the drying chamber is determined based on the received sensor data. The control device controls a valve to selectively feed an amount of a combustible gas to a burner assembly disposed within the drying chamber. The burner assembly is ignited by the control device and a flame is produced. The flame depletes the concentration of oxygen within the drying chamber to an initial oxygen concentration level. The control device controls another valve to feed an amount of non-reactive gas into the drying chamber to flush the drying chamber and further deplete the concentration of oxygen within the drying chamber to a lower oxygen concentration level. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Joshua Butler
  • Patent number: 10132024
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus includes a reception unit for receiving clothes, a discharge duct for guiding air coming from an interior of the reception unit to the outside, a filter unit including a frame that is detachably inserted into the discharge duct and a filter provided in the for filtering air, and an attachment unit to detachably couple the filter unit to the discharge duct. The attachment unit includes a body provided in the frame and configured to rotate to allow coupling between the filter unit and the discharge duct, and a coupling part located at one side of the body for selectively coupling to the discharge duct through a through hole in the frame. The body defines a body through hole passing through the body, the body through hole being configured to prevent foreign substances from remaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangik Lee, Kyungmun Jung
  • Patent number: 10119760
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a drying or heating apparatus that is capable of independently controlling the temperature of the product being heated (e.g., to achieve a desired temperature profile) and the wavelength of the radiation (e.g., to maximize the heat transfer rate). To such ends, a drying apparatus can be provided with one or more heat sources that are movable relative to the product being heated in order to increase or decrease the gap or spacing between the heat source and the product. By adjusting the gap between the product and the heat source, it is possible to control the source temperature in such a manner that produces the desired product temperature and wavelength of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Savarese
  • Patent number: 10119758
    Abstract: Drying a planar substrate such as paper sheet goods for packing materials includes layering a phase change material (PCM) on a substrate, in which the substrate has a moisture content and adapted for moisture removal to form a planar medium. A drying process disposes the substrate adjacent to a plurality of rollers and heat the layered substrate to a predetermined temperature based on a specific heat of the PCM. The rollers advance the layered substrate in series through pocket ventilation regions between the heat transfer elements, such that the pocket ventilation regions permit drying of the substrate enhanced by the specific heat of the temperature sensitive material. Upon drying, the layered substrate forms the planar medium suitable for use as a packing medium or other suitable application. The pocket ventilation regions are based on the PCM to facilitate drying and eradication of moisture from the paper planar substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Jamal Yagoobi, Yasmin Khakpour
  • Patent number: 10113263
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber, where the laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a condition of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. A notification can be provided to a user based on the determined motion condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, James P. Carow, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
  • Patent number: 10104949
    Abstract: A blow dryer attachment for vectoring directional flow of an airstream exiting a barrel of a blow dryer. The attachment features at least two body components in an articulated engagement having a central passage which may be curved by such articulation to reposition and exit aperture in a nozzle end opposite a connection to a blow dryer. A flexible coupling may be provided as an interface to connect the device to a broader range of blow dryers. A rotational engagement of the first component to the blow dryer allows for rotation of the exit aperture around the axis of the blow dryer barrel for additional adjustment of the angle and direction or vector angle of the exiting airstream from the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Serafino Torres, Serafino Edwards
  • Patent number: 10101085
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of freezing a liquid substance contained in at least one receptacle, comprising the steps of: providing the liquid substance in at least one receptacle, providing a cooling chamber and a cooling device having a cooling surface; setting the temperature of the cooling surface, starting a freezing procedure by placing the receptacle with the liquid substance therein on the cooling surface to form a seed or initial zone of nucleation; and continuing the freezing procedure to completely freeze the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostrics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen Dittrich, Guenter Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10094615
    Abstract: A bin and method of use for containment and delivery of particulate materials has: a) a housing; b) a particulate materials support plate within the housing, the support plate having a porous structure allowing air flow therethrough; c) the support plate having a central area elevated away from the bottom of the housing and surrounding sides; d) an air flow area between the bottom of the housing and the support plate; e) a particle drop region surrounding the sides of the support plate; and f) a sealing and opening component within the particle drop region that seals and opens a particle drop path between the support plate and the side walls of the housing. The sealing and opening component has an expanded position when sealing the particle drop region and is in a retracted position when opening the particle drop region to particulate material passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: Gregory Howard O'Gary
  • Patent number: 10085601
    Abstract: A hand dryer includes a box body that includes a hand drying chamber whose upper portion and side portion are open, an airflow generating device that generates an airflow, a nozzle that is provided in the hand drying chamber and ejects an airflow generated in the airflow generating device, a first sensor provided in the hand drying chamber, a second sensor that is provided in the hand drying chamber and is provided at a position that is below the first sensor and is more outward than the first sensor in a horizontal direction, and a control unit that controls an operation of the airflow generating device in accordance with a signal from the first sensor or the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Fukano
  • Patent number: 10082334
    Abstract: A device for biomass beneficiation, in particular for the mechanical drying of plant biomass. The device has a press chamber, which can be supplied with biomass via a feed chute and can be emptied via a feedstock outlet. A pressure plate, which for compacting the biomass can be moved by a feed unit against the front wall of the press chamber, the wall lying opposite to the pressure plate, is disposed in the press chamber. In addition, the device has conveys away the liquid phase coming out of the biomass during the compaction. A first pivot bearing, relative to the direction of biomass movement, is provided on which the pressure plate is mounted with its first edge, and a second pivot bearing, on which the pressure plate is mounted with its second edge opposite the first edge, whereby at least the first pivot bearing is movable transverse to the plane of the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Pallmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hartmut Pallmann
  • Patent number: 10076738
    Abstract: The invention starts out from a fluidizing apparatus (1) for conditioning solid particles, consisting of a distribution chamber (2), a turbulence chamber (3), wherein the turbulence chamber (3) has separating walls (10) or the like for conveying solid particles along a conveyor path, a solid particle inlet unit (6) as well as a solid particle outlet unit (7) and a flow receiving base (11), wherein an air distribution plate (18) is arranged below the flow receiving base (11), and opening ratios, which result through openings (22) in the air distribution plate (18), vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Glatt Ingenieurtechnick GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Jacob, Reinhard Boeber, Raoul Pila, Heinz Pritzke
  • Patent number: 10068781
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drying a substrate including a plurality of high aspect ratio (HAR) structures are performed after at least one of wet etching and/or wet cleaning the substrate using at least one of wet etching solution and/or wet cleaning solution, respectively, and without drying the substrate. Fluid between the plurality of HAR structures is displaced using a solvent including a bracing material. After the solvent evaporates, the bracing material precipitates out of solution and at least partially fills the plurality of HAR structures. The substrate is exposed to plasma generated using a plasma gas chemistry that is hydrogen rich to remove the bracing material thereby drying the substrate including the HAR structures without damaging the plurality of HAR structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sirard, Ilia Kalinovski, Jeff Hahn
  • Patent number: 10060676
    Abstract: A device for controlling the temperature of vehicle bodies, in particular for drying painted vehicle bodies, having a housing in which a temperature control tunnel and at least one pressure chamber separated therefrom by a wall are provided. In said wall there is a plurality of conventional nozzles via which temperature controlled air, which is introduced into the pressure chamber, is applied in particular in the upper region of the vehicle body. At least one nozzle device is provided which has a plurality of nozzle openings on the side thereof facing the vehicle body and at least roughly following the geometry of the lower region of the vehicle body at a distance from the vehicle body, which is smaller than the distance of the other nozzles arranged in the same wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: EISENMANN SE
    Inventor: Erwin Hihn
  • Patent number: 10046371
    Abstract: The substrate treating apparatus includes a process chamber in which an organic solvent remaining on a substrate is dissolved by using a fluid, that is provided as a supercritical fluid, to dry the substrate and a recycling unit including a recycler separating the organic solvent from the fluid discharged from the process chamber to recycle the fluid. The recycler includes a column having a space in which an absorbent for absorbing the organic solvent is stored, a supply tube supplying the fluid discharged from the process chamber into the space of the column, a discharge tube discharging the fluid from which the organic solvent is separated in the column, a gas supply tube supplying a purge gas into the column so that the organic solvent is separated from the absorbent, and an exhaust tube exhausting the purge gas containing the organic solvent to the outside of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Sun Jung, Woo-Young Kim, Chan-youn Heo
  • Patent number: 10039434
    Abstract: Disclosed is a home appliance provided with a drying apparatus, capable of improving the drying performance. The home appliance includes a body, a dishwashing tub provided in the body and in which a washing operation and a drying operation are conducted, and a drying apparatus provided in the dishwashing tub, and configured to suction air inside the dishwashing tub and discharge the suctioned air to the inside of the dishwashing tub again. The drying apparatus includes a drying duct communicating with the dishwashing tub, a heat pump unit including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, and the evaporator and the condenser are disposed inside the drying duct such that air in the dishwashing tub passes through the evaporator first and then the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Ho Park, Eung Ryeol Seo, Hyun Joo Jeon, Jun Kyu Jung, Joo Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 10041203
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus may include a heat pump that is detachable and controlled according to a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes may include a drying mode configured to control operation of the heat pump when the heat pump is mounted on the cabinet and a dehumidification mode configured to control operation of the heat pump when the heat pump is separated from the cabinet. The heat pump may be used in a separable manner when separated therefrom as well as when mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyukjin Ahn, Byeongjo Ryoo, Yongju Lee
  • Patent number: 10041205
    Abstract: Portable clothes-drying assemblies are provided to allow travelers to quickly and easily dry articles of clothing. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, an assembly includes a specially configured garment bag from which a conventional hand held hair dryer is suspended. An adapter tube for directing hot air from the hair dryer into the interior of the garment bag is also provided. The adapter tube has a proximal end configured to sealingly engage the nozzle of the hair dryer and a distal end configured to sealingly engage an inlet formed at the bottom of the garment bag. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the hair dryer is suspended from a horizontal rod, such as a closet rod, from which an article of clothing is also hung. An adapter assembly is also provided. The adapter assembly includes an adapter tube and a plurality of flexible distribution tubes that extend through the adapter tube and are configured to be inserted into the article of clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Loi McLoughlin
  • Patent number: 10041204
    Abstract: Provided is a clothes treating apparatus. The clothes treating apparatus may include a clothes receiving device providing a space for receiving clothes therein, a circulation passage provided in the clothes receiving device and configured to provide a flow path for air circulation through the clothes receiving device, and a heat-exchanging device provided in the circulation passage and configured to dehumidify air introduced into the circulation passage. A blower may be provided in the circulation passage and configured to circulate air within the clothes receiving device. A condensed water discharge device may be provided at a lower surface of the circulation passage and configured to discharge condensed water generated by the heat-exchanging device. The condensed water discharge device may include a backflow-preventing member that prevents backflow of the condensed water from the condensed water discharge device to the circulation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngsuk Kim, Sangwook Hong, Hyojun Kim