Patents Examined by John P McCormack
  • Patent number: 12043948
    Abstract: A clothes care apparatus in which a drain flow passage and a recovery flow passage are configured independently of each other. The clothes care apparatus includes a main body, a heat exchanger disposed inside the main body and configured to condense air inside the main body, a water collecting duct configured to collect water condensed on the heat exchanger, a pump configured to pump out the water collected in the water collecting duct, a drain container configured to store the pumped water introduced from the water collecting duct by the pump and including an inlet through which water is introduced and an overflow hole disposed below the inlet and configured to discharge the stored water in the drain container, and a water level sensor disposed inside the drain container, configured to detect a water level in the drain container, and disposed below the overflow hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungsang Choi, Jaeryong Park, Chulkie Park
  • Patent number: 12029299
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent hair dryer, including: an airflow detection channel, a sensor, a control system, and a main air duct. The airflow detection channel is arranged on at least one side of the main air duct, and an air inlet of the airflow detection channel opens towards a blowing direction of the main air duct of the intelligent hair dryer. The sensor is arranged in the airflow detection channel, and is configured to detect state information of airflow having touched a blown object. The control system may control operation state of the intelligent hair dryer by using the state information of the airflow. By using the intelligent hair dryer of the present disclosure, it can ensure that a user is saved from the trouble of repeatedly adjusting the gear position of the hair dryer during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TINECO INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Zhu, Xisheng Xu
  • Patent number: 12027381
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive concept provide an apparatus for treating a substrate. According to an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for treating a substrate comprises a first valve and a second valve sequentially installed along a direction from a fluid supplying source to a high-pressure chamber in the supply line; a branch line branching from the supply line between the first valve and the second valve and connected to an exhaust line; a third valve installed on the branch line; an exhaust unit exhausting the process fluid inside the high-pressure chamber; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform, before a transfer robot transfers the substrate to the high-pressure chamber for treating the substrate, a first operating of opening the first valve and closing the second valve and a third valve, and a second operating of closing the first valve and the second valve, and opening the third valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youngseop Choi, Young Hun Lee, Jinwoo Jung, Miso Park
  • Patent number: 12018888
    Abstract: Drying of newly harvested grain wherein the grain has a preferred market moisture content target and the grain is heated and dried to within about four percent above the target and discharged at about 110° F. Thereafter, the grain is cooled to ambient by circulating ambient air at preferably one third of a cubic foot per minute per bushel through the grain thereby removing about two percent additional moisture. When required the grain is further dried to target moisture utilizing an equilibrium moisture process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Inventor: Brent J. Bloemendaal
  • Patent number: 12011105
    Abstract: A baby-safe drying apparatus, including a generally pair shaped housing having a bottom portion connected to a middle portion tapering to a top portion, an electric fan connected to an interior wall of the housing and operative to draw air into an air inlet and out an air outlet, and a rechargeable battery supported within the bottom portion. The housing has a generally hollow interior with the air inlet located on the bottom portion and the air outlet located on the top portion. The air outlet is generally perpendicular to the housing in an upright position. The electric fan is arranged to be baby-safe. The rechargeable battery operationally providing power to the electric fan. The lower portion has a greater mass than the middle and top portions such that the center of gravity of the housing is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Inventor: Bianca Skartland
  • Patent number: 12013183
    Abstract: A system for drying wet food articles (such as produce) is disclosed herein. The system can comprise a turntable capable of rotating multiple barrel stations. The system can comprise various loading, drying, dumping, and cleaning positions, and the barrel stations can be rotated to each of these positions. The present disclosure also describes various methods for drying wet food articles utilizing such systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Inventor: Jesus R. Oropeza
  • Patent number: 12011728
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved blowing nozzle, in particular for stretching systems, which is characterised by the following features, inter alia: the nozzle box (5) is divided in its longitudinal direction (L) into at least two regions, specifically a first longitudinal region (LB1) closer to the inflow side (7) and a second longitudinal region (LB2) that is subsequent and/or downstream and/or further away from the inflow side (7), the first longitudinal region (LB1) is convergent or comprises at least one convergent portion in which the height (H) between the lower face (11) and the upper face (15) is smaller than the height (H1) in the region of the inflow side (7) as the distance from the inflow side (7) increases, and the second longitudinal region (LB2) is divergent or comprises at least one divergent portion in which the height (H) between the lower face (11) and the upper face (15) is greater than the height (H) at the end of the first longitudinal region (LB1) and/or at the beginning of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: BRÜCKNER MASCHINENBAU GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Höglauer, Georg Waldleitner
  • Patent number: 12007167
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to environmentally-clean thermal drying systems and methods. In accordance with one aspect, a method for thermal drying includes receiving a grease-related waste, burning the grease-related waste in a furnace to generate heat energy, receiving a bio-waste in an indirect dryer at an adjustable feed rate, drying the bio-waste in the indirect dryer using at least some of the heat energy, and metering the bio-waste into the indirect dryer at the adjustable feed rate. The adjustable feed rate is adjusted based on a percentage of solids of the bio-waste before entering the indirect dryer and a temperature within the indirect dryer, where the indirect dryer and the adjustable feed rate are coordinated to achieve a predetermined percentage of solids in a dried bio-waste exiting the indirect dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventor: Steve Macchio
  • Patent number: 11994342
    Abstract: A hybrid kiln system and method for drying material, such as lumber, logs, and timber. A solar air heater uses solar radiation to heat air. The heated air is pushed into a kiln using one or more solar air heater fans. A dehumidifier is also provided to dehumidify and heat the air within the kiln. A method for determining when the solar air heater fans and the dehumidifier should be activated is also provided, and is based upon the temperature difference between the solar air heater's interior and exterior, as well as the relative humidity within the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: The George Washington University, Mississippi State University
    Inventors: Richard Clive Millar, Thomas A. Mazzuchi, Todd Mlsna
  • Patent number: 11974591
    Abstract: A method of acclimatizing dates includes placing a plurality of dates into a vacuum chamber, heating the dates to a first temperature, and increasing a vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber with the dates in the vacuum chamber. The first temperature is below a boiling point of water at an initial pressure within the vacuum chamber and the increase in vacuum pressure modifies the boiling point to below the first temperature. The method includes adjusting a relative humidity of the vacuum chamber towards a target relative humidity until the plurality of dates reach an equilibrium relative humidity, the target relative humidity corresponding to a target moisture content of the dates on an isotherm of the dates at the first temperature. The method includes cooling the dates to a second temperature to stop transpiration of water within the plurality of dates and decreasing the vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Dry Harvest, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Fink, Gene Robert Campbell, Nigel Aaron Weenink, Niel Campbell
  • Patent number: 11964063
    Abstract: The present application provides a towel disinfection dryer, comprising a main machinery, wherein the main machinery comprises a housing, an ultraviolet light source installed in the housing, a reflector arranged above the ultraviolet light source, a heater installed in the housing, and a fan installed in the housing, the reflector is installed in the housing, the bottom of the housing is provided with a window exposing the ultraviolet light source, and the bottom of the housing corresponding to the outlet of the fan is provided with an air outlet, the heater is arranged on the airflow path of the fan, the reflector defines one or more airflow holes, and the reflector is arranged on the airflow path of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ANTOP TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ruidian Yang, Weixin Ni
  • Patent number: 11965695
    Abstract: A closed variable-frequency heat pump drying device with a heat regenerator includes a variable-frequency compressor, a condenser, a throttling valve, an evaporator, a heat regenerator, a three-way valve, a variable-frequency fan, an air inlet temperature sensor, an air inlet humidity sensor, a drying bin, an air outlet temperature sensor, an air outlet humidity sensor and a controller. The controller regulates frequency of the variable-frequency compressor by comparing magnitudes of actual and set air inlet temperatures; a ratio of a straight-through air volume to a regenerated air volume of the three-way valve by comparing magnitudes of actual and set air inlet humidity; and frequency of the variable-frequency fan by comparing magnitudes of actual and set air humidity difference and magnitudes of actual and set air temperature difference of medium air entering and exiting the drying bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHUNDE POLYTECHNIC
    Inventors: Yansheng Xu, Zhijiang Wu, Da Feng, Huaxing Liu, Xiyu Li, Dongming Li
  • Patent number: 11952696
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a closed drying air circuit and a drum in communication with the closed drying air circuit. A condenser is in communication with the closed drying air circuit. The condenser includes a cooled water inlet that directs cooled water into the heated air to remove moisture from the heated air. The condenser includes a condenser water outlet for egress of water from the condenser. The cooled water inlet of the condenser is configured to receive water from a tap water source. A thermoelectric apparatus having a cold side flow device arranged between the cooled water inlet of the condenser and the tap water source is included. The cold side flow device is configured to receive tap water from the tap water source and cool the tap water below a tap outlet temperature using the thermoelectric device before the tap water enters the cooled water inlet of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Benny Leung, Howard Jay Kalnitz, Jason Allen Stamper, Carlos Amador Zamarreno
  • Patent number: 11953263
    Abstract: A sticker for spacing wood is extruded from an aluminum alloy. The sticker can have different configurations. In a first configuration, the sticker has a width about the same as its height, with longitudinal ridges on all sides that grip wood when wood is stacked on the sticker. In a second configuration, the sticker has a width significantly greater than its height, with longitudinal ridges on the top and bottom surfaces, and with smooth side surfaces. The longitudinal ridges have a height within a specified range and are spaced at a distance peak-to-peak within a specified range. The ridges provide good grip of lumber stacked on the sticker yet do not easily plug with wood fibers through repeated use. The extruded aluminum sticker is very rugged and can be used for hundreds or even thousands of drying cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Imagineering Werks, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Templeman
  • Patent number: 11944176
    Abstract: Modulation techniques designed to prolong battery life in a battery-powered hair dryer that utilizes infrared technology as part of the heating element. Modulation techniques can be used to extend battery run time without significant degradation and optimize end-of-life performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SPUR CONCEPTS INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Goldman, Jonathan Friedman, Zachary Rattner
  • Patent number: 11944041
    Abstract: A hay bale dryer features a support frame inside of which there is delimited at least one bale space and at least one manifold carrying a set of aeration spears movable between a deployed position penetrating the bale space and a retracted position withdrawn therefrom. The manifold is moved between the positions by way of an actuator driven linkage, and the aeration spears comprise hollow elongated bodies of tapered thickness toward their distal ends for more effective penetration of the hay bales. A manufacturing method uses a hydraulic press to produce the hollow elongated bodies from lengths of originally cylindrically pipe. Horizontal feeding tables and upright feeding racks feature displaceable bale movers for moving queued hay bales along one or more queuing lanes into one or more bale dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Travis M. Fehr
  • Patent number: 11940212
    Abstract: A kiln for drying and processing lumber packages is provided. The kiln generally includes at least one end chamber, a drying chamber adjacent to the end chamber, a first lumber conveying line configured to transport the lumber packages in a first direction through the end chamber and the drying chamber, and a second lumber conveying line configured to transport the lumber packages in a second direction through the end chamber and the drying chamber. The conveying lines may be countercurrent or uniflow. The kiln may further include a heat distributor in the end chamber to distribute heat into the end chamber in addition to heat from the drying chamber along the first and second lumber conveying lines. The heat distributor may include a distribution duct receiving heat from a drying chamber distribution duct or a heater inlet duct, a heat exchanger, a radiative heating element, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Murray Nichols, Gregory Keith Ralston, Luiz C. Oliveira, Philip John Latos
  • Patent number: 11939719
    Abstract: A laundry drying machine includes: a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet and configured to accommodate a target object, an electric field generator spaced apart from the drum and configured to, based on power being applied to the electric field generator, generate an electric field, and an exhaust duct configured to discharge air inside the drum. The electric field generator includes: (i) an anode electrode spaced apart from the drum, fixed to the cabinet, and configured to apply the electric field to the target object, (ii) a power supply unit configured to supply the power to the anode electrode, and (iii) a matcher configured to match a source impedance of the power and an impedance of a load side. The drum is configured to, based on a reflectivity of the electric field exceeding a predetermined ratio, reduce a rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jihoon Kim, Junghoon Lee, Chanwoo Moon, Youngmin Kim
  • Patent number: 11920289
    Abstract: A heating device of a clothes drying treatment device executes an on or off operation in a temperature interval. When the temperature in a drum reaches an upper limit value TDx of the temperature interval under an action of the heating device, the heating device is turned off and the heating device stops heating. The upper limit value TDx decreases as a number of off times x of the heating device increases. Accordingly, a higher initial off temperature is adopted for the heating device, the temperature in the drum rapidly increases to the drying temperature, a preheating time is shortened, and a certain coefficient is multiplied in following control parameters controlling on or off of the heating device. The coefficient is related to the number of on-off times, and the effect is achieved that the off temperature of the clothes dryer gradually decreases as the number of on-off times increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER LAUNDRY ELECTRIC APPLIANCES CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Wu, Wenwei Li, Guanghui Pan, Yubao Wang, Guangfeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11910820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a centrifugal device. The invention furthermore relates to a centrifugal device. The centrifugal device is provided with a drum which can be driven at a variable speed of rotation, with a frame and with vibration dampers arranged between the frame and the drum. The invention furthermore relates to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Sormac B.V.
    Inventor: Hubertus Ernest Ferdinand Marie Haffmans