Patents Examined by Marc Lorenzi
  • Patent number: 9724733
    Abstract: A method of removing ink from a film includes unrolling the film from a first roll, exposing the film to a cleaning composition, and scraping the cleaning composition from the film. The film and the cleaning composition pass adjacent a first nonabrasive cloth to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and adjacent at least one additional nonabrasive cloth to scrub the ink from the film. The film may be polymeric, metallic, or a metalized polymer. A system includes a means for unrolling a film, at least one nozzle configured to expose the film to a cleaning composition, and a blade configured to scrape the cleaning composition from the film. The system also includes a first nonabrasive cloth configured to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and at least one additional nonabrasive cloth configured to scrub the ink from the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FLORAL PACKAGING IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Jorge Millan Ardila
  • Patent number: 9702079
    Abstract: A washing machine (1) comprises a tub (2) and a draining circuit (16). The draining circuit (16) is fluidly connected to a lower portion of the tub (2). A valve (26) is arranged between the tub (2) and the draining circuit (16) and a recirculation circuit (10) is fluidly connected to the tub (2) for re-circulating fluid from a lower portion of the tub into the tub. An inlet (14) of the recirculation circuit (10) is positioned downstream of the valve (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Martino Bondi, Enrico De Michieli
  • Patent number: 9693672
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a sprayer for spraying liquid to the treating chamber. The sprayer may include a liquid passage and at least one outlet extending from an interior to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage. A membrane may have at least one opening and may be in fluid communication with the liquid passage to control the flow of liquid through the at least one outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Mark S. Feddema
  • Patent number: 9687134
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a door with at least a first part and a second part. The first part may be pivotally mounted to the dishwasher. The second part may be configured to be coupled to the first part for cooperative pivoting of the first part and the second part in one mode of operation. The second part may also be configured to move independently of the first part in another mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Baldwin, Rexford W. Cordill, Marcus R. Fischer, Mike S. Hemry, Saadat Hussain, Duane M. Kobos, Justin D. McIver, Demetrius J. Schaaf, Bryan M. Topp, Barry E. Tuller, Ameresh B. Viswanathan, Anthony B. Welsh, Elizabeth A. Moit, Brett Dibkey
  • Patent number: 9681790
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and in which is provided a rotating sprayer for emitting liquid into the treating chamber. The rotation of the spray arm may be controlled such that rotation of the spray arm is responsive to a determination that the spray arm has contacted an obstacle within the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Sathish A. Sundaram
  • Patent number: 9656303
    Abstract: Labor saving and automatization of cleaning work of a conveyance face for articles or materials are intended to reliably and quickly execute the cleaning work. A cleaning apparatus has a cleaning implement (10) located on the upper side of a conveyance element (R). The cleaning implement includes a cleaning face (11) to be in contact with a conveyance face (S). The cleaning apparatus also has a traction device (6,7) which applies a tractive force (T) to the cleaning implement, in a direction (E) opposite to a conveyance direction (D) of a conveyance passage. The cleaning implement has a weight (P) for keeping the cleaning face in contact with the conveyance element in operation of the conveyor device, and cleans the conveyance face by means of contact and separation of the cleaning face and the conveyance face, and relative displacement therebetween (V1, V2, V3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: YOSHINO GYPSUM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Hirooka
  • Patent number: 9632426
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage configured to secure a wafer; and a cleaning module including a tank adjacent to the wafer stage, and is positioned outside the region occupied by the wafer. The cleaning module is configured to receive de-ionized (DI) water into the tank and extract the DI water out of the tank. The tank is configured to hold DI water with a top surface of the DI water substantially level with a top surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Chun Peng, Heng-Jen Lee
  • Patent number: 9623447
    Abstract: The conventional washing apparatus has a double-cup washing tank that joins and separates to let work be placed therein, with nozzles set on the inner cup to allow a passage between it and the outer cup for spent liquid and/or air. The work is cleaned by washing detergent spirally flowing along the periphery of the inner cup by suction power within the passage, and then dried. Suction is not generated within the inner cup, so the spiral flow is too weak to make the tornado effect. This invention though resolves the above issues by an encased washing apparatus having a capsule-shaped washing chamber that joins and separates, has nozzles thereon, has a work table within that rotates by a drive device, has a drain at the bottom, and is characterized by washing detergent, cleaning water and/or air swirling by negative pressure within the washing chamber and then discharging into a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FINE MACHINE KATAOKA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9592311
    Abstract: A washing machine suitable to effect a washing treatment, thermo-disinfection and possible drying of objects, including a washing chamber in which the objects to be treated are disposed, and a washing circuit including a plurality of exit paths for a washing liquid to be distributed toward the objects to be treated. On the bottom of the washing chamber, in association with a corresponding discharge aperture, valve means to discharge the washing liquid are disposed, which are directly connected to a pipe that discharges directly into the sewerage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: STEELCO SPA
    Inventor: Fabio Zardini
  • Patent number: 9595457
    Abstract: A method for cleaning semiconductor substrate using ultra/mega sonic device comprising holding a semiconductor substrate by using a chuck, positioning a ultra/mega sonic device adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, injecting chemical liquid on the semiconductor substrate and gap between the semiconductor substrate and the ultra/mega sonic device, changing gap between the semiconductor substrate and the ultra/mega sonic device for each rotation of the chuck during the cleaning process. The gap can be increased or reduced by 0.5?/N for each rotation of the chuck, where ? is wavelength of ultra/mega sonic wave, N is an integer number between 2 and 1000. The gap is varied in the range of 0.5?n during the cleaning process, where ? is wavelength of ultra/mega sonic wave, and n is an integer number starting from 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Sunny Voha Nuch, Liangzhi Xie, Junping Wu, Zhaowei Jia, Yunwen Huang, Zhifeng Gao, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 9592539
    Abstract: An automated support cleaning system comprising a tank disposed within a housing and configured to circulate an aqueous cleaning solution to remove a support structure from a three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin N. Dunn, Thomas J. McDonough, Bryan L. Smith, William J. Swanson, James E. Orrock, Claudia Mosher, Randall R. Shay, Robert L. Skubic, Martin G. Zalusky, David M. Kozlak, Jerome W. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 9512554
    Abstract: A device that has a component within a process air circuit of a washer dryer or tumble dryer; a condensate water trough in which condensate water is collected that is formed in the process air circuit as a result of drying damp laundry; and a first lever arm rotatably fastened to a rinse tank above the component. The component is to be cleaned and the condensate water is conducted from the condensate water trough to the rinse tank. Further, the condensate water is dispensed from an outlet opening of the rinse tank to the component. The rinse tank has a closure to selectively open and close the outlet opening and an actuator to actuate the closure. Also, the closure has a sealing head that is connected to the first lever arm and that closes the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Baurmann, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens, Oliver Wuttge
  • Patent number: 9484230
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus of the present invention includes a process-liquid supply unit selectively supplying a plurality of types of process-liquids to the substrate held by a substrate holding table, first and second guide cups which are disposed in this order from the top and are configured to respectively guide downward the process-liquid scattering from the rotating substrate while being held by the substrate holding table; and a position adjustment mechanism adjusting a positional relationship between the first and second guide cups and the substrate holding table. A first process-liquid recovery tank is provided at a lower area of the first and second guide cups and recovers the process-liquid guided by the first guide cup. A second process-liquid recovery tank is provided at the inner peripheral side of the first process-liquid recovery tank and recovers the process-liquid guided by the second guide cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ogata, Shuichi Nagamine
  • Patent number: 9469928
    Abstract: Provided is a washing method of a washing machine including an outer tub for receiving washing water, an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub to receive laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided in the inner tub, and a motor providing driving force to rotate at least one of the inner tub and the pulsator. In the washing method, a first centrifugal circulation water stream is formed by rotating the inner tub such that the washing water rises along a space between the outer and inner tubs and falls into the inner tub. An agitating water stream is formed by rotating the pulsator rotating the washing water. Here, the forming of the agitating water stream includes forming a first agitating water stream by controlling the motor with a first net acting ratio, and forming a second agitating water stream by controlling the motor with a second net acting ratio lower than the first net acting ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Jong Kim, Sang Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 9462925
    Abstract: A spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The spray assembly includes a base unit and a mounting bracket rotatably mounted to the base unit. A spray arm is selectively secured to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes features for engaging the spray arm and hindering undesired detachment of the spray arm from the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Charles Boyer
  • Patent number: 9457383
    Abstract: A disinfecting mat device cleans and sanitizes surfaces of objects coming into contact with the mat. The device includes a mat comprising a bottom wall, a perimeter wall, and an top wall defining an interior space of the mat. A compressible reservoir is positioned in the interior space and a fluid is positioned in the reservoir. An air chamber is positioned in the interior space. A plurality of ducts extends through a lower interior wall wherein each duct has an upper end in fluid communication with the air chamber and a lower end positioned adjacent to the reservoir. A plurality of tubes is in fluid communication with the reservoir extending through the top wall wherein each tube delivers the fluid in the reservoir to an upper surface of the top wall when the air chamber is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Virginia D. Skerven
  • Patent number: 9427134
    Abstract: A stationary household appliance having a housing wall, components, and a force transmitting element to transmit a force that acts upon the housing wall from the outside of the stationary household appliance into the components. The force transmitting element has at least two force application regions to transmit the force into at least two different ones of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Fetzer, Dieter Hotz, Cengiz Kücük
  • Patent number: 9362146
    Abstract: A washing device is disclosed, which is capable of preventing damage of a substrate caused by drooping of the substrate. The washing device includes a plasma irradiating part supplied with a substrate from a substrate loading part to remove dirt from the substrate by irradiating plasma to the substrate; a dirt washing part supplied from the substrate from the plasma irradiating part to remove dirt remaining on the substrate; a finishing washing part supplied with the substrate from the dirt washing part to wash the substrate; a drying part supplied with the substrate from the finishing washing part to dry the substrate; and a substrate unloading part supplied with the substrate from the drying part to unload the substrate, wherein the plasma irradiating part includes a plasma irradiation unit that irradiates plasma to the substrate and a floating unit that maintains the substrate in a floating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Young Oh, Eun Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 9359708
    Abstract: A fabric treating machine includes a spray nozzle for spraying water supplied from a water supply passage into an inner tub and a spray nozzle combining unit for combining the spray nozzle with a case. Fabric loaded in the inner tub can be effectively soaked through the spray nozzle. Furthermore, a spray direction of the spray nozzle can be accurately adjusted when the spray nozzle is fitted in the case, and thus the spray nozzle can be easily fitted in the case and water sprayed through the spray nozzle can be prevented from overflowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyu Bum Lee, Young Jong Kim, Young Bae Park
  • Patent number: 9347171
    Abstract: A device for cleaning an evaporator of a condenser with condensation water. The device includes a condensation water pan that collects condensation water condensed from process air by the evaporator, and a collection container above the evaporator that receives the condensation water from the condensation water pan and that dispenses the condensation water with a gush onto the evaporator from a rinsing chamber of the collection container with a sudden opening of a closure part through a downpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Haugeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Dimitri Pischits, Ralf Willwert, Oliver Wuttge