Patents Examined by Marc Lorenzi
  • Fabric treating machine
    Patent number: 9970145
    Abstract: A fabric treating machine according a present invention comprises a first vibration mitigation part which is disposed between a stator and a bearing unit. Therefore, it can reduce the transfer of the vibration from the driving unit to the bearing unit, and the vibration of an inner tub and an outer tub can be reduced, and a noise can be reduced. Thus, a reliability of product can be improved. Also, a fabric treating machine according a present invention comprises a vibration mitigation part which is disposed between an upper bearing unit and a lower bearing unit. Therefore, it can reduce the vibration transfer from the lower bearing unit to the upper bearing unit, and the vibration of an inner tub and an outer tub can be reduced, and a noise can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Jong Kim, Hyuk Soo Lee
  • Endoscope reprocessor
    Patent number: 9968973
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes: an endoscope information reading section configured to read endoscope information from each of endoscopes; a treatment tank in which the endoscopes are disposed; a number detection section configured to detect a number of the endoscopes disposed in the treatment tank; a determination section configured to determine whether a first number that is the number of endoscopes read by the endoscope information reading section is equal to a second number that is the number of the endoscopes detected by the number detection section; a notification section configured to execute error notification; and a control section connected with the determination section and the notification section, and configured to drive the notification section when the determination section determines that the first number is different from the second number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aiko Kosugi
  • Endoscope reprocessor
    Patent number: 9968246
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes: a treatment tank configured to allow an endoscope to be disposed inside; a connector including an opening inside the treatment tank; a first conduit extending from the connector; an on-off valve disposed in the first conduit; a leak tester; and a second conduit including a conduit body having a conduit resistance that is higher than a conduit resistance of the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayoshi Iwanami
  • Systems and methods for self-cleaning camera
    Patent number: 9973663
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a self-cleaning camera. The system includes a camera including a lens and a housing surrounding the lens. The system includes a shroud coupled to the housing about the lens. The shroud includes at least one anchor point for coupling the shroud to a vehicle. The system also includes a motor coupled to the housing of the camera via a coupling system such that an activation of the motor moves the camera relative to the shroud, and the movement of the camera relative to the shroud assists in cleaning the lens of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Aljosa Krajisnik
  • Spin chuck with in situ cleaning capability
    Patent number: 9968970
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles, a spin chuck is positioned inside a process chamber. The spin chuck is configured to hold a wafer-shaped article at a predetermined process position. A cover covers the spin chuck and is affixed to or integral with the spin chuck for rotation therewith. The cover has a central opening. A stationary nozzle assembly extends into the process chamber such that a discharge end of the stationary nozzle assembly passes through the central opening of the cover. The nozzle assembly comprises a rinse nozzle configured to direct rinse liquid radially outwardly of the nozzle assembly onto a downwardly-facing surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Andreas Gleissner, Peter Strutzmann
  • Apparatus for liquid treatment of wafer shaped articles
    Patent number: 9972514
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a wafer-shaped article comprises a spin chuck configured to hold a wafer-shaped article of a predetermined diameter in a position wherein a lower surface of the wafer-shaped article is spaced a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the spin chuck. A treatment assembly is mounted above the upper surface of the spin chuck and underlying a wafer-shaped article when mounted on the spin chuck. The treatment assembly extends parallel to the upper surface from an axis of rotation of the spin chuck radially to a distance that is at least half the predetermined diameter. The spin chuck comprises upwardly projecting gripping pins configured to hold a wafer-shaped article in position, wherein the gripping pins do not pass through the treatment assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hammer, Reinhold Schwarzenbacher, Milan Pliska, Bridget Hill, Michael Brugger
  • Tie steaming device
    Patent number: 9970150
    Abstract: A tie steaming device for steaming ties includes a housing that defines an interior space. A reservoir, a power module, a boiler and a pump are coupled to the housing and positioned in the interior space. The boiler and the pump are operationally coupled to the power module. The pump is fluidically coupled to the reservoir and the boiler. The device also comprises a shell that is hollow. The shell is fluidically couplable to the boiler. Each of a plurality of vents is positioned in the shell. The pump is positioned to transfer water from the reservoir to the boiler, such that the boiler converts the water to steam. The shell is configured for insertion into a user's tie to direct the steam through the vents to contact the tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: James Singleton
  • Substrate cleaning apparatus and substrate cleaning method
    Patent number: 9972510
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a cleaning bath in which a substrate holder holding a substrate is disposed in a vertical position, the substrate holder having a sealing member contacting a periphery of a surface of the substrate to seal a gap between the substrate and the substrate holder, and cleaning nozzles each configured to supply a jet of cleaning water to the substrate holder. The cleaning nozzles are disposed in the cleaning bath and arranged concentrically with a contact portion of the substrate surface contacting the sealing member and located at such positions that the jet of cleaning water impinges on the contact portion or its vicinity in an upper half of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Jumpei Fujikata
  • Device for disinfecting, sterilizing and/or maintaining medical, especially dental, instruments
    Patent number: 9962456
    Abstract: A device for disinfecting, sterilizing and/or maintaining medical, especially dental, instruments comprises a maintenance and cleaning chamber for accommodating instruments to be conditioned and means for supplying different cleaning or maintenance media for cleaning, disinfecting or sterilizing and/or maintaining the instruments in subsequent steps. The start times of the conditioning cycles for the different instruments are staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KALTENBACH & VOIGT GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Heckenberger, Hans-Dieter Wiek, Bernd Gugel
  • Dishwasher comprising a bistable filter and a method for mounting a bistable filter in a dishwasher
    Patent number: 9955846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing chamber, a water circulating system and a water filtering system, said water filtering system is arranged in the lower part of the washing chamber, wherein said water filtering system comprises a filter through which at least some of the circulating water is passing, said filter having bistable characteristics such that it has two stable shapes and is flippable from one stable position to the other by a force applied on the filter in a direction toward the other stable shape, wherein the filter is securable in the lower part of the washing chamber by flipping the filter from one stable shape to the other. The invention furthermore relates to a method for mounting the filter in a dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Sarah Tempelmann
  • Dishwasher
    Patent number: 9955847
    Abstract: Provided herein are a dishwasher comprising a washing chamber arranged for holding soiled items to be washed, a filter, and a circulation pump, and methods of operating the same. The washing chamber may be arranged such that, when the flow of washing liquid passes through the washing chamber, soil is released from the items to be washed and caught in the flow. The filter may be such arranged that, when the flow of washing liquid with soil passes through the filter, soil is separated from the flow of washing liquid and caught at the filter. The dishwasher may further include a soil trap, which is located separate from the circulation flow, and a soil removing unit including a transport unit for transport of the soil caught at the filter into the soil trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation, N.V.
    Inventor: Sarah Tempelmann
  • Laundry treating appliance with tumble pattern control
    Patent number: 9957653
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation including determining a rotational speed of the drum corresponding to a predetermined movement of the laundry within the drum and setting an operating parameter for the cycle of operation based on the determined rotational speed of the drum corresponding to the predetermined movement of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ryan R. Bellinger
  • Fabric treating machine
    Patent number: 9957659
    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: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyu Bum Lee, Young Jong Kim, Young Bae Park
  • Loading device for a laundry machine
    Patent number: 9822475
    Abstract: A loading device is attachable to the front of a front-loading laundry machine comprising a drum, a drum port and a drum port door for selectively closing the drum port. The loading device comprises a deformable chute mounted on a collapsible frame, and a pair of brackets for mounting the collapsible frame to the laundry machine such that the loading device is configurable between: a use condition in which he collapsible frame is open and the deformable chute is taut for directing laundry through the drum port into the laundry machine, and a storage condition in which the collapsible frame is closed for allowing the drum port door of the laundry machine to be closed. A front-loading laundry machine provided with the loading device located adjacent the drum port. The front-loading laundry machine may be a washing machine or a tumble dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: JENSEN USA INC.
    Inventor: James Christopher Thorpe
  • Laundry treating machine
    Patent number: 9797080
    Abstract: A laundry treating machine is provided. The laundry treating machine may include a tub to receive wash water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, an air supply device to supply air to the tub, a lint filter to filter lint from the air circulated by the air supply device, a filter cleaning device to supply cleaning water to the lint filter to remove the lint from the lint filter, and a cooling water supply device to supply cooling water to an inner surface of the tub such that moisture contained in air is condensed at the inner surface of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngjin Doh, Jihong Lee, Hong Namgoong, Kyuhwan Lee
  • Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and storage medium
    Patent number: 9786533
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus which can efficiently transfer substrates using a conveying mechanism including a plurality of substrate holding members. The substrate processing apparatus transfers a processed substrate to an intermediate conveying unit using a transport mechanism when the processed substrate returns to a substrate receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kaneko
  • Laundry treating appliance with tumble pattern control
    Patent number: 9765463
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation having by determining a parameter indicative of a change in packing density of the laundry in a treating chamber and taking an operating action based on the determined parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ryan R. Bellinger
  • Warewash machine with removable rotating arm and related method
    Patent number: 9763554
    Abstract: A warewash machine arm mechanism includes a liquid supply shaft assembly including a rotatable sleeve bearing mounted thereon, and an arm assembly including an elongated interior liquid flow space along an arm body and one or more liquid ejection orifices. The arm assembly is releasably mounted to the supply shaft assembly via a latch mechanism of the arm assembly that engages the rotatable sleeve bearing such that the arm assembly rotates with the rotatable sleeve bearing during ejection of liquid from the liquid ejection orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PREMARK FEG L.L.G.
    Inventors: Michael T. Watson, Brian A. Brunswick, Jeffrey R. Newcomer, Gonska Heinrich, Roland Walz
  • Washing machine having balancer and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 9745684
    Abstract: A washing machine having a balancer and a control method thereof which achieve correct communication between a controller and a balancing module such that a balancing module is correctly shifted to a target position. The control method of the washing machine includes measuring a first time between position detection time points of the balancing modules during rotation of the rotary tub when the plurality of balancing modules is in a static mode, measuring a second time between position detection time points of the balancing modules during rotation of the rotary tub when any one of the balancing modules is shifted by a predetermined distance through a movement command, and confirming a relationship between a module ID of any one of the balancing modules and a communication ID of the movement command through a relative variation of the second time with respect to the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Eun Lee, Yoon Sup Kim, Su Ho Jo, Kwan Joo Myoung, Awata Hiroshi
  • Methods for removing ink from films
    Patent number: 9731329
    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: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Floral Packaging IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jorge Albeiro Millan