Patents Examined by Michael Barr
  • Patent number: 9999339
    Abstract: A removable non-integrated treating chemistry dispensing cartridge assembly may emit a signal in response to a predetermined amount of treating chemistry being detected and in response to a predetermined amount of illumination being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Beshears, Jr., Sathish A. Sundaram
  • Patent number: 9994991
    Abstract: A full-automatic washing machine includes: a first control part, a receiving part, a body display part arranged on an upper panel, and a remote controller separated from the body display part. The remote controller includes: setting keys for setting operating information of a washing operation, a second control part, an information display part and a transmitting part. The second control part displays operating information set by the setting keys through the information display part, and transmits the operating information by the transmitting part to the receiving part through wireless communication. A mode display part of the body display part is illuminated in a color such as blue corresponding to the reception of the operating information until the washing operation starts when the first control part receives the operating information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Haier Asia International Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroki Sato, Yukio Tobi, Hiroyuki Kitakawa, Yuka Yoshida, Noriyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 9993849
    Abstract: A container is disclosed. The container includes a top portion and a bottom portion, both including a mesh portion, at least one hinging feature attached to the bottom portion, wherein the at least one hinging feature hingably attaches the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion having an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the top portion and the bottom portion, when in the closed configuration, forming an inner portion, also a latching mechanism wherein when the latching mechanism is in a locked position the top portion and bottom portion are locked into the closed configuration, also at least one spring holder attached to the at least one hinging feature and located within the inner portion wherein when the top portion and bottom portion move from the closed position to the open position, the at least one spring holder lifts upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, David H. Bellman, Alexander R. Therrien, Jared N. Farlow, Keith D. Violette
  • Patent number: 9988754
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a dispensing assembly which can identify laundry treating chemistry filled in a loading cup by way of a material sensor, and supplying said laundry treating chemistry to a proper corresponding bulk reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Venkataprabhath Kakaraparthi
  • Patent number: 9986884
    Abstract: Provided are a dish washing machine and a controlling method thereof. When water is sprayed from a nozzle while a vane is positioned at a reference position during a drainage operation, since a deflection angle of the vane is bent back and the water is sprayed toward a rear wall of a washing tub, the water forms a fast and strong water current over a bottom plate of the washing tub to remove garbage which remains at a filter while flowing over the bottom of the washing tub. Accumulation at a filter at a top end of a sump and that may block the filter during washing such as preliminary washing, main washing, etc., is washed, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of having to separate and wash the filter, and effectively improves performance by avoiding poor circulation of water that may occur due to a filter blockage or generation of bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Chan Ryu, Woo Jin Shin, Soo Hyung Yoo, So Jeong Kim, Jun Ho Lee, Jae Man Joo, Sang Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 9984903
    Abstract: A treatment cup cleaning method is provided, which includes: a rotating step of rotating a substrate rotating unit with a substrate being held by the substrate rotating unit; a cleaning liquid supplying step of supplying a cleaning liquid to an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate and causing the cleaning liquid to scatter from a peripheral edge of the substrate to be applied to an inner wall of a treatment cup in the rotating step, whereby the cleaning liquid is supplied to the inner wall of the treatment cup; and a scattering direction changing step of changing a cleaning liquid scattering direction in which the cleaning liquid scatters from the peripheral edge of the substrate in the rotating step and the cleaning liquid supplying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumi Higuchi, Asuka Wakita
  • Patent number: 9980626
    Abstract: Dispensing techniques utilize existing fluid to dispense a solid block of chemical product concentrate. The solid chemical product concentrate may include, for example, detergents, disinfectants, sanitizers, rinse agents, or other cleaning agents. The dispenser monitors and controls the concentration of the chemical product in a use solution. When the concentration of the use solution falls outside of a target range, the dispenser routes existing fluid from within the system to the dispenser, where it interacts with and dispense a solid chemical product concentrate, thus raising the concentration of the chemical product in the use solution. In a dishmachine application, the existing fluid may include post wash or rinse fluid from the dishmachine, or may include use solution from a sump, tank, or other use solution storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jared R. Freudenberg, Ryan Jacob Urban, Thomas C. Rustad
  • Patent number: 9974614
    Abstract: The application discloses an auxiliary device for a tank of an ultrasound apparatus which comprises a rack and at least one adapter for a medical instrument. Thereby, the adapter comprises a housing and at least one coupling element which is movable with respect to the housing by way of a drive and which can be coupled to the medical instrument, so that a movement of the coupling element effects an active movement of at least one region of the medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: BANDELIN patent GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Jung, Jonas Möhricke
  • Patent number: 9962062
    Abstract: A supply container for placement in a dispensing device of a program-controlled cleaning appliance, in particular a dishwasher, includes a main body providing a volumetric space, the volumetric space being of a size suitable for storing an amount of powdered detergent sufficient for performing a plurality of wash cycles. The main body includes a bottom portion and a circumferential side wall integrally formed therewith, the side wall being equipped with a flange located opposite the bottom portion and extending radially outwardly from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Wegener, Fabian Hils, Guenter Kroeger, Holger Ernst
  • Patent number: 9964311
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a cavity of food or beverage preparation device. The cavity is connected with a pipe system. The pipe system supplies a fluid through the pipe system to the cavity. When the fluid flow stops, any remainder of the fluid in the pipe system is removed by passing a gas (for example, air) through the pipe system or by a valve disposed at a high location of the pipe system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CONVOTHERM ELEKTROGERAETE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Behle, Lutz Riefenstein, Hannes Wild, Guenter Wurdinger
  • Patent number: 9960057
    Abstract: A device for measuring the distribution and/or impulse of a series of droplets comprises a piezoelectric sensor positioned relative to a source of droplets such that each of a plurality of droplets contacts the piezoelectric sensor in succession, thereby to generate an electrical signal. Logic circuitry is configured to calculate one or more frequencies from the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Michael Dalmer, Alexander Lippert, Philipp Engesser, Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 9956045
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cannulated surgical tools comprises a hollow body with lavage fluid holes and a brush adaptor at a first end and an inlet adaptor affixed to a second end. A body hub, consisting of inlet channel and drain channel is in liquid communication with an inner lavage fluid tube. A lavage connection tube is in liquid communication with the hollow body at the brush adaptor and through the upper connecting lavage fluid orifice. An inner lavage fluid tube, having an inner channel, extends within the hollow body with a distal end in liquid communication with the inner channel within the inlet adaptor. There are multiple spray openings proximate the distal end of the inner lavage fluid connection tube and a tube brush is dimensioned to fit within the inner channel. The apparatus can be combined with a reservoir to make the unit self-contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: William R. Krause
  • Patent number: 9945062
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing humidity both within laundry and within a laundry treating appliance in response to a door being opened or closed are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara A. Balinski, Floyd G. Jackson, Karl David McAllister
  • Patent number: 9944466
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying apparatus (200, 200?, 200?, 200??) for feeding washware (100, 101) to at least one conveyor belt (50, 51, 52) of a commercial conveyor warewasher (1), with a conveying system (201) for conveying the washware (100, 101), in particular for feeding trays or tray-like washware (100), of cutlery and/or of other washware (101). The invention is characterized by an unloading station (202, 202?, 202?, 202??) for automatically unloading the washware (100, 101) from the conveying apparatus (200, 200?, 200?, 200??) transversely to the conveying direction of the conveying system (201), in which the trays (100), with or without cutlery (103) lying on them, can be oriented on edge and parallel to the transport direction of the conveying system (201), so as to be capable of being placed onto a conveyor belt (50) of the conveyor warewasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PREMARK FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Klaus Padtberg, Frank Zoller
  • Patent number: 9936853
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a washing tub to form a dish receiving space; a sump disposed at a lower side of the washing tub; a heater which heats washing water received in the sump to generate a stream; a dish rack disposed inside the washing tub so that a plurality of dishes are inserted and stand; and a steam nozzle disposed in a direction facing edges of the plurality of dishes to flow the stream between gaps of the dishes inserted into the dish rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongjin Choi, Jongmin Lee, Soohan Eo
  • Patent number: 9939215
    Abstract: An automated cleaning system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an X-Y positioning system configured to position a lance guide relative to an element to be cleaned. The X-Y positioning system is remotely operated. The system further includes a lance in communication with the lance guide, a drive system configured to drive the lance relative to the element to be cleaned, and a reel configured to manage a slack in the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NLB CORP.
    Inventors: Cam Gzym, Donald Anthony Wojciechowski, III
  • Patent number: 9934958
    Abstract: The substrate treatment apparatus includes a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a detector, and a controller. The first nozzle supplies an organic sublimable material-containing liquid capable of displacing a rinsing liquid, to a surface of a substrate treated with the rinsing liquid. The second nozzle supplies vapor of a solvent in which the organic sublimable material is capable of dissolving, to the surface of the substrate. The detector detects a first physical amount of the vapor on the surface of the substrate. The controller controls a second physical amount of the vapor according to the first physical amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sato, Junichi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9933702
    Abstract: A processing fluid can be discharged according to a discharge type for a process involved, without a discharge defect. A substrate processing apparatus includes a nozzle and a pipeline. The nozzle is configured to discharge the processing fluid toward a substrate, and the processing fluid is supplied to the nozzle through the pipeline. The pipeline has a three-layer structure having a first layer, a second layer and a third layer in this sequence from an inner side thereof. Further, a leading end portion of the first layer and a leading end portion of the third layer are bonded to the nozzle, and the leading end portion of the first layer is located at a position which is not protruded more than a leading end portion of the second layer with respect to a discharging direction of the processing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata
  • Patent number: 9931029
    Abstract: A washing system includes a cylindrical body portion which is prepared for each kind of insertion portion and a supply hole portion which is provided in the body portion to communicate with the inside of the body portion and which supplies a fluid to an opening portion of an insertion portion housed in the body portion. The washing system includes a supply mechanism which is shared by the body portion corresponding to each insertion portion that is prepared which supplies the fluid to the supply hole portion and which is attachable to and detachable from the supply hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Yamaya
  • Patent number: 9924849
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a user interface located on an upper face of the closure element such that when the closure element is in a closed position, the user interface faces upwardly and is inaccessible to a user. A radio system for the dishwasher includes an upwardly facing antenna located on the closure element adjacent the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, Jr., Blayne C. Smith