Patents Examined by Michael E Barr
  • Patent number: 12758007
    Abstract: A brush wetting and cleaning system or tool including a brush wetting and cleaning housing. A wetting nozzle in fluid communication with a cavity in the brush wetting and cleaning housing. The wetting nozzle is configured to, in operation, wet a brush of a brush head inserted into the cavity of the brush wetting and cleaning housing. A spray nozzle in fluid communication with the cavity in the brush wetting and cleaning housing. The spray nozzle is configured to, in operation, clean the brush of the brush head inserted into the cavity of the brush wetting and cleaning housing. In a method of utilizing the brush wetting and cleaning system or tool, the brush of the brush head is wetted and cleaned between cleaning successive wafers or workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Chuan Su, Hao Yu Wang, Huan-Yung Lin, Shao-Yen Ku
  • Patent number: 12760426
    Abstract: A device and a method for depositing undissolved materials, in particular undissolved silicon compounds, from a pickling fluid in a pickling plant. A pickling circuit of the pickling plant has a pickling tank for pickling metal strips, a return line between the pickling tank and a circuit tank, a circulation pump for circulating a main volume flow of pickling fluid from the pickling tank, and a heating device arranged in a pressure line between the circuit tank and the pickling tank. The device includes a flocculation device for introducing at least one flocculant into the main volume flow, and a deposition device in the circuit tank and preferably designed as an inclined clarifying device, for the sedimentation of undissolved materials directly from the main volume flow. When pickling silicon-containing steel strips (electrical steel strips), an at least two-stage flocculation can be carried out using two or more mixing zone containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Kofler, Alois Stadlbauer, Gerhard Frithum
  • Patent number: 12759024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable and self-contained washing and sanitizing apparatus. The apparatus finds particular application in washing small baby items such as bottles, nipples, teething rings or toys. However, the apparatus can likewise be used to clean dishware, glassware, or utensils. The apparatus includes a container with a lid, the container housing the items to be washed; an accessory holder connected to the lid for holding accessories during washing operations; a water reservoir for storing and collecting wash water; and a housing for interconnecting the container and reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Inventors: Ellen Semans, George Hardin, Jeff LePori
  • Patent number: 12760461
    Abstract: A metering device for metering and supplying media via a fluid line to at least one target apparatus, in particular to an industrial textile washing machine, wherein the metering device is connected to at least one container which is filled with a medium. The metering device has a control unit which, in order to carry out a metering process with the aid of at least one pump, causes a specific volume of medium to be removed from the container and a conveyance of this volume towards the target apparatus. The fluid line has at least one heating element and at least one temperature sensor connected to a measuring device, wherein, by way of the measuring device, with the aid of a measurement value output by the temperature sensor, information about a performed conveyance of the medium through the fluid line can be determined and transmitted to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: HERBERT SAIER GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Saier
  • Patent number: 12752313
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable and self-contained washing apparatus. The apparatus finds particular application in washing baby items such as bottles, bottle accessories, and nipples. The apparatus includes a washing chamber with a removable cover. A supply water reservoir and a return water reservoir are also removably attached to the device. Upper and lower racks with upper and lower manifolds and sprayers are included within the interior of the washing chamber. The lower sprayers are used in washing bottles and the upper sprayers are used in washing nipples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2026
    Assignee: Hillsborough Bay Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ellen Semans, George Hardin, Jeff LePori
  • Patent number: 12751234
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a residual gas on a wafer comprises at least one spraying nozzle disposed at a front of a loading volume formed within a housing and extending linearly along a horizontal direction respectively; and a plurality of spraying holes formed at each spraying nozzle along the extending direction of each spraying nozzle, wherein the residual gas or a contaminating matter on a surface of the wafer is removed by a gas or a CDA (Clean Dry Air) sprayed through the plurality of the spraying holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2026
    Assignee: VM INC.
    Inventors: Hwi Gon Jang, Woo Hyung Choi, Byeong Jun Jung, Jin Myeong Lee
  • Patent number: 12745587
    Abstract: The inventive concept provides a substrate treating apparatus. The substrate treating apparatus includes a treating bath for liquid treating a plurality of substrates and having an accommodation space for accommodating a treating liquid; and a posture changing member for changing a posture of a substrate which is immersed in the treating liquid from a vertical posture to a horizontal posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2026
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Young Choi, Kyu Hwan Chang, Chul Goo Kim, Jung Bong Choi, Young Il Lee
  • Patent number: 12728445
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a first polishing station including a first platen to support a first polishing pad, a transfer station to receive a substrate from a robot, a carrier head movable on a predetermined path from the polishing station to the transfer station, a gas flow regulator having an input for a carrier gas, a liquid flow regulator having an input for a cleaning liquid, and a fluid jet cleaner at a position along the predetermined path. The fluid jet cleaner includes an atomizer nozzle including an input port coupled to the gas flow regulator, an injection port coupled to the liquid flow regulator, and an output port positioned to spray the cleaning liquid entrained in the carrier gas onto the substrate held by the carrier head when the carrier head is located above the fluid jet cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Haosheng Wu, Shou-Sung Chang, Hui Chen, Chih Chung Chou, Sih-Ling Yeh, Emily Drauss, Elton Zhong, Chad Pollard, Songling Shin, Jianshe Tang, Jeonghoon Oh
  • Patent number: 12723338
    Abstract: A cloth or rag washing bucket has a container with an interior volume defined by a bottom and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom, a fluid inlet affixed adjacent the bottom of the container, a fluid outlet formed on the container at a level above the level of the fluid inlet. The inlet is adapted to be connected to a water hose. The fluid inlet extends through the wall of the container so as to have one end in the interior volume of the container and another end exterior of the wall of the container. The fluid outlet is adapted to allow water in the interior volume of the container to flow outwardly of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Inventor: Tim Mcdonald
  • Patent number: 12716157
    Abstract: Inferring the laundry cycle type for a load of laundry items is provided. Measurements are performed of a laundry load in a drum of a laundry appliance during a pre-rinse cycle, the measurements including one or more of an absorption ratio of the laundry load, a retention ratio of the laundry load, a dry mass of the laundry load, a wet mass of the laundry load, or a spun mass of the laundry load. A model is used to determine load parameters based on the measurements. The load parameters are used to determine a laundry cycle type for the laundry load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael B. Daly, Seth Herndon, Bruce M. Wiatrak
  • Patent number: 12703990
    Abstract: This application provides a pool robot, including a housing provided with a first water outlet hole and an accommodation cavity, a filtering box disposed in the accommodation cavity, and a water baffle plate provided over a second water outlet hole. The second water outlet hole is disposed on the accommodation cavity. When the pool robot is located in water, the water baffle plate closes the second water outlet hole. When the pool robot leaves the water, the pool robot tilts, the first water outlet hole is located lower than the second water outlet hole, and the water baffle plate does not close the second water outlet hole, so that the filtering box, the accommodation cavity, the second water outlet hole, and the first water outlet hole are sequentially in fluid communication to form a water path used for water in the housing to be quickly drained from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2025
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: XINGMAI INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY (SUZHOU) COC., LTD.
    Inventor: Shilei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12698941
    Abstract: A solution for cooling tower maintenance and repair including a hydro-power tool for cleaning beneath low hanging cooling tower fills, a tool for accessing between hanging cooling tower fills, a system for removing gas and other non-compressibles from an effluent flow while cleaning a cooling tower basin, and various hydro-booster components for interjecting a motive force of high pressure water into a vacuumed flow or an effluent flow while cleaning a cooling tower basin. The hydro-power tool operates under negative pressure produced by high-pressure nozzles within the interior of the hydro-power tool body. The hydro-boosters are fed by a high-pressure water manifold and include high-pressure nozzles that are angled into the flow path of a tube to increase the negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Inventors: Javier Aleman, Kevin McBurney
  • Patent number: 12690738
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an automated cleaning robot which includes a robot body capable of realizing automatic walking and a mop mechanism provided at a rear end of the robot body. The mop mechanism includes a mount support rotatably connected to the robot body, a rotation component received in and rotatably connected to the mount support, a crawler-type wiping cloth sleeving outside the rotation component, and a lifting mechanism being in transmission connection with the mount support, for driving a rear end of the mount support to ascend or descend relative to a front end of the mount support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: NINGBO FUJIA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianqiang Fang
  • Patent number: 12691474
    Abstract: A mobile pressure washer can include a wheeled chassis, a power plant supported by the wheeled chassis, a fluid pump a fluid pump coupled to and driven by the power plant, a sprayer in fluid communication with the pump, a chemical solution container, and a container holder for supporting the chemical solution container. In some examples, the container holder has a frame operably connected to the wheeled chassis and has a container support mounted to the frame, the container support including a base wall and a sidewall defining a receptacle for receiving and supporting a container in fluid communication with the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Nushart, Matt Fritsch, Keith Muellenbach
  • Patent number: 12685063
    Abstract: To achieve a small-sized pre-wet module that can perform different pre-processes. A pre-wet module 200 includes a stage 220, a rotation mechanism 224, a cleaning liquid supply member 260, and a deaerated liquid supply member 250. The stage 220 is configured to hold a back surface of a substrate WF with a surface to be processed WF-a facing upward. The rotation mechanism 224 is configured to rotate the stage 220. The cleaning liquid supply member 260 has a nozzle 262 arranged above the stage 220. The cleaning liquid supply member 260 is configured to supply a cleaning liquid in a direction to the stage 220 via the nozzle 262. The deaerated liquid supply member 250 is configured to supply a deaerated liquid to a surface to be processed WF-a of a substrate WF held onto the stage 220. The deaerated liquid supply member 250 is configured to be movable between a supply position and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Yahagi
  • Patent number: 12674263
    Abstract: A washing machine with drying function includes a cabinet, a tub inside the cabinet, and provided with a front opening to allow laundry to be introduced and removed and a back opening, a drum rotatable inside the tub. A heated air supplying device which includes a heat exchange part, an inlet duct disposed at one side of the tub, and formed to guide air that is introduced from a rear side of the heated air supplying device toward the heat exchange part, a supply duct disposed at another side of the tub, and formed to guide air that passed the heat exchange part to be discharged to a front side of the heated air supplying device, and a fan at a front side the tub, and configured to cause an airflow such that air being discharged from the supply duct is supplied to the front opening of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junhong Park, Younghyun Kim, Woojin Kim, Seulgi Lee, Eungryeol Seo
  • Patent number: 12677622
    Abstract: Each of branch pipes has an internal space into which an atmosphere flows from a main pipe. A downstream damper is provided on the downstream side of an upstream damper in each of the branch pipes, and opens/closes the branch pipe. An upstream switching member switches a state of an upstream space between a state where the upstream space permits an inflow of an external atmosphere and a state where the upstream space prohibits the inflow of the external atmosphere. A downstream switching member switches a state of a downstream space between a state where the downstream space permits an inflow of the external atmosphere and a state where the downstream space prohibits the inflow of the external atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Suzuki, Akihiko Taki, Yuta Nishimura
  • Patent number: 12655561
    Abstract: A device (1) for dosing detergent, in particular powder detergent, is shown and described, comprising a housing (3) with at least one first receiving area (5), wherein the at least one first receiving area (5) is designed to receive a first container (9) for a detergent, a dosing device (29) for dosing the detergent, wherein the dosing device (29) has a dosing setting for dosing detergent which depends on a determined weight of laundry to be washed, wherein the first receiving region (5) has a dosing device receiving region (27) for receiving the dosing device (29), and wherein an actuating and/or driving device (39) for the dosing device (29) is arranged in the dosing device receiving region (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: SMIICS GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Schlack
  • Patent number: 12655565
    Abstract: The present application relates to a clothes processing apparatus comprising: a cabinet which includes a mounting panel forming the appearance and having a panel inlet and a panel mounting hole formed therein; a drum which is rotatably provided in the cabinet, in which clothes are accommodated, and which has a drum inlet communicating with the panel inlet; a control circuit board which is disposed within the cabinet; a window which is coupled to the panel mounting hole; a board support part which is disposed at the rear of the window to support the control circuit board; and a panel seating part which is provided in the mounting panel to position the board support part within the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joongil Shin, Kyuchul Lee, Hyunseung Lee, Yulgi Jin
  • Patent number: 12654204
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a cleaning device, including a frame and a multi-channel adapter, where a water tank, a water pump, and a motor pump assembly are mounted on the frame; and the multi-channel adapter is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet. The water inlet includes a first water inlet, a second water inlet, and a third water inlet. A water outlet joint of the water tank is connected to the first water inlet. The water pump is connected to the second water inlet, and the motor pump assembly is connected to the third water inlet and the water outlet. According to the present disclosure, a battery life and a cleaning effect of the cleaning device are improved, a requirement for an outdoor cleaning operation can be met, and convenience of water fetching is improved, thereby enhancing work experience of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Greenworks (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chunlin Zhao