Patents Examined by Michael E Barr
  • Patent number: 12635478
    Abstract: A first substrate holder holds an outer peripheral end of a substrate. A second substrate holder holds a lower-surface center region of the substrate by suction at a position farther downward than the first substrate holder. The second substrate holder and the lower-surface brush are provided on a mobile base that is movable in a horizontal direction. The mobile base is moved between a position at which the lower-surface brush is opposite to a lower-surface outer region of the substrate and a position at which the lower-surface brush is opposite to the lower-surface center region of the substrate. The lower-surface center region of the substrate held by the first substrate holder is cleaned. At this time, a height position of the substrate is higher than an upper end portion of a processing cup. The lower-surface outer region of the substrate held by the second substrate holder is cleaned. At this time, a height position of the substrate is lower than the upper end portion of the processing cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Shinohara, Yoshifumi Okada, Nobuaki Okita, Hiroshi Kato, Takashi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 12635444
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus for treating the substrate includes a liquid treating chamber for liquid-treating the substrate by supplying a treatment liquid to the substrate, a drying chamber for drying the substrate by supplying a process fluid to the substrate, a transfer unit for transferring the substrate between the liquid treating chamber and the drying chamber, and a rear surface cleaning unit for cleaning a rear surface of the substrate, in which the rear surface cleaning unit may clean the rear surface of the substrate while transferring the substrate from the liquid treating chamber to the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Hyun Choi, Young Hun Lee, Yong Joon Im, Seung Hoon Oh, Tae Jong Choi, Yong Sun Ko, Sang Min Lee, Jin Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 12630957
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus capable of sensing and calculating at least one of a volume of laundry and a material of the laundry through a camera capable of filming the laundry in a front load type washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Baekeun Kwon, Joohee Oh
  • Patent number: 12630955
    Abstract: A portable mask cleaning device for washing and drying face masks includes a housing. A slot has a conduit protruding into an interior of the housing. A holding is positioned within the interior has a top wall and a bottom wall. A pair of fins is positioned within the holding where a stepper motor rotates the pair of fins within the holding. A pair of electric coils heats an interior of the holding. A soap container has a tube protruding into the holding. A water container has a tube protruding into the holding. A door is coupled to the bottom wall of the holding where a drain is positioned in a center of the door. A processor is positioned within the interior of the housing to render data and perform operations. An outlet positioned on front surface of the housing is an opening to the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Inventor: David Saffold
  • Patent number: 12624487
    Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance. The method also includes estimating a hold time that is predicted to occur after the operation. The method further includes determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time. In response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time, an operation start time may be delayed or a keep fresh cycle may be performed after the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Haitian Hu, James Quentin Pollett
  • Patent number: 12623255
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus may include a first roll member and a second roll member including a copolymer of a first water-soluble polymer and a second water-soluble polymer. The first roll member may include a first roll body extending in a first direction and first protrusions on a surface of the first roll body. The second roll member may include a second roll body extending in the first direction and second protrusions on a surface of the second roll body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Donghoon Kwon, Juhyun Lee, Chungki Min
  • Patent number: 12624490
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a main body; a tub arranged inside the main body; a detergent container configured to store detergent; a detergent container housing configured to accommodate the detergent container; a pump connected to the detergent container housing so as to discharge the detergent stored in the detergent container; a latch device configured to detachably connect the detergent container to the detergent container housing so as to close the detergent container, and to disconnect the detergent container from the detergent housing so as to open the detergent container; and a controller configured to control the latch device to disconnect the detergent container from the detergent container housing so as to open the detergent container in response to a completion of a washing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyounyoung Lee, Bongjin Ko, Younghyun Kim, Junho Kim, Seulgi Lee
  • Patent number: 12618181
    Abstract: A method for a dry cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance. The method includes receiving an activation signal of a calibration cycle, performing, the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal. The calibration cycle including analyzing a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, measuring a first line voltage of an electrical supply line, monitoring a temperature via a temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance, measuring a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line, and updating operational parameters in response to one or more of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stannard Nathan Phelps, Stephen Edward Hettinger, Nicholas Dillon
  • Patent number: 12618187
    Abstract: An agitator for a washing machine appliance may define an axial direction and a radial direction. The agitator may include a cylindrical shaft that may include one or more dispense ports defined therethrough. The agitator may further include a cap assembly positioned at a top portion of the agitator. The agitator may additionally include a restrictor ring positioned within the agitator below the cap assembly. The restrictor ring may include a frustoconical wall, a first cylindrical wall, a second cylindrical wall, and a trough. The frustoconical wall may include a top surface and a bottom surface. The trough may be defined at the bottom surface of the frustoconical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Senthil Kandasamy, Troy Marshall Wright, Isaiah Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 12618185
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance comprises a wash basket with an agitation device mounted within a wash tub, a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device, and a control panel. A controller is configured to receive a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles including a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle including an agitation cycle profile, determine that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle, receive a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle, and perform the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: John Joseph Roetker
  • Patent number: 12618184
    Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes obtaining an image of the wash basket and a load of articles therein from a camera assembly of a remote user interface device. The method also includes analyzing the obtained image using a machine learning image recognition process. Analyzing the obtained image may include determining a ratio of a diameter of an area occupied by the load of articles to a diameter of the wash basket or determining a ratio of a maximum height of an area occupied by the load of articles to a major axis of the wash basket. The method further includes estimating a load size of the load of articles based on the analysis and directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the estimated load size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: MyungGeon Chung, Hyeonsoo Moon, Je Kwon Yoon
  • Patent number: 12605748
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid chemical tank module and a liquid chemical supply apparatus, the liquid chemical tank module including a tank body having a storage space capable of storing a liquid chemical, a gas ejector for ejecting an inert gas into the liquid chemical to reduce dissolved oxygen in the liquid chemical of the tank body, and a controller for applying a control signal to the gas ejector to control a flow rate of the inert gas, wherein the gas ejector includes a gas pipe extending into the storage space and at least partially dipped in the liquid chemical to supply the inert gas from outside of the tank body into the storage space, and a plurality of ejection nozzles along the extension direction of the gas pipe to eject the inert gas into the storage space or the liquid chemical in the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byungwoo Sim, Bok Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 12606929
    Abstract: A substrate is efficiently cleaned. A plating module 400 includes: a plating tank 410 configured to accommodate a plating solution; a substrate holder 440 configured to hold a substrate Wf with a surface to be plated Wf-a facing downward; a rotation mechanism 446 configured to rotate the substrate holder 440; an inclination mechanism 447 configured to incline the substrate holder 440; and a substrate cleaning member 472 for cleaning the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf held by the substrate holder 440. The substrate cleaning member 472 is configured to discharge a cleaning liquid to the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf rotated by the rotation mechanism 446 from a position corresponding to a lower end toward a position corresponding to an upper end of the substrate Wf inclined by the inclination mechanism 447.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhito Tsuji, Kentaro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 12588796
    Abstract: A door opener for a domestic appliance includes a motor and a pusher member having a rack portion. The pusher member is displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in which it is engageable with a door of a domestic appliance in order to open the door, and a gear train connected between the output of the motor and the rack portion of the pusher member, which causes displacement of the pusher member in response to operation of the motor. The gear train comprises an overload clutch which comprises a first gear and a second gear mounted coaxially with, and rotatable with respect to, the first gear. The second gear comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable fingers, one end of each finger being releasably engageable with a complementarily-shaped portion of the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Nicola Sartori
  • Patent number: 12588798
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a filter member having a handle integrally provided at an upper cover of the filter member. The filter member is accommodated in a filter accommodation space of a filter housing, where a movement space of the filter member is larger than the filter member, thereby preventing damage to the filter material or a fall of contaminants into the filter housing effectively, during withdrawal and insertion of the filter member. A separation space defined between the filter housing and the upper cover of the filter member is closed by a gasket, in the state where the filter member is disposed in the filter housing completely, thereby preventing the flow of non-filtered air into the filter housing effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongho Lee, Jongyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 12584637
    Abstract: A household appliance includes an interior space for accommodating a rack system, and a wall element on opposite sides of the interior space. A locking projection is arranged on at least one of the wall elements. The rack system has a stationary part arranged in the interior space and a part movable at least partially in front of the interior space via guides. A locking element is provided on the stationary part for detachable engagement with the locking projection, which can be moved into an unlocked position via a driver on the movable part. The locking element can be moved from the unlocked position into the locked position exclusively by gravity and moved into the unlocked position via the driver, and can be moved via the driver from a lowered locking position into a raised unlocked position or from a raised locking position into a lowered unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johann Braun, Johann-Sebastian Lessmann, Artur Noak
  • Patent number: 12584265
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a pressure vessel configured to receive fluid and to maintain a pressure therein to be higher than an atmospheric pressure, a separator that divides the pressure vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, a drum rotatably disposed in the first chamber and configured to accommodate laundry therein, a driver configured to rotate the drum, and a pump configured to cause the fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sanghyuk Kwon, Sanghun Bae, Bongjae Kim, Jangseok Lee
  • Patent number: 12584258
    Abstract: A laundry processing apparatus is disclosed. A laundry processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet; a tub which is provided in the cabinet and in which water is received; a drum which is rotatably provided in the tub and in which clothes are received; a detergent supply device connected to the tub and including a first detergent container and a second detergent container in which a detergent supplied to the tub is stored; and a control part provided to control the detergent supply device and thus selectively perform a single detergent mode in which one of the first detergent container and the second detergent container supplies a detergent to the tub, and a complex detergent mode in which the first detergent container and the second detergent container together supply a detergent to the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Junryung Seo, Sungjun Yun
  • Patent number: 12584263
    Abstract: A washing machine including a housing; a tub arranged inside the housing; a drain case connected to the tub and configured to receive water from the tub; a filter detachably installed in the drain case and configured to filter material from the water; a pump connected to the drain case; and a controller configured to, while the filter is dismounted from the drain case, control the pump to discharge the water in the drain case to outside of the drain case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongpil Seo, Kanghyun Lee, Youngjin Cho, Yonghan Kim, Jaeryong Park
  • Patent number: 12576816
    Abstract: A process (1) for de-icing a glazed surface (20) of a vehicle (2) is disclosed. A de-icing device (21) includes a wiper system (210) with at least one device for spraying a liquid (L, Lq), and is used to perform a method involving verification (E1) of a primary condition (C1) according to which the ignition (Cc) of the said vehicle (2) is activated, verification (E2) of a secondary condition (C2) according to which the exterior temperature (t) is below a temperature threshold (Th1), verification (E3) of a tertiary condition (C3) according to which a demisting function (fd) is activated; and when all of the conditions are fulfilled, then activation (E4) of the de-icing device (21) in order to start a de-icing cycle (Cy). The de-icing cycle (Cy) comprising spraying by the device for spraying of the liquid (L, Lq) onto the glazed surface (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Alexandre Filloux