Patents Examined by Michael E Barr
  • 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: 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
  • 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: 12649176
    Abstract: A washing apparatus includes: a housing; a holding part that holds a substrate arranged in the housing; a washing nozzle that supplies a washing liquid to the substrate held by the holding part; a gas nozzle that ejects a gas toward a ceiling of the housing; and a control part that controls the gas nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Kondo, Koji Maeda, Kuniaki Yamaguchi, Koichi Fukaya, Kohei Sato
  • 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