Patents Examined by Michael E Barr
  • Washing machine
    Patent number: 11214906
    Abstract: An inner drum of a washing machine has a plurality of hollow lifting ribs arranged on the side wall of the drum that communicate with the interior of the drum. At least one drainage port communicating with the hollow portions of the lifting ribs is formed in the side wall of the drum. A sealing valve is located inside each lifting rib at each drainage port. During high-speed rotation of the drum, valve bodies of the sealing valves move along a radial center direction of the drum under a centrifugal force, to open the drainage ports. Through this arrangement, discharging water flow in the drum to the outside from the hidden drainage ports is achieved. Meanwhile, centrifugal force during the high-speed rotation of the drum is used to control valve cores of the sealing valves such that the drainage ports are automatically opened for drainage from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yimin Li, Chunfeng Lao, Xinghui Hao, Di Wu, Peishi Lv
  • Wash arm assembly
    Patent number: 11191417
    Abstract: A wash arm assembly may include wash arm having a tubular connection portion and a tubular receiving means for receiving the tubular connection portion. The tubular connection portion may include a first guiding surface and a second guiding surface, and the tubular receiving means may include a third guiding surface and a fourth guiding surface. The first guiding surface may be aligned to the third guiding surface and the second guiding surface may be aligned to the fourth guiding surface when the tubular connection portion is inserted in the tubular receiving means. The first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces may be arranged to guide the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means into alignment with each other upon rotation of the wash arm. A dishwasher including the wash arm assembly may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: Anders Haegermarck
  • Dishwashing appliance having a multi-zone drying assembly
    Patent number: 11191420
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a pump, a spray assembly, a first fluid path, and a second fluid path. The first fluid path may extend from a first path inlet to a first path outlet to recirculate air within a wash chamber. The first path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between the wash chamber and the first path outlet. The second fluid path may extend from a second path inlet to a second path outlet to direct ambient air to the wash chamber. The second path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between an ambient environment surrounding the dishwashing appliance and the second path outlet. The second path outlet may be defined in fluid communication between the second path inlet and the wash chamber downstream from the second path inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Matthew David Mersch
  • Dishwasher with image-based position sensor
    Patent number: 11191416
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize an image-based position sensor that is positioned to sense the rotational position of a discretely directable tubular spray element driven by a tubular spray element drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer
  • Cleaning apparatus and method of cleaning and drying an object
    Patent number: 11192152
    Abstract: A compact versatile cell-type cleaning device and cell-type drying device is provided. A cleaning apparatus includes: a cover having a loading port formed on a wall surface of a cleaning chamber, and an unloading port formed on a wall surface of a drying chamber; a partition plate having an intermediate transfer port for dividing into the cleaning chamber and the drying chamber; an intermediate door that opens and closes the intermediate transfer port; a turntable disposed inside the drying chamber and having a first gripping device that grips an object, and a moving device having a gripping device that grips the object through a loading port, cleans the object inside the cleaning chamber while gripping the object, and moves the object to the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SUGINO MACHINE LIMITED
    Inventors: Daisuke Kunitomo, Toyoaki Mitsue, Toyohiro Yamauchi, Atsushi Kohama, Atsushi Yoshida
  • Actuator, clutch device, and washing machine
    Patent number: 11186938
    Abstract: To provide a structure in which a fixing member having the same shaft length can be employed in both two cases, wherein an actuator of a first case is fixed together with an auxiliary unit to a supporting member, and the actuator of a second case is fixed solely to the supporting member; a clutch device; and a washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Oshima
  • Method for controlling washing machine
    Patent number: 11186934
    Abstract: A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a tub, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, at least one nozzle spraying water toward the drum, a washing motor rotating the drum, and a circulation pump circulating water discharged from the tub, the method including: supplying a first level of water into the tub; operating the circulation pump at a first speed; controlling a rotation of the drum to repeatedly alternate between an acceleration and a deceleration so that laundry in the drum alternates between maintaining contact with an inner surface of the drum and separating from the inner surface of the drum; further supplying water to the tub to raise the first water level to a second water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myunghun Im, Hwanjin Jung, Jaehyun Kim, Junghoon Lee, Kyungchul Woo
  • Dishwasher with heat pump
    Patent number: 11166617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher having a heat pump, including a dishwasher body provided with a tub configured with a washing space therein and a sump provided at a bottom of the tub to temporarily accommodate washing water; a spray arm provided inside the washing space to spray washing water; a circulation pump that pumps the washing water of the sump; a washing water guide that guides the washing water pumped by the circulation pump to the spray arm; a heat pump provided with a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion apparatus, and a condenser provided to exchange heat in contact with the washing water of the washing water guide; and a controller that controls the heat pump to increase the temperature of the washing water of the washing water guide. As a result, it may be possible to suppress heat loss from being generated while heating washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangheon Yoon, Changyoon Jung
  • Dye fixing section for an indigo dyeing machine
    Patent number: 11168423
    Abstract: A dye fixing section in a foam indigo dyeing machine for dyeing traveling sheets of textile yarn. The dye fixing section receives traveling sheets of yarn to which indigo dye in leuco form has been applied and penetrated partially through the yarn. Oxygen is applied to the substrate to set the dye at the level of penetration achieved as it enters the dye fixing section, to produce yarns in the sheet with outer dyed rings and undyed cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Gaston Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph W. Aurich
  • Dishwashing appliance having a multi-zone spray assembly to alternate the spray of wash fluid
    Patent number: 11160433
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance and a spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, and a cammed diverter valve. The manifold body may be mountable within a wash chamber. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first spray zone, and a second spray zone. The first spray zone may include a first spray outlet. The second spray zone may include a second spray outlet spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The cammed diverter valve may be mounted within the manifold body and be movable between a first zone position and a second zone position. The first zone position may direct wash fluid to the first spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the second spray zone. The second zone position may direct wash fluid to the second spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the first spray zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Horn, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham, Craig Curtis, John Edward Dries
  • Laundry washing machine for use with unit dose detergent packages
    Patent number: 11155951
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for breaking a unit dose package in a chamber within a post located in a basket of a laundry washing machine. The method includes filling the basket and the chamber, increasing a rotation speed of the basket and/or the post to raise the water level in the basket and lower the water level in the chamber to cause a unit dose package within the chamber to move downwards; reducing the rotation speed to lower the water level in the basket and raise the water level in chamber to cause the unit dose package within the chamber to move upwards; and repeating the steps of increasing and reducing the rotational speed to cause the unit dose package to break open and at least partially dissolve. A laundry washing machine configured to perform this process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yihong Li, Anthony Lufkin, Allison White, Terry Anderson
  • Laundry treating apparatus
    Patent number: 11136707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus in which an induction module heats the drum uniformly using a magnetic field to dry laundry or heat wash-water, and center and front and rear regions of the drum are uniformly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Beomjun Kim, Sangwook Hong, Woore Kim, Hongjun Cho
  • Washing machine and control method thereof
    Patent number: 11105031
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided with a control panel and is further provided with a connecting part of an intelligent terminal. The connecting part is in data connection with the intelligent terminal and is used for controlling the washing machine by the intelligent terminal. The control panel is of a panel structure which is not provided with a washing program control button, a display screen as well as a peripheral circuit for driving the display screen and the washing program control button. The washing machine is simple and generous in appearance, easy to operate, capable of greatly reducing the production cost and also saving manpower and material resources, and convenient to popularize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng Xu, Yan Li, Mingyao Liu
  • Detergent cartridge for a dishwasher
    Patent number: 11103120
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Pivoted faucet in a lid of a top load washing machine
    Patent number: 11091871
    Abstract: A top-loading washing machine appliance with a pivoted faucet mounted on the underside of the lid of the washing machine appliance is provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket, a lid, a position sensor, and a faucet mounted to the lid. The position sensor may be operable to sense whether the lid is in the closed position or the open position. The faucet may be mounted to the lid with a pivotable joint such that the faucet may pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. The retracted position of the faucet may be such that the faucet does not extend within the wash basket when the lid is in the closed position. The extended position of the faucet may be such that the outlet of the faucet is over the wash basket when the lid is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Wayne E. Lawson
  • Automatic pipe clean system for massage bath equipment
    Patent number: 11083667
    Abstract: An automatic pipe clean system for massage bath equipment includes a bathtub, a water-filling pipe, a water-draining pipe, a suction pipe, a pump pipe, a pump connected between the suction pipe and the pump pipe, an automatic water-filling pipe, a water-filling valve and a controller. The controller is configured to: in a cleaning stage: turn on the pump to allow the water to pass and clean the suction pipe and the pump pipe; and in a drying stage: turn on the pump to allow the water to drain out from the suction pipe and the pump pipe; and turn off the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: DARTPOINT TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsien-Peng Hung, Chi-Lin Kang, Chao-Yuan Huang
  • Washing machine and control method thereof
    Patent number: 11078611
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine and control method thereof. The washing machine includes at least one magnet attached to an auxiliary wash tub detachable from a main wash tub; a switching device configured to output a detection signal when the at least one magnet approaches within a preset range to the switching device; and a controller configured to determine whether the auxiliary wash tub is installed based on whether the detection signal of the switching device is output, and control a component in the washing machine based on the determination of whether the auxiliary wash tub is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Kwon Kim, Myung-Hee Ryu, Sang Up Lee
  • Automatic transferring washer and dryer combination appliance
    Patent number: 11072877
    Abstract: An automatic transferring washer and dryer combination appliance includes a washing unit and drying unit that are coupled to a housing and are positioned in an upper portion and a lower portion of the housing, respectively. A chute extends between the washing unit and the drying unit. A first orifice and a second orifice are positioned in a tub of the washing unit and a drum of the drying unit, respectively. A plurality of first doors and a plurality of second doors, which are coupled to the tub and to the drum, respectively, are positioned to selectively close the first orifice the second orifice, respectively. The first doors and the second doors are positioned to be selectively opened so that the first orifice and the second orifice align with the chute so that the chute is configured for gravitational transfer of washed articles from the tub to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Donald Jones, Sharon Jones
  • Laundry treating appliance and dispenser for treating chemistries
    Patent number: 11066774
    Abstract: A dispenser for the laundry treating appliance has a siphon for handling liquid treating chemistries and a float mechanism for handling solid treating chemistries, especially in the form of powders, in the same chamber. The dispenser can thus be operable for either or both types of treating chemistries with a single chamber and without having to reconfigure anything.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Marcos Javier Rios Acebal
  • Dishwashing system
    Patent number: 11064862
    Abstract: A dishwashing system includes: a dishwasher that washes tableware contained in a dishwashing rack, inside a washing chamber; a carry-in stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is to be carried into the washing chamber on; a carry-out stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is carried out from the washing chamber on; and a robot device including a robot arm mechanism. The carry-in stand and the dishwasher are arranged within a movable range of the robot arm mechanism. The robot arm mechanism transfers the dishwashing rack from the carry-in stand to the washing chamber, and also operates the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: FANUC CORPORATION, YOSHINOYA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo-Keun Yoon, Hiroaki Matsuda