Patents Examined by Pamela A Wilson
  • Patent number: 6381869
    Abstract: A device for pressing and drying organic materials. The organic material is inserted between two sheets of thin cloth which are, in turn, sandwiched between two thick felt pads. These pads are then sandwiched between platens made from inorganic material. The assembly is heated, resulting in a pressed and dried organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Lee Valley Tools, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert R. Lunan
  • Patent number: 6381873
    Abstract: An method for the formation of coating films on substrates which consists of a main high-temperature and high pressure drying chamber with two additional chambers located in front and behind the working chamber, respectively. The front drying chamber, which is installed between the loading station and the working chamber, is intended for drying the coating films at room temperature, while the rear drying chamber is intended for cooling after drying at high temperature and high pressure in the main working chamber. The front and rear chambers are provided with means for adjusting the respective drying and cooling processes by means of respective heating and cooling systems. This allows initial drying in a wider temperature range and final cooling under most optimum conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Vladimir Peremychtchev, Joseph Kristul, Igor Rakhvalsky
  • Patent number: 6378228
    Abstract: To monitor the linen drying in a clothes drier, the residual moisture level of the linen inside the drier is measured and compared to a maximum permissible threshold, which is adjustable and authorization to open the door (14) of the drier is not allowed until the moisture level measured is below said threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Electrolux Systemes de Blanchisserie
    Inventor: André Maziere
  • Patent number: 6378225
    Abstract: Employing a radiator made of a ceramic adapted when heated to radiate far-infrared radiation, a hair dryer comprises an elongate body, which has an inlet end defining an inlet and an outlet end defining an outlet, a fan, which is adapted when driven to draw air into the inlet, to move air through the elongate body, and to blow air from the outlet, an electrical motor, which is adapted when energized to drive the fan, and an electrical heater, which is mounted within the elongate body, between the fan and the outlet. The ceramic radiator, which is tubular, is mounted within the elongate body, between the fan and the outlet and near the electrical heater, which is configured as an elongate coil deployed around the ceramic radiator and which is adapted when energized to heat air pulled through the elongate body by the fan and to heat the ceramic radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Fred M. Slingo
  • Patent number: 6378229
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the sub-critical drying of lyogels to produce aerogels. The method for the sub-critical drying of lyogels to produce aerogels provides for the lyogel particles to be disposed as a fixed bed and for a drying gas to be passed through them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Hartel, Rainald Forbert
  • Patent number: 6374510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drier-heat-exchanger for heat treating PET granulate and similar products. The drier has a channel which is delimited by air permeable sheets. This ensures that the product can pass through efficiently and evenly which in turn means that a higher gas speed can be used without the product being stirred up and therefore shorter heating times are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Hans Geissbuehler, Filippo Terrasi
  • Patent number: 6374513
    Abstract: A process for the heat treatment of lignocellulosic material where the material is perheated and dried at a temperature close to the vaporization temperature of water, heated in a reducing atmosphere and cooled by the injection of water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Pluri-Capital (PCI) Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Unternhahrer, Cyrille Chautemps, Jean-Pierre Bernon
  • Patent number: 6371381
    Abstract: In a heat generator for a vehicle according to the present invention, an operation chamber defined in the heat generator is composed of a heat generation area (7) which receives therein a rotor, a storage area (8) which contains viscous fluid, and a boundary opening (9) of a relatively large surface area, which connects the two areas. The boundary opening is provided with a pair of transfer openings (35A, 35B) in a point-symmetric arrangement with respect to the rotation axis C of the rotor. Guide portions (41A, 41B), each corresponding to each of the openings, are provided in the storage area. With this structure, since at least one of the transfer openings and the guide portion corresponding thereto are located below the surface level L of the viscous fluid regardless of the attachment angle of the heat generator, the exchange and circulation of the viscous fluid can be carried out between the heat generation area and the storage area, in accordance with the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masami Niwa, Shigeru Suzuki, Hidefumi Mori, Tatsuyuki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6370794
    Abstract: An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and an exhaust vent. The component has an inlet and outlet. The dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet have a standardized diameter. The elbow comprises a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air through the body. A first end of the body terminates in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage. A second end of the body terminates in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Gregory Tuggle
  • Patent number: 6370795
    Abstract: Holders (20) for articles such as newly-formed packets or groups of cigarettes are used to constrain and protect the articles while being conveyed by handling apparatus (22), e.g. in a packing machine (10). Holders (20) of similar external shape, adapted to interface with the handling apparatus, may be provided with differing internal features (28), adapted for receiving different articles, so that the articles may be readily conveyed by the same apparatus. The apparatus may be employed at the exit end of a cigarette packing machine to maintain the shape of newly-formed packets in a packet stabilising region. This region may comprise a reservoir including a series of compartmented drums (24,26) in which each compartment receives a line of abutting holders which is indexed in an axial direction during rotation of the drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Molins PLC
    Inventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Brian Hill
  • Patent number: 6371847
    Abstract: A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections joined together in end-to-end relationship covering the open ridge of a roof. Each ridge vent section has a laterally flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids and wind baffles. Attachment means are formed on the ends of each ridge vent section for attaching the sections together and a drain trough on one end of each ridge vent section is configured to underlie the junction between two attached ridge vent sections to drain water that may seep into the junction away from the open ridge of the roof. Buttresses that support the wind baffles are configured to hold nails for use in attaching each section to a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: J. Charles Headrick
  • Patent number: 6363624
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a cleaning gas to a semiconductor substrate processing chamber. The apparatus comprises a feed block disposed on top of the processing chamber and a support block disposed over the feed block. The feed block and the support block slidably interfit and are axially moveable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lily L. Pang, Thomas K. Cho, Tetsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6363625
    Abstract: A drying and mixing plant is provided comprising a tapered inner drum (1) and an oppositely tapered outer drum (4) attached together concentrically and rotated as a unit. A burner (37) directs a hot air stream into the small end (2) of the inner drum (1). Material is fed into the small end of the inner drum, where impellers (40) lift it and drop it into the hot air stream and move the material through the inner drum (1) aided by the downward taper of the inner drum. The material exits the inner drum and enters the outer drum (4) where an additive material is introduced and mixed with the material (42) as both move through the chamber (28) between the inner and outer drums to a material outlet. The receiving end (5) of the outer drum (4) is enclosed in a shroud (12), therefore the air stream is directed through the chamber (28) between the drums, the chamber having an expanding cross section which slows the air down allowing fines to precipitate out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Niew Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Niemi
  • Patent number: 6361434
    Abstract: A baffle adapted to be rolled with a ridge vent is comprised of an L-shaped configuration having first and second legs. The first leg is adapted to extend under the ridge vent. The second leg is adapted to be oriented at an angle relative to the first leg and some distance from the ridge vent when the baffle and the ridge vent are installed. The first leg is also adapted to be rolled. The second leg is adapted to collapse when the first leg is rolled. The invention is also directed towards a ridge vent in combination with the baffle and a method for forming the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Edwin Brandon
  • Patent number: 6360452
    Abstract: The object of the Patent is a drying tunnel for fruit and vegetables which is prismatic rectangular in shape and is internally divided by spacing walls (1) with a bucket conveyor travelling successively up and down. The buckets are elongate, parallel to the walls (1) and closed at their ends by irregular hexagonal plates (2) which may swivel about top half-shafts (3), their concave bottom allowing an airflow through it and consisting of longitudinal spaced rods (4). Shafts (5) are arranged at the top of the end walls (2) with bearing means (6) at their free end which, upon abutting on a flat inclined guide (7), cause the bucket to be tipped and emptied, allowing the fruit to exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Food Machinery Espanola S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Ramon De Gracia
  • Patent number: 6357142
    Abstract: A system for high-pressure drying of semiconductor wafers includes the insertion of a wafer into an open vessel, the immersion of the wafer in a liquid, pressure-sealing of the vessel, pressurization of the vessel with an inert gas, and then the controlled draining of the liquid using a moveable drain that extracts water from a depth maintained just below the gas-liquid interface. Thereafter, the pressure may be reduced in the vessel and the dry and clean wafer may be removed. The high pressure suppresses the boiling point of liquids, thus allowing higher temperatures to be used to optimize reactivity. Megasonic waves are used with pressurized fluid to enhance cleaning performance. Supercritical substances are provided in a sealed vessel containing a wafer to promote cleaning and other treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Ian Sharp, Craig P. Meuchel, H. Frederick Woods
  • Patent number: 6357137
    Abstract: Non-woven fabrics prepared from fibers having two different deniers useful as substrates in the preparation of dryer-activated fabric conditioning articles. By combining lower denier fibers with higher denier fibers, a substrate is produced that has the tensile strength similar to that of the lower denier substrate combined with the thickness and coating capacity similar to that of the higher denier substrate. Articles comprising said substrates contain: (A) at least about 5% fabric conditioning composition comprising fabric conditioning active; and (B) said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephen Lee Childs, Anthony James Burns, Alessandro Corona, III
  • Patent number: 6357143
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating and cooling a substrate. A chamber is provided that comprises a heating mechanism adapted to heat a substrate positioned proximate the heating mechanism, a cooling mechanism spaced from the heating mechanism and adapted to cool a substrate positioned proximate the cooling mechanism, and a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer a substrate between the position proximate the heating mechanism and the position proximate the cooling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratson Morad, Ho Seon Shin, Robin Cheung, Igor Kogan
  • Patent number: 6357141
    Abstract: An evaporating system for evaporating solvents from chemical samples held in supply plates, which accelerate evaporation by warming the samples in a hot air bath. The system includes adapters to allow the use of supply plates of varying heights, such as either standard micro-plates or deep well micro-plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Zymark Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Kearsley, Tye Fowler, Barry T. Hixon
  • Patent number: RE37653
    Abstract: A module used with a granular material dryer, such as a grain dryer. The module includes an outer wall, at least one channel and at least one outlet aperture. The channel is positioned relative to the wall such that the channel is in fluid communication with heated air otherwise passing through the dryer. The outlet aperture is in communication with a suction mechanism. Finally, the channel is associated with the outlet aperture such that the heated air will enter the outlet aperture, via activation of the suction mechanism, whereas the granular material will not occlude the channel of the outer aperture. In one preferred embodiment, the module of the present invention is configured to be insertable with an existing dryer to improve drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Crown Iron Works Company
    Inventor: George E. Anderson