Patents Examined by S. Gravini
  • Double flow cage compactor dryer apparatus and method of compacting and drying wastes
    Patent number: 7272895
    Abstract: A cage drying—compacting apparatus for wastes, includes a cylindrical shape and at least a pair of pressure plates, the cylindrical body having heating longitudinal tubes, coursed by a thermal carrier fluid, provided along the generatrixes of the cylinder and spaced from each other to realize longitudinal slots for outlet of vapour but not for outlet of material, coupled by constraint hinge elements, positioned at a given distance between centres, and the pressure plates being placed opposed each other, operating as movable basis of the body and acting as pistons. Heat sources are, provided inside the apparatus, all along its length, the sources include at least a tube coursed by thermal carrier fluid, an inlet for the material to be treated, and elements for collecting the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Antonio La Gioia
  • Drum dryer
    Patent number: 7272894
    Abstract: A drum dryer provided with a liquid splash and scatter preventing equipment, which enables continuous operation by preventing a scattering liquid from making dry powder in the case in which the equipment is provided above a neighborhood of a liquid concentration section. A double drum type drum dryer including a liquid splash and scatter preventing equipment is provided in a horizontal above a neighborhood of a liquid concentration section between drums and has a cooling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shundo Harada, Shigehira Uda, Hideshi Matoba
  • Laundry dryer with improved tumbler air flow passage openings
    Patent number: 7263787
    Abstract: A laundry dryer having a tumbler with airflow openings of generally triangular shape with rounded transverse sides and opposed ends configured to permit passage of round heads of standard drywall screws when oriented parallel to the long dimension of the opening, while preventing the passage of standard collar buttons having a diameter no greater than the diameter of the drywall screw heads. Loose drywall screws within the tumbler are thereby permitted to pass harmlessly through the air flow openings in the rotating drum into the lint filter of the dryer without damage to the dryer nor interruption of the dryer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Alliance Laundry Systems LLC
    Inventor: Mike Besaw
  • Power supply independent device for producing a hot air flow
    Patent number: 7260900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply independent device (1) producing a hot air flow (2). Heat (4) is produced by a catalytic heating element (5) which is energized by a liquid fuel, the hot air flow (2) being produced by an electric fan (7). The inventive device (1) is provided with a fuel cell (8) which supplies electric power to the fan (7). Said device comprises a tank (10) for the liquid fuel connected with the aid of a valve (11) to the fuel cell (8) and the heating element (5) in such a way that they are jointly supplied with the liquid fuel (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Wella AG
    Inventors: Peter Anthes, Martin Liebeck
  • Washer/dryer plumbing connection and method
    Patent number: 7254901
    Abstract: A tailpiece has been provided that includes a tubular member, a washing machine connector, and a dryer drainage connector. The washing machine connector can receive a fluid discharge from a washing machine drain line and the dryer drainage connector can receive a fluid discharge from a dryer drain line. In some configurations, the tailpiece include ports. The ports have a plug positioned within them when they are not being utilized and a connector positioned within them when they are being utilized. Additionally, a method of installing a tailpiece beneath a sink has been provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Contemporary Contractors, Inc.
    Inventors: Willie E. Blann, Richard A. Schlenk
  • Sheet dryer
    Patent number: 7254902
    Abstract: A sheet dryer includes sprockets and a delivery chain, at least one heat-resistant glass plate, at least one lower-surface drying lamp, a guide plate, a plurality of first discharge holes, and a plurality of second discharge holes. The sprockets and delivery chain convey a paper sheet along a convey path. The heat-resistant glass plate is arranged under the sheet convey path. The lower-surface drying lamp is arranged under the heat-resistant glass plate and dries the lower surface of the printed/coated paper sheet. The guide plate is arranged adjacent to the heat-resistant glass plate in a sheet convey direction. The first discharge holes are formed in the heat-resistant glass plate. Air is discharged upward through the first discharge holes. The second discharge holes are formed in the guide plate. Air is discharged through the second discharge holes in the widthwise direction of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hayasaka, Satoshi Shibata
  • Wafer edge wheel with drying function
    Patent number: 7254900
    Abstract: An edge wheel for supporting and rotating a disk-shaped substrate includes a wheel body having a peripheral groove configured to support an edge of a substrate and at least one radial channel extending into said wheel body from said peripheral groove. An edge wheel dryer and a method for processing a disk-shaped substrate are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: John Parks
  • Method and device for controlling the moisture or coating quantity profile in a paper web
    Patent number: 7249424
    Abstract: The narrow-scale moisture profile of a paper web is controlled by profiling nozzles (11) of a profiling device (10) which cover part of the width of the web and desired variations of the moisture profile are corrected by the profiling nozzles (11). Coating quantity profile of a paper web may also be controlled. The narrow-scale coating quantity profile is controlled by profiling nozzles (11) of a profiling device (10) which cover part of the width of the web and desired variations of the coating quantity profile are corrected by the profiling nozzles (11). The device (10) for controlling the moisture profile or the coating quantity profile of a paper web has profiling nozzles (11) for controlling narrow-scale moisture profile variation, which cover a desired part of the width of the web, to correct desired variations occurring in the profile in the width direction of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Juha Lipponen, Hans Sundqvist, Jarkko Nurmi, Jarkko Veijola, Jari Almi
  • Apparatus for drying ground
    Patent number: 7243442
    Abstract: A method for drying a surface comprises supporting a fabric cover above the surface, and holding side edges of the fabric cover against the surface such that an air channel is formed between the fabric cover and the surface. The air channel has an inlet end and a discharge end, and a pressurized warm air stream having a relative humidity less than an ambient relative humidity is directed into the inlet end of the air channel such that the warm air stream moves through the air channel to the discharge end and out to the atmosphere. An apparatus for practicing the invention provides a plenum along the inlet end with plenum outlets to discharge the warm air stream, and cover supports extending out from the plenum to support the cover above the surface. A fabric tube plenum and cover supports provide versatility and portability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Myerholtz, Claude Bourgault, Larry Dancey, Neil Eisner, Glenn Hantke
  • Article drying support apparatus
    Patent number: 7228646
    Abstract: An article drying support apparatus includes a perimeter wall defining a housing and enclosing an interior space. The perimeter wall includes a backside having an elongated slit therein defining an opening extending into the interior space. The perimeter wall comprises an air permeable material. A coupler is attached to the perimeter wall and is configured to attach the perimeter wall to an inside surface of a dryer door. A wet item may be positioned within the interior space and held against the dryer door when a clothes dryer is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Donna W. Purcell
  • Multi-zone shower head for drying single semiconductor substrate
    Patent number: 7228645
    Abstract: A shower head processes a wafer with a plate having a plurality of nozzles positioned thereon, each of the nozzles assigned to one of a plurality of processing zones for the wafer; and a manifold assembly coupled to each of the nozzles to control one or more of the nozzles as a group in each processing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Xuyen Ngoc Pham
  • Drying machine and drying machine with washing function and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 7228647
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drying machine or a drying machine with washing function. The drying machine or the drying machine with washing function comprises a heater for heating air introduced into an inlet channel of a drum, an outlet channel for allowing air in the drum to be discharged out of the drying machine or the drying machine with washing function therethrough, and a circulating channel connected between the outlet channel of the drum and the heater. When the exhaust resistance of air at the outlet channel is large, some of air, passing through the outlet channel, is guided to the heater through the circulating channel. Consequently, the drying machine or the drying machine with washing function according to the present invention has an effect in that air flow rate sufficient to dry the laundry is obtained and time necessary to dry the laundry is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Wook Hong
  • Oxyfluorination
    Patent number: 7225561
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the activation by oxyfluorination of at least part of a surface of a solid, which process includes exposing, under selected conditions of temperature and pressure and for a selected reaction time, at least part of the surface of the material of the solid to an oxfluorinating atmosphere. The oxyfluorinating atmosphere is a gas/vapor mixture which includes at least one fluorine-containing gas which reacts with the material of the exposed surface, at least one oxygen-containing gas which reacts with the material of the exposed surface, and water vapor. The gases in the oxyfluorinating atmosphere act to oxyfluorinate the exposed surface, thereby to activate it, and the water vapor acts to enhance the activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Izak deVilliers Louw, Pieter Andries Blatt Carstens
  • Drying device for powder material
    Patent number: 7225556
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for powdered or granular material comprising a hopper body with an electric heater in its center, housing therein a heat conducting fin formed with plural compartment walls radially projected therefrom and a carrier gas communication path provided in the conducting fin, which has an upper introduction port and a lower exhaust port, both connected with a penetrating up and down path provided in the center of the heat conducting fin. The apparatus is constructed such that carrier gas externally introduced is fed into the hopper body. According to the apparatus, powdered or granular material is uniformly heated and dried and heating source for carrier gas is not necessary, thereby achieving improvement in energy efficiency and energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: KabushikiKaisha Matsui Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tada, Motoharu Shimizu, Takayuki Okuda, Yorinobu Takino
  • Cross-machine flow and profile control for through-air devices treating permeable webs
    Patent number: 7225558
    Abstract: A through-air device includes a permeable roll having a hollow interior and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis. At least one divider is located in the hollow interior so as to define a plurality of roll channels within the roll, the roll channels being positioned side-by-side along the longitudinal axis. A first housing bounds a first portion of the roll, and a second housing bounds a second portion of the roll. At least one partition is located in the second housing so as to define a plurality of housing channels within the second housing. Each one of the housing channels is aligned with a corresponding one of the roll channels. The device further includes structure for individually controlling airflow through each pair of corresponding roll channels and housing channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Charles Hagen, Stephen Bradford Peterson, Jeffrey Croteau, Richard Alan Parker
  • Bracketless blotter
    Patent number: 7225557
    Abstract: A blotter having a flexible blotter backing and a rigid mount with two slanted slots. The ends of the backing are mounted at two opposite side edges into the mount slots along with the edges of the blotting material. Serrations along the edges of the backing are positioned within the mount slots and bear against the ends of the blotting material. The blotter material impacted edges and the inherent flexibility of the backing provide for the firm retention of the blotting material to the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Paul L. Terban
  • Fabric treatment device
    Patent number: 7222438
    Abstract: A device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising: a reservoir (6) for storing a fabric treatment composition and transfer means (300) to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble dryer and/or to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in the provision of reservoir charging means (301) comprising one or more charging conduits (60) for directing fabric treatment composition to one or more regions of the transfer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: David Jones
  • Method for operating an appliance comprising at least one sub-program step drying
    Patent number: 7222439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an appliance comprising at least one sub-program step “drying”, which permits appliances comprising at least one sub-program step “drying” to be operated in the most economic manner possible and permits the efficient drying of items with a minimum energy consumption. To achieve this, during the sub-program step(s) “drying”, air is conducted from a treatment chamber via a conduit system, in which at least one Peltier element is located, and the air is then recirculated to the chamber. During its passage through the conduit system, the air is cooled, moisture is removed and the air is subsequently reheated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Kai Paintner
  • Drying method
    Patent number: 7219442
    Abstract: The vacuum contact drying takes place in a device with a horizontally-arranged heated cylinder (1), a stirrer circulating with a very small wall separation, a blade (4) arranged on the stirrer and optionally an injection line (6), also arranged on the stirrer, for the introduction of liquid, gaseous, or vaporized media. According to the invention, the drying may be controlled whereby the value for the product temperature, the vacuum and the instantaneous evaporation power are continuously measured and regulated on the basis of the measured values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Rosenmund VTZ AG
    Inventor: Reiner Laible
  • Drying device for a wood-waste collecting machine
    Patent number: 7216442
    Abstract: A drying device for a wood-waste collecting machine includes a blower set on the base of the machine and a heating member connected between the blower and the conveying device of the machine. The blower has an air outlet connected with a windpipe, and the heating member is connected with one end of the windpipe, having a tubular member and a heating element in the tubular member. Between the other end of the heating member and a preset sidewall of the container of the conveying device is provided a pipe joint, for air sucked by the blower blown in the heating member to heat. Then heated air is blown through the air holes of the sidewall of the collecting chamber of the container of the conveying device to dry wood waste therein and then compressed in the compressing device of the machine to become tight solid blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: San Ford Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh-Yuan Cheng