Patents Examined by S. Gravini
  • Patent number: 7137211
    Abstract: A clothes drying cabinet is provided with a shaker assembly including a bar suspended in the cabinet for supporting clothes hangers. A motor is mounted adjacent the bar and has a drive shaft. A drive weight is eccentrically mounted to the drive shaft of the motor so that upon actuation of the motor, the drive weight imparts a shaking motion to the bar so as to facilitate removal of wrinkles from the clothing on the hangers. A ballast weight may also be provided in the shaker assembly so as to evenly distribute the energy from the eccentric weight regardless of the weight of the clothes hanging on the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Troy A. Johnson, Dean L. Schaffran
  • Patent number: 7134221
    Abstract: A method of detecting lint in a clothes dryer is disclosed. Light is directed through a surface within the clothes dryer, the light being emitted by a light source. The light is received at a photocell if the light is reflected off the surface when lint covers the surface. An indication is provided that lint is present within the clothes dryer if light is received at the photocell. Furthermore, a voltage level detector is positioned within the lint detector and determined if a threshold amount of light is received. In another aspect, if the threshold amount of light is received a warning light, an audio speaker, or an electrical output can be activated. Likewise, the clothes dryer can be automatically shut down. In another aspect, the photocell is a phototransistor. In another aspect, the photocell is a photoresistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Stein, David Whitehead, Richard Scholl, Mark Summer
  • Patent number: 7131217
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying semiconductor wafers includes a bath for receiving semiconductor wafers and for holding a fluid, a chamber for providing an area where vapor is flowable over the bath, a supply pipeline for supplying vapor to the chamber, a vapor discharging pipeline for expunging vapor in the chamber, a fluid discharging pipeline for draining fluid in the chamber therefrom, and a protector for maintaining a distance between the semiconductor wafers during a drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Min Kim, Young-hee Kim, Myung-hwan Shin
  • Patent number: 7127829
    Abstract: An umbrella-type laundry drying apparatus has a central upright tube which carries a spreading framework for the laundry line. The framework is folded open via a hoisting line. The spreading framework has an upper sleeve which surrounds the upright tube and on which supporting arms arranged in the form of a star are articulated. These arms are articulated at their lower ends to the carrying arms for the laundry line. The carrying arms are articulated with their lower ends on a lower sliding sleeve that surrounds the upright tube, can be fixed in various positions on the upright tube, and is equipped with a force transmission actuable via a tension line. The force transmission has a force step-up and a force transmission element coupled to the tension line. When the tension line is actuated, it generates an upwardly directed movement step of the lower sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Heinrich Wüster
  • Patent number: 7127830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning, rinsing and drying a reticle used in semiconductor device manufacturing, tilts the reticle during the drying process to prevent water from the rinsing process from collecting and remaining on the reticle. The rectangularly shaped reticle is held in a carrier and the top and bottom edges of the reticle may form an angle of at least about 8° with the horizontal to maximize drying efficiency, when the carrier is placed on a horizontal surface or suspended from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: WaferTech, LLC
    Inventor: Hai Tran
  • Patent number: 7127831
    Abstract: A system and method of moving a meniscus from a first surface to a second surface includes forming a meniscus between a head and a first surface. The meniscus can be moved from the first surface to an adjacent second surface, the adjacent second surface being parallel to the first surface. The system and method of moving the meniscus can also be used to move the meniscus along an edge of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: LAM Research Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Garcia, John M. de Larios, Michael Ravkin, Fred C. Redeker, Carl Woods
  • Patent number: 7124516
    Abstract: The device for removing water drops from an umbrella is constituted such that a number of water absorption members with elastic property are disposed at certain intervals radially in the inserting opening for an umbrella of the device body, the inserting space for the umbrella is in the central part of a number of water absorption members, thereby a closed rainy umbrella is inserted into the inserting space, the umbrella cloth is inserted into the clearance between the each adjacent water absorption member, then water drops on the umbrella cloth can be absorbed and removed by sliding the inserted umbrella in the direction of insertion of the umbrella, the device does not need such energy as electric energy, and water absorption is performed certainly and within only short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7121017
    Abstract: A drying apparatus including a body portion including an upwardly extending drying member which has an upper portion for holding an item of apparel, and a platform coupled to the body portion. The platform can be moved into a first, generally horizontal position over the drying member and can be moved into a second, non-horizontal position not over the drying member such that a user has access to the upper portion of the drying member. The drying apparatus can include an air freshener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Scientific Molding Corporation Ltd.
    Inventor: Rick DuRapau
  • Patent number: 7121018
    Abstract: A dryer and a drain structure of the same are provided. The drain structure of a dryer includes a base, a condenser mounted on the base, and a drain concaved from front to rear of a condenser mounting surface, which is provided on the base and mounts the condenser thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 7121016
    Abstract: A vehicle air system has an air dryer which is periodically regenerated by reverse flow of dry air. The regeneration threshold is variable, and determined according to the operating state of the vehicle. The operating state is in turn determined from easily measurable vehicle status parameters, preferably in the form of on/off or in/out signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Wabco Automotive UK Limited
    Inventors: Richard Burn, Ignitius Milomo, Andrew George Livingston Blackwood
  • Patent number: 7117612
    Abstract: The combination washer/dryer and method for operating a combination washer/dryer. The washer/dryer has a containment drum which receives wash water, and includes a perforated clothes drum which rotates within the containment drum. A heat plenum is provided in heat transfer relationship with the containment drum, and a source of heat coupled to the heat plenum supplies heat for water in the containment drum. During a drying cycle, hot air from the heat source supplied from the fire box to the containment drum for heating wash water during a washing cycle, and for supplying hot air during a drying cycle. A drying air plenum is connected to receive drying air from the source of heat, delivering the drying air to the top of the containment drum, where it enters the rotating basket. An exhaust plenum discharges hot air laden with moisture from the containment drum through a lint filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: American Dryer Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis Slutsky, Craig F. Bliss
  • Patent number: 7114268
    Abstract: A drying section of a machine for the manufacture of a material web, in particular of a paper or of a board web, comprises a smoothing nip which is extended in the web running direction and is formed between two pressing areas lying opposite one another of which at least one is formed by a shoe roll, with at least 70%, and preferably at least 90%, of the outer shoe roll diameter lying above the machine base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Müller
  • Patent number: 7107984
    Abstract: A collector module (1) is described with a collector manifold (20) having two chambers. This collector module (1) has at least one collector tube (2), which has an absorber tube (4) and a tubular jacket (3). A connector (40) for each collector tube is provided which embraces the collector manifold (20) and receives the end of its tubular jacket (3). The connector (40) has a cup-shaped receiving part (41) glued on its collector tube and a U-shaped connecting part (45) formed on the cup-shaped receiving part (41), which engages the collector manifold (20). A sealing device (60) is arranged on the U-shaped connecting part (45). A torsion-stiff, self-supporting device is provided accordingly by this structure, in which each collector tube is not loaded with external forces, during to thermal expansion, transport, mounting or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Gotfried Haas, Nikolaus Benz, Klaus Quast, Michael Reinhard, Frank Schuenzel
  • Patent number: 7103990
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotation type silicon wafer cleaning device to further raise the stability of a silicon wafer by providing a better hydrogen termination on the silicon wafer after completion of chemical and pure water cleaning treatments. According to the present invention, a rotation type silicon wafer cleaning device has a silicon wafer support/rotation driving mechanism inside the case body for cleaning the silicon wafer at the post chemical cleaning with pure water, drying and hydrogen termination treatments on the outer surface of a silicon wafer is performed by means of installing a silicon wafer drying device comprising a gas supply panel attached to a case body to supply a mixed gas of the hydrogen gas and inactive gas containing a hydrogen gas of more than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Yasuyuki Shirai, Takumi Fujita, Yukio Minami, Nobukazu Ikeda, Akihiro Morimoto, Koji Kawada
  • Patent number: 7103992
    Abstract: An industrial dishwashing machine with at least one essentially closed water circuit in which washing water is circulated, and with at least one water inflow which makes rinsing water available which is received into the water circuit after a rinsing operation following a washing operation. An air circuit is provided for drying the batchwith the air circuit being dehumidified by means of the water of the water inflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Winterhalter Gastronm GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Duden, Ralf Singer
  • Patent number: 7100305
    Abstract: An improved system and method for mounting an air dryer is provided. The improved system and method employs a single centralized special fitting that secures the air dryer manifold to a reservoir. The bore in which the fitting is disposed is used to communicate air from the reservoir to the air dryer in order to purge the desiccant in the air dryer. The mounting assembly includes anti-rotational mechanisms which prevent the air dryer from rotating about its axis. The mounting assembly may also include a reservoir and a mounting bracket for the reservoir which uses less than 75 percent of a truck mounting rail height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Bendix Commerical Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Fred Hoffman, Leonard Quinn
  • Patent number: 7100306
    Abstract: A wafer guide includes a horizontal support panel and at least three vertical panels attached on one surface of the support panel. Each of the vertical panels has a vertical body panel and a plurality of protrusions upwardly extended from a top surface of the vertical body panel. Gap regions between the protrusions act as slots for holding wafers. Sidewalls of the slots have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a top view, and bottom surfaces of the slots also have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a cross sectional view that crosses the vertical panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pil-Kwon Jun, Sang-oh Park, Yong-Kyun Ko, Hun-Jung Yi
  • Patent number: 7100301
    Abstract: A system for drying grain includes a receiving bin defining a cavity therein and further includes intake and outlet ports. A conduit is operably connected to the receiving bin that includes a plurality of check valves and a stop valve. The system further includes a mechanism for introducing air at a selected flow rate into the conduit and a combustion source that includes a pilot gas light wherein fire is created that burns between 2000–3000 degrees Fahrenheit. The combustion source includes a flue positioned thereabove and a drain outlet extending substantially orthogonal to the conduit. A heat exchanger is connected to the combustion source including a fan and a filter operably connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventors: Jason C. Humphrey, Robert E. Pitts
  • Patent number: 7096601
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for controlling a washing/drying system including a washing machine and a dryer used in one pair. Since the washing machine can communicate with the dryer according to a wireless communication regulation, the dryer can operate more conveniently. According to the apparatus and method, convenience in using the washing machine and the dryer together is further enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Cheol Lyu, Seong Jin Jo, Deug Hee Lee, Kwon Ki Hong, Byung Hwan Ahn
  • Patent number: 7096600
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for ensuring that cavities used to store radioactive elements are adequately dried without intrusive measuring. In one aspect the invention is a method of drying a cavity loaded with radioactive elements, the loaded cavity having a free volume (VF), a starting vapor pressure (vPS), and a cavity pressure (PC), the method comprising: determining a desired degree of dryness in the cavity in terms of a desired vapor pressure (vPD); cooling a non-reactive gas to a temperature (TC) thereby drying the non-reactive gas; introducing the dry non-reactive gas into the cavity so that the free volume VF of the cavity turns over X times; and removing wet non-reactive gas from the cavity; wherein TC and X are controlled to achieve the desired vapor pressure (vPD) in the cavity. Alternatively, a flow rate (R) can be controlled over time (t) instead of controlling X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Holtec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Krishna Singh