Patents Examined by Zeinab EL-Arini
  • System and method of treating a porous material of a vehicle
    Patent number: 6682606
    Abstract: The present invention involves a system and method of treating a porous material of a vehicle wherein the porous material has microorganisms. The method includes providing first and second antimicrobial solutions. The method further includes applying the first antimicrobial solution to the porous material and scrubbing the first antimicrobial solution and the porous material so that the first solution contacts the microorganisms. The method further includes applying the second antimicrobial solution heated at a predetermined temperature to the porous material after a predetermined time upon applying the first solution. The method further includes removing the first and second antimicrobial solutions and the microorganisms from the porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ziebart International Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Walker
  • Method for cleaning a finished and polished surface of a metal automotive wheel
    Patent number: 6676762
    Abstract: A method using irradiation of substrates (12) with ultra violet light to remove a surface contaminant is described. The light can be pulsed or continuous. The treated surfaces are more paintable and bondable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Drzal, Richard L. Schalek
  • Entangled fibrous web of eccentric bicomponent fibers and method of using
    Patent number: 6673158
    Abstract: The present invention provides a web of entangled synthetic fibers, wherein said fibers are eccentric bicomponent fibers. The present invention further provides a method of absorbing oil from foods by contacting a web of entangled, eccentric bicomponent fibers with oil-containing food prior to, during, or subsequent to preparation of such foods, especially but not limited to during or subsequent to cooking such foods wherein said web is exposed to temperatures at above about 120 C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: William Robert Ouellette, Robert Allen Johnson, John William Toussant
  • Fast interrupt of dishwasher hand sensor
    Patent number: 6666219
    Abstract: A dishwasher having the advantage of fast interrupt of the operation of its dishwasher components is disclosed. The dishwasher has an openable cabinet and a washing compartment disposed within the openable cabinet. The dishwasher further includes a handle associated with the openable cabinet for opening the cabinet to provide access to the washing compartment and a sensor in operative communication with the handle such that when a user grasps the handle, the sensor senses the user's presence prior to opening the cabinet so that operation of the dishwasher can be interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Scott D. Raches
  • Washing machine and its washing method
    Patent number: 6665899
    Abstract: A novel washing machine and a novel method for washing clothes. Depending on the type of cloth to be washed, one of four washing modes is selected. A pulsator and a spin-dry tub rotate in various directions and speeds depending on the wash mode selected. Thus causes varying degree of agitation during the wash cycle. A power switching motor controls a brake and a clutch to cause the pulsator and the spin-dry tub to rotate depending on the wash mode selected. Thus, the pulsator and the spin-dry tub are capable of rotating either forward, backward, agitate in both directions, or not to rotate the tub at all depending on the wash mode selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Yeop Lee, Ki-Su Lee
  • Method and apparatus for cleaning film deposition device
    Patent number: 6660101
    Abstract: This cleaning method and cleaning apparatus for a film deposition apparatus includes a processing container 4 accommodating a mounting table 10 for mounting an object W to be processed, a gas-introduction unit 52 for introducing a designated gas into the processing container, a vacuum exhausting system 36 for exhausting an atmosphere in the processing container in vacuum, and an automatic pressure regulating valve 42 interposed in the vacuum exhausting system so that a pressure in the processing container can be maintained at a constant value by changing an opening degree of the automatic pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Tachibana
  • Method for removing paint from plastic parts
    Patent number: 6660100
    Abstract: In a process for removing the paint from plastic components provided with coats of paint, the plastic components are first crushed to a bulk material size of the crushed plastic pieces. The plastic pieces are subsequently mixed with a paint removing agent reducing the adhesion of the coats of paint to the plastic pieces, and circulated by means of a conveyor screw. The paint removing agent is formed in this connection by an emulsion consisting of at least one benzyl-substituted alkanol and an alkyl-glycol acetate or N-alkyl-pyrrolidone with an aqueous lye, which can not be completely mixed. The mixing ratio for mixing the individual components is selected so that it is in the range of a mixing gap. After the paint removing agent has acted upon the painted plastic pieces, a solid substance is added to the paint remover so that the further steps of the method can be carried out in a dry state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Wiedemann
  • Method of decoating a turbine blade
    Patent number: 6660102
    Abstract: A method is directed toward decoating a parent body, provided with an anti-corrosion coating, of a turbine blade. An outer part of the anti-corrosion coating is removed abrasively by a water jet. An inner part of the anti-corrosion coating is then removed chemically. This combination permits efficient and cost-effective decoating of the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andre Jeutter, Helge Reymann
  • Process for the breaking and cleaning of contaminant-containing raw paper stocks, in particular of recovered paper
    Patent number: 6651679
    Abstract: Process for the disintegration and cleaning of contaminant-containing raw paper stocks. The process includes producing a contaminant-containing suspension, feeding the contaminant-containing suspension to a closed coarse screen, drawing of a cleaned flow fraction from the closed coarse screen, and drawing off an overflow fraction containing an increased amount of contaminants from the coarse screen during at least about 80% of an operating time. The process also includes adjusting a volumetric mass flow of the overflow fraction to at least about 15% and maximally about 50% of a volumetric mass flow of an inflow into the coarse screen, and feeding the overflow fraction to a screening device, in which contaminants collected are sluiced out discontinuously as a further overflow fraction, thereby forming a further cleaned flow fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Danger, Peter Respondek, Reimund Rienecker, Samuel Schabel
  • Method of using wobbling brush apparatus
    Patent number: 6645309
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of imparting a wobbling motion to a planar surface. In one embodiment the wobbling motion is imparted to a brush which can be used to clean uneven surfaces efficiently and easily. In another embodiment the wobbling motion is imparted to a brush which can be used to clean surfaces in confined spaces and reducing the risk of scratching or marring areas in the confined spaces. In another embodiment a method of cleaning a surface using a wobbling apparatus is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Harold R. Myers
  • Method for cleaning industrial pipe systems
    Patent number: 6645310
    Abstract: A method for cleaning industrial pipe systems, preferably pipe systems used in food industry, such as meat, fish and vegetable industry. The method for cleaning industrial pipe systems, includes the steps of feeding a detergent together with liquid and granules, having a diameter, in batches only into a portion of a pipe, having a cross-section, to be cleaned, whereby one wash batch has a volume in liters, which is 0.05-0.3 times the numerical value of the cross-section in square centimeters of the pipe, creating a negative pressure in the pipe, and bringing the wash batch to flow in the pipe by means of the negative pressure for cleaning and mechanically treating the walls of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Taifun Engineering Oy Ltd.
    Inventor: Kari Rinne
  • Fluid powered-scouring whip for cleaning remote areas
    Patent number: 6641676
    Abstract: The fluid-powered scouring whip is a length of flexible tubing composed of rubber or plastic. One or more scouring members, such as bristles or tines, extend outward from the tubing. These scouring members are molded or tooled as integral parts of the tubing, and may be configured in a variety of angles, densities, patterns or lengths. The fluid-powered scouring whip would be attached to a source of rapidly moving fluid. The whip would be introduced into a remote area in need of cleaning, such as an air duct. When fluid was introduced through the fluid-powered scouring whip, the whip would move about rapidly and randomly, scouring the surfaces of the area into which it had been introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: John F. Bently
  • Methods for separating material from a mold surface
    Patent number: 6638362
    Abstract: Method for removing unwanted excess material from a mold section is particularly adapted for removing a monomer ring adhered within a reservoir of a female mold section used to mold a contact lens. The invention involves piercing the monomer ring and rotating the piercing members (e.g., annularly spaced pins) relative to the mold section whereby the monomer ring is sheared from the mold section to which it was adhered while the molded lens is left intact in the mold section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael H. Dobner, Craig A. Barrile-Josephson
  • Apparatus for removing contaminants from a workpiece using a chemically reactive additive
    Patent number: 6634371
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying one or more workpieces. The apparatus includes the use of a chemically reactive additive to remove contaminants from the wafer surface during processing. In particular, during processing, a wafer is rinsed in a liquid bath and subsequently exposed to a chemically reactive additive. The chemically reactive additive creates a surface tension gradient that physically and chemically alters the properties of the film of the rinse liquid so that the liquid and any contaminants contained therein are removed from the water surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Hilliard Gaylord, III, Frederick William Kern, Jr., Donald Joseph Martin, Harald Franz Okorn-Schmidt, John Joseph Snyder, William Alfred Syverson
  • Application of ozonated DI water to scrubbers for resist strip and particle removal processes
    Patent number: 6634368
    Abstract: A method for resist strip and particle removal. Wafers (108) with a patterned resist formed thereon are placed on a wafer chuck (104) in a scrubber tool (100,200). Ozonated deionized water (112) is applied to the surface of wafer (108). The ozonated deionized water (112) strips the resist and removes the resist residue without the use of hazardous chemicals. Particle removal is accomplished in the same tool (100,200). The ozonated deionized water (112) is formed in a closed canister (114). Deionized water is circulated through the canister (114) and ozone is added to the deionized water at a premixer (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Claire Ching-Shan Jung, Neal T. Murphy
  • Arrangement for removing residue from cooking spills from a heated or cold cooking surface
    Patent number: 6629330
    Abstract: An arrangement for removing residue from cooking spills from a heated or cold cooking surface. The arrangement includes a scraping device having a blade and a body, which body includes an ergonomically-shaped handgrip portion for a user to hold the scraping device. The user uses the blade to remove or scrape residue from the cooking surface, while minimizing damage to the cooking surface. The blade is held in a blade holder, which blade holder includes a moveable protection cover to protect the user from accidental contact with the blade. The cover can be retracted during use to expose the blade for removing residue. The blade holder and the handgrip portion are made of a duroplastic synthetic-plastic material having a low thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Bernd Schultheis, Monica de Witzmann
  • Cleaning unit for recording rotational drum and cleaning method
    Patent number: 6630035
    Abstract: There are provided a solution applying portion 104 disposed opposite to the outer surface of the recording rotational drum 34 such that sliding on the outer surface of the drum is permitted and arranged to apply cleaning solution to the outer surface of the drum; and a scraping portion 108 disposed at a position more forward than the solution applying portion 104 in a direction in which the drum is rotated such that sliding on the outer surface of the drum is permitted and arranged to scrape the applied cleaning solution off the outer surface of the drum so that dust X is removed from the surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Sato, Mitsuru Sawano, Akihiro Hashiguchi
  • Method for cleaning a semiconductor wafer
    Patent number: 6627001
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning method is provided. After cleaning the wafer with a chemical cleaning solution, the wafer is placed in a cleansing tank that fills with deionized water. A neutralizer is then added to the cleansing tank. The surface of the wafer is then neutralized to a neutral pH value. Thereafter, the chemical cleaning solution residue on the wafer surface is removed by cleaning the wafer with deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Tai Chen
  • Produce washing method
    Patent number: 6626192
    Abstract: A produce washing method, which permits the washing of produce from both above and below in the field. Produce is transported along a conveyor belt, from a loading section, to a washing section on which is located a washing unit, upward along an ascending section, and from there the produce travels along a dumping section and into a receptacle. The washing unit features spray nozzles located above and below the washing section, so as to direct spray from above and below the produce so as to more effectively wash it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: JLG Trucking, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Garcia, Jr., Carlos Alberto Alonzo, Frank Maconachy
  • Method of processing substrates using pressurized mist generation
    Patent number: 6626189
    Abstract: A method for stripping photoresist from semiconductor wafers. In one aspect, the invention is a method for processing integrated circuits comprising: placing at least one wafer having an edge in a process tank having a lid; closing the lid; filling the process tank with a process liquid to a predetermined level below the edge of the wafer; supplying a process gas under pressure to a remaining volume of the process tank; and applying acoustical energy to the process liquid so as to form a mist of process liquid in the process tank. Preferably, the process liquid is ozonated deionized water and the process gas is ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Akrion, LLC
    Inventors: Ismail Kashkoush, Richard Novak, Dennis Nemeth, Gim-Syang Chen