Patents Issued in May 30, 2017
  • Patent number: 9662650
    Abstract: A fluidic cartridge for processing a liquid sample comprises a main channel for passing the liquid sample therethrough from an upstream end to a downstream end; and one or more branch channels that join the main channel for introducing liquid and gas into the main channel after the liquid sample has passed downstream of the one or more branch channels. The one or more branch channels including a first branch channel, wherein the first branch channel comprises: a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the first branch channel; a liquid inlet for introducing a liquid into the first branch channel; and a valve configured to move between a closed position in which it prevents liquid and gas in the first branch channel from passing into the main channel and an open position in which it permits liquid and gas in the first branch channel to pass into the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Atlas Genetics Limited
    Inventors: Jay Kendall Taylor, Ben Arlett
  • Patent number: 9662651
    Abstract: An active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a corresponding array element circuit. Each array element circuit includes a top substrate electrode and a drive electrode between which the one or more droplets may be positioned, with an insulator layer being interposed between the one or more droplets and the drive electrode; and write circuitry configured to write data to the array element. At least some of the array element circuits include measure circuitry configured to detect a pinhole defect in the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Microfluidic Solutions Limited
    Inventor: Benjamin James Hadwen
  • Patent number: 9662652
    Abstract: Provided herein is a sample processing apparatus including a sample-containing vessel and a thermal cycling apparatus, wherein the vessel has at least 3 fluidically isolated segments that are each thermally conductive, compressible, and expandable. The thermal cycling unit is capable of amplifying extracted nucleic acid and has at least a first processing station and a second processing station, each processing station defining a temperature zone, wherein thermal cycling is performed by alternatively transferring the contents of the sample vessel between the at least two processing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Chen & Chen, LLC
    Inventor: Shuqi Chen
  • Patent number: 9662653
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a thermal array comprises a first heating element and a second heating element, each surrounded by insulators which cover five sides of each heating element, held in position by a cooling block. Two thermal arrays are placed opposite each other creating a conduction channel wherein a sample vessel is transported between the heating elements and cooling block as the reaction requires. Due to the low energy consumption of each array, the thermal array system may function using standard D-cell batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Frank Leo Spangler
  • Patent number: 9662654
    Abstract: A frame-shaped, essentially rectangular spacer for pipette tip carriers stacked one on top of another includes a horizontal base surface, a peripheral side wall, which stands essentially perpendicular to the base surface and forms two longitudinal sides and two transverse sides, and an upper surface. Each longitudinal side and transverse side includes an inner side. The upper surface is arranged at an upper end of the side wall and essentially horizontally. The spacer is implemented to form a stabilizing support connection with an essentially rectangular pipette tip carrier positioned on the spacer. In addition, the spacer includes centering spring elements, which are arranged on the inner side of all longitudinal sides and transverse sides, having a springy part spaced apart in relation to the inner side of the respective side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Thomas Iten, Hanna Rethwisch
  • Patent number: 9662655
    Abstract: A system including a nearly horizontal jaw movable to reduce a size of frangible material, a stationary cover around a top side of the jaw, an area is defined between an outer surface of the jaw and an inner surface of the cover, and a drive mechanism to cause the jaw to move to vary the area between the cover and the jaw to reduce the size of frangible material within the area. Another system and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: John A. Iafrate
  • Patent number: 9662656
    Abstract: A tub grinder has a rotor with hammers that pass between adjacent slug bars. The slug bars have a riser bar portion disposed on the top of the slug bars, the riser bar portions extending vertically higher on one end of each respective slug bar than on the other end of each respective slug bar so that the hammers extend farther beyond the top of the riser bar and slug bar when they pass by first end than when they pass by the second end of the riser bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JASE Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9662657
    Abstract: A multi-purpose food grinding machine having an open topped cylindrical vessel that is rotated by a gear reduced motor. The motor is located within a hollow housing. A keyed motor shaft engages a mating aperture in the bottom of the cylinder. A frame holds the housing in place under the vessel. A central shaft is held by the frame and extends downward into the vessel. Rotatable grinding members are attached to the bottom of the shaft so that as the vessel is rotated by the gear motor, the grinding members rotate at the bottom of the vessel causing any food items trapped between the grinding members and the floor of the vessel to be crushed. The grinding members are forced downward by a spring biased mechanism. A spring biased inside wall scraper forces food to drop back down into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Mannarsamy Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9662658
    Abstract: A sheet shredding device includes a stacking unit configured to stack paper; a cutting unit configured to cut paper supplied from the stacking unit; a transferring unit configured to transfer paper from the stacking unit to the cutting unit; and removing units configured to remove a binder attached to the paper. The removing units are provided so as to overlap in a transfer direction of the paper along a transfer path of the paper from the stacking unit to the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Murayama, Seiichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9662659
    Abstract: A food waste disposal includes a grinding part configured to grind food waste, a dewatering part configured to receive the ground food waste from the grinding part and to discharge water out of the received food waste, and a connecting frame having a rotating shaft. The dewatering part is rotatably coupled to the connecting frame via the rotating shaft. Further, the dewatering part is configured to be rotated vertically downward away from the grinding part in a top/bottom direction around the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Jongseok Kim, Sunki Lee
  • Patent number: 9662660
    Abstract: A mobile sizer for an underground mining system includes drive treads, a sizer portion mounted on the drive treads, and a load bucket pivotably coupled to the sizer portion. The load bucket is sumped to remove material from the mine and pivotably swung to transfer removed material to the sizer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Zimmerman, Andrew W. Struthers
  • Patent number: 9662661
    Abstract: The invention may be described as a shear tool or concrete pulverizer retrofit method, a hybrid demolition machine, such as one resulting from such a method, and a demolition method that may be carried out using such a demolition machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Company Wrench, Ltd.
    Inventor: Brad Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 9662662
    Abstract: A gold pan having an acentric frustoconical configuration to enhance the material separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: Brent C. Weaver, Anthony H. Tran
  • Patent number: 9662663
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic particle manipulation apparatus for moving magnetic particles within a tubular device, wherein the tubular device includes a gel-like medium layer and a liquid layer alternately stacked within a vessel and is filled with the magnetic particles. The magnetic particle manipulation apparatus of the invention includes a vessel holding portion, a vessel pressing portion and a magnetic field applying portion. The magnetic field applying portion includes a magnetic force source. At least one of the magnetic field applying portion and the vessel holding portion includes a moving mechanism capable of moving the magnetic force source. The vessel is pressed by the vessel pressing portion. The magnetic force source is moved relatively to the vessel holding portion by the moving mechanism, so as to move the magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Tetsuo Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9662664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifuge, in particular, a laboratory centrifuge, with a housing comprising a centrifuge lid, which delimits the centrifuge to the outside, a rotor and a rotor cover for closing the rotor, a connecting device comprising a holding arm and a holder being provided, via which the rotor cover and the centrifuge lid can be detachably connected with each other in such a way that the rotor cover is lifted off of the rotor upon opening of the centrifuge lid and is placed on the rotor upon closing the centrifuge lid. The holding arm is detachably and movably mounted in the holder during opening and closing of the centrifuge lid, and the holding arm and the holder are spaced via a gap space when the centrifuge lid is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Thermo Electron LED GmbH
    Inventor: Norman Ballhause
  • Patent number: 9662665
    Abstract: An optical monitoring system is provided for use with a blood processing system having a yoke that rotates an umbilicus about a rotational axis at a first speed, which causes rotation of an associated centrifuge at a second speed about the rotational axis that is different from the first speed. The system includes a light source configured to illuminate a disposable flow circuit received in the centrifuge and a light detector configured to receive an image of the disposable flow circuit to detect the location of an interface between separated blood compenents within the disposable flow circuit. The monitoring system may be positioned outside of the centrifuge bucket which receives the centrifuge and is configured to be in a fully operational mode for interface detection only when a transparent portion of the centrifuge is visible to the monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Case, Steven R. Katz, William H. Cork, Jonathan Prendergast
  • Patent number: 9662666
    Abstract: A grit removal unit including an influent channel directing wastewater with grit into a round grit removal chamber and an effluent channel receives wastewater output from the chamber. A divider wall extends upwardly between the sides of the influent channel, and gates at the upstream end of the divider wall are adjustable to selectively open channel portions on opposite sides of the divider wall. An output guide member is mounted to allow selective adjustment of output flow opening width “c” to the effluent channel. The output guide member has a horizontal bottom extending from the chamber into the effluent channel across the width of the output opening, and a guide wall extending upwardly from the guide member bottom. The guide wall has a forward end spaced from the chamber annular vertical wall to define the output flow opening width therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Noonan, Frederick Trentadue, John K. Kelly, Dale White, Rodney S. Mrkvicka
  • Patent number: 9662667
    Abstract: A fastening system for installation shower heads for installing in a wall or ceiling, including a shower head housing and water-conductor for connecting at least one water connection to at least one jet creator. The shower head housing is connected to a transmission device having an input side and an output side, which converts a first motion on the input side into a reciprocating motion in the installation direction on the output side, and the output side is connected to the wall or ceiling by a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Michael Schulte, Uwe Stoelzel
  • Patent number: 9662668
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler can include a riser and a nozzle mounted at an upper end of the riser for rotation. The sprinkler can include a high flow rate port and a low flow rate port that can each emit a stream of water. The sprinkler can include a diverter valve that can intermittently block or permit the flow of water to the high flow rate port and/or to the low flow rate port as the nozzle rotates. The sprinkler can include a gear train reduction mounted in the riser and coupled to rotate the nozzle. A turbine can be coupled to an input shaft of the gear train reduction and can be rotatable by water flowing through the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Donald M. Sheetz, III, LaMonte D. Porter
  • Patent number: 9662669
    Abstract: A current detection resistor is connected between an output terminal of a high voltage generator and an air motor. A coater current detector detects a coater current supplied to a coater based on a potential difference taking place on both terminals of the current detection resistor. The high-voltage control device serves to discriminate based on the coater current detected by the coater current detector whether the coater is caused to be close to a coating object. When it is discriminated that the coater is caused to be close to the coating object, the high-voltage control device outputs a shut-off signal for shutting off supply of the power supply voltage to the power supply voltage control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ABB K.K.
    Inventor: Yukio Yamada
  • Patent number: 9662670
    Abstract: According to one example there is provided a system for applying fluid to a substrate using a first and second array of fluid applicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTD.
    Inventors: Alex Veis, Alex Davidson
  • Patent number: 9662671
    Abstract: A device for the delivery of a liquid in spray form includes a motor (2) connected to a fan (3, 4) adapted to draw a flow of air and send it through at least one conduit (5, 5b), a pre-loading vessel (11) for containing a liquid to be atomized, at least one nozzle (6) located at one end of the conduit (5, 5b) for the delivery of the liquid in spray form, at least one siphoning pipe (14) with one end located inside the pre-charging vessel (11) and an opposing end located in the vicinity of the nozzle (6), and at least one pressure pipe (18) connected to the fan (3, 4) to provide a specific amount of pressurized air to the inside of the pre-charging vessel (11), characterized in having regulating elements (19, 29) adapted to regulate the pressure inside the pre-charging vessel (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AMIL CARE CORP.
    Inventor: Maurizio Pastore
  • Patent number: 9662672
    Abstract: A color changer system for a painting robot comprises a color changer. A plurality of color feed lines are included on an inlet side of the color changer. A common color line is included on an outlet side of the color changer, and is configured to forward paint selected by the color changer to an atomizer. A color bar comprises a plurality of docking points supplied by the color feed lines. A color extractor is configured to selectively dock onto one of the docking points of the color bar and, while docked to the color bar, extract paint from an associated color feed line and supply the extracted paint to the common color line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Duerr Systems, GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Manfred Michelfelder, Markus Erhardt, Michael Baumann, Rainer Melcher, Thomas Buck
  • Patent number: 9662673
    Abstract: A coating agent pump for conveying a coating agent, in particular a paint, an adhesive or a sealing agent. The coating agent pump comprises a pump inlet for admitting the coating agent to be conveyed and a pump outlet for delivering the coating agent conveyed by the coating agent pump. In addition to the pump inlet and the pump outlet, a cleaning opening is provided for cleaning the coating agent pump of the coating agent situated in the coating agent pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Bjorn Schenke, Roland Gerlach, Ralf Schafer
  • Patent number: 9662674
    Abstract: A fountain system and method of providing same is provided. This involves a plurality of communication nodes, each communication node being configured to operate when submerged in a liquid; and a plurality of fountain components for providing a plurality of fountain jets of liquid, each fountain component being linked to a communication node in the plurality of communication nodes and being operable to provide a fountain jet of liquid in the plurality of fountain jets of liquid. The plurality of communication nodes are operable to receive a plurality of fountain control signals transmitted through the liquid. The plurality of communication nodes are operable to control the plurality of fountain jets by communicating to each communication node in the plurality of communication nodes an associated fountain control signal for controlling the fountain component linked to that communication node. The plurality of fountain control signals are transmitted at a frequency in the range of 100 MHz to 1.2 GH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: George Ayer, Kifah Al-Ansari, David Barratt
  • Patent number: 9662675
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a frame, a gantry system, a dispensing unit, a substrate support assembly, a transport system, and an inverter system coupled to the frame and in communication with the transport system. The inverter system is positioned outside the substrate support assembly and configured to rotate a substrate orientation between a first position in which a top surface of the substrate is in a dispense position and a second position in which a bottom surface of the substrate is in a dispense position. The inverter system includes a first driven assembly configured to engage one edge of the substrate and a second driven assembly configured to engage an opposite edge of the substrate. The first driven assembly and the second driven assembly are configured to drive a linear movement of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis G. Doyle
  • Patent number: 9662676
    Abstract: An attachment part with a coupling part by means of which coupling part the attachment part can be attached to a dispensing unit. The coupling part has a female cone area, with a continuous inlet opening, and a locking structure arranged around the female cone area. The female cone area can be pushed onto a male cone area of the dispensing unit, in order thereby to connect the attachment part to the dispensing unit. The locking structure serves to secure the attachment part on the dispensing unit. The first coupling part additionally has a rotation element, which is rotatable concentrically about the female cone area and on which the first locking structure is formed. The rotation element has an actuating element, which serves to rotate the rotation element relative to the female cone area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MEDMIX SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Ralph Egon Kayser
  • Patent number: 9662677
    Abstract: Method of coating an expandable member, e.g. balloon, is provided, the method comprising providing an expandable member having an outer surface. The method includes a plasma treatment with a supply of gas performed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable member. A therapeutic agent is applied on at least the plasma treated portion of the outer surface of the expandable member after the plasma treatment is performed. The plasma treatment can reduce the adhesion of therapeutic agent to the surface of the expandable member. A medical device made by the disclosed method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Stephen D. Pacetti, John Stankus, Victoria M. Gong, Michael J. Leonard, Binh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9662678
    Abstract: A method of depositing an imprintable medium onto a target area of a substrate for imprint lithography is disclosed. The method includes moving the substrate, a print head comprising a nozzle to eject an imprintable medium onto the substrate, or both, relative to the other in a first direction across the target area while ejecting a first series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate and moving the substrate, the print head, or both, relative to the other in a second opposing direction across the target area while ejecting a second series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate on or adjacent to droplets from the first series of droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Ivar Schram, Johan Frederik Dijksman, Sander Frederik Wuister, Yvonne Wendela Kruijt-Stegeman, Jeroen Herman Lammers
  • Patent number: 9662679
    Abstract: In some examples, a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) apparatus includes one or more CMUTs formed on a CMUT substrate to have an operational direction facing away from the CMUT substrate. As one example, the one or more CMUTs may include a plurality of CMUT cells arranged in groups to form CMUT elements, and a plurality of the CMUT elements may be configured as an array on the CMUT substrate. An acoustic window is disposed over the one or more CMUTs and may contact an external medium. For instance, the acoustic window may be positioned to pass acoustic energy to or from the one or more CMUTs in the operational direction. A coupling medium may be disposed between the CMUTs and the acoustic window to couple acoustic energy between the one or more CMUTs and the acoustic window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KOLO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Yongli Huang
  • Patent number: 9662680
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is provided that includes an ultrasonic wave generator having piezoelectric vibrators, and cases having ultrasonic wave emission holes and accommodating the ultrasonic wave generator. Acoustic paths in which air serves as a medium are formed by the ultrasonic wave generator and the and extend from the piezoelectric vibrators to the ultrasonic wave emission holes. Resonance of air is generated in the acoustic paths by ultrasonic waves generated by the piezoelectric vibrators in which the ultrasonic wave emission holes are open ends of the resonance. The piezoelectric vibrators are driven at a driving frequency at which the temperature-sound pressure characteristic for the resonance of air and the temperature-amplitude characteristic at the driving frequency of the piezoelectric vibrators have opposite tendencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironari Yamamoto, Akihiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 9662681
    Abstract: Postal sorting equipment comprises a sorting machine with an unstacking member (5) and a feed magazine (7). The equipment further comprises storage trays (4) for storing mailpieces (3) and for bringing them into the feed magazine. The magazine has a deck with a first deck portion (22) that is superposed above a second deck portion (23). Each tray (4) has a bottom (26) provided with a groove that is open to the front and to the top of the tray. The first deck portion and the groove of each tray are designed to fit together so that when a tray filled with mailpieces in a stack and on edge is standing on the second deck portion, the first deck portion comes to fit into the groove in the tray under the stack of mailpieces, thereby enabling the mailpieces to be unloaded automatically from the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SOLYSTIC
    Inventors: Francois Madar, Arnaud Caron
  • Patent number: 9662682
    Abstract: Examples of self-serve cleaning device for automatically cleaning mats are disclosed. The mats can be cleaned easily and quickly within few minutes. The cleaning device comprises a compact insert washing module that comprises all of the washing and driving components that can easily and quickly be removed after a number of washing cycles and replaced with a new insert for refreshing and/or maintenance purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Perrier
  • Patent number: 9662683
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning chandeliers includes a hand-held tank for holding hot water and a base supporting the hand-held tank. The base has a hollow interior. The tank has sidewalls, at least one of which is transparent. An air and water pump and a battery are mounted in the hollow interior. The battery is in electrical communication with the pump. A first inlet admits ambient air into an inlet of the pump and a second inlet admits water into the inlet. At least one air and water-emitting nozzle is formed in a sidewall of the tank. A pump outlet is in open fluid communication with the at least one water-emitting nozzle. The at least one nozzle discharges agitating water and bubbles into the hot water or above the water line, depending upon the water depth, to help dislodge chemicals and grease from chandelier parts immersed in the hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Inventive Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Keith S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9662684
    Abstract: The application describes several methods and an apparatus for treatment of a substrate. In those methods, at least one liquid is applied thereto and electromagnetic radiation is generated in the liquid by means of radiation before applying the liquid to the substrate. Electromagnetic radiation is introduced into the film such that at least a portion of the radiation reaches the substrate surface. In another method for changing the surface characteristics of a substrate having an at least partially hydrophobic substrate surface such that at least a portion of said surface gets a hydrophilic surface characteristic, a liquid is applied to at least the partial area of the surface of the substrate, and UV radiation of a predetermined wavelength is guided onto at least the partial area of the surface of said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Suss Microtec Photomask Equipment GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Dietze, Peter Dress, Sherjang Singh
  • Patent number: 9662685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a substrate processing apparatus including: a processing chamber configured to process a substrate; a fluid supply source configured to supply a substrate processing fluid used in processing for the substrate in a predetermined pressure; a constant pressure supplying path configured to supply the substrate processing fluid from the fluid supply source to the processing chamber in a predetermined pressure without boosting the pressure of the substrate processing liquid; a boosted pressure supplying path configured to boost the pressure of the substrate processing fluid from the fluid supply source into a predetermined pressure by a booster mechanism and supply the pressure boosted substrate processing fluid to the processing chamber; and a control unit configured to switch over the constant pressure supplying path and the boosted pressure supplying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Gentaro Goshi, Kazuyuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii, Takayuki Toshima
  • Patent number: 9662686
    Abstract: A device and method for treating the surface of a semiconductor wafer provides a treatment fluid in the form of a dispersion of gas bubbles in a treatment liquid generated at acoustic pressures less than those required to induce cavitation in the treatment liquid. A resonator supplies ultrasonic or megasonic energy to the treatment fluid and is configured to create an interference pattern in the treatment fluid comprising regions of pressure amplitude minima and maxima at an interface of the treatment fluid and the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Frank Ludwig Holsteyns, Alexander Lippert
  • Patent number: 9662687
    Abstract: A cleaning method involves: disposing in a cleaning liquid held in a cleaning tank an object to be cleaned; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid via an intermediate medium in contact with the cleaning tank to clean said object, the ultrasonically vibrating involving: ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium allowing sonic velocities, respectively, having a first difference; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium allowing sonic velocities, respectively, having a second difference different from the first difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mori, Teruo Haibara, Etsuko Kubo, Masashi Uchibe
  • Patent number: 9662688
    Abstract: An apparatus for cross-flow purging for optical components in a chamber, including: a housing with first and second axial ends, a side wall extending in an axial direction and connecting the first and second axial ends, and the chamber formed by the first and second axial ends and the side wall; an optical component disposed within the chamber and fixed with respect to the housing via at least one connecting point on the optical component; an inlet port aligned with the side wall, between the first and second axial ends in the axial direction, in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction and arranged to inject a purge gas into the chamber and across the optical component in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; and an exhaust port aligned with the side wall in the radial direction and arranged to exhaust the purge gas from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Garry Rose, Gildardo Delgado, H. Steven Larson, Daniel R. Hennigan
  • Patent number: 9662689
    Abstract: A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Mathis, Damon Martin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9662690
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pig assembly for maintaining a multi-diameter functional line with a large range of diameter variation for conveying fluid. The pig assembly includes a central shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end and at least one cylindrical pig body coaxially mounted on the central shaft. Attached to the at least one pig body are a plurality of arms capable of moving between an extended position radiating from the at least one pig body and a retracted position within the at least one pig body. Each of the pluralities of arms includes a spring to enable each arm of the plurality of arms to move into the extended position and to store potential energy when the arm is in the retracted position, and a roller to enable rolling contact between the pig assembly and an interior of a functional line during movement of the pig assembly within the functional line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Parsinejad Farzan, Antonio C. F. Critsinelis, Sid A. Mebarkia
  • Patent number: 9662691
    Abstract: A bi-directional pig apparatus for removing wax and hydrate deposits in subsea hydrocarbon production flowlines including a pig arranged for movement inside a pipe, the pig having a tubular body and one or more magnets arranged in a circumferential wall of said body, each of the one or more magnets includes an elongated bar having a succession of teeth and slots, arranged such that the succession of teeth are facing radially outwards. The apparatus having a through-going opening between opposite ends of said tubular body to allow fluids (F) in the pipe to flow through and propulsion means arranged and configured for imparting a motive force to the pig, whereby the pig is movable inside the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIG AS
    Inventor: Fredrik Lund
  • Patent number: 9662692
    Abstract: A berm to increase capacity of an existing landfill comprises a reinforced portion and backfill material. The landfill comprises a waste-receiving recess having a surface and an outer perimeter, an edge surface peripherally adjacent at least a portion of the outer perimeter, and an existing accumulation of waste within the recess having a collective top surface. The reinforced portion has opposing inner and outer surfaces and comprises structural fill material and a plurality of reinforcing members disposed therein. The backfill material has an inner surface adjacent the inner surface of the reinforced portion. The inner surface of the reinforced portion and the adjacent inner surface of the backfill material are substantially non-planar. The backfill material is at least partially encapsulated by an impermeable membrane. At least a portion of the berm sits on at least a portion of the edge surface of the landfill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AWT IP, LLC
    Inventors: Carlton Dudding, Carrie Pendleton
  • Patent number: 9662693
    Abstract: The melting induction furnace comprises, together with a casing (7) to which a lower sole plate (11) is added to form the central part of the structure, a removable inner crucible (1) composed of an internal layer (4) resisting heat and aggressiveness of the molten bath (20), an external layer (6) delimiting the crucible and an insulating intermediate layer (5). The crucible (1) is a disposable crucible and can be stored with its charge in an appropriate container. Heat losses are low, even when the casing (7) is cooled. Stresses due to differential thermal expansions are also very much reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, AREVA NC
    Inventors: Roger Boen, Armand Bonnetier
  • Patent number: 9662694
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention concerns a metallic bar or post (15) comprising a longitudinal axis; a spine (16) extending along the longitudinal axis; and at least three interconnected arms (17-19), each of which extends along the spine (16) and generally radially from the spine (16), with a free end (20-22) of each said arm (17-19) being tapered in the direction of the free end (20-22) to the spine (16). Other aspects of the invention concern a roll stand and rolling mill for forming the bar or post (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ashley Dean Olsson, Ashley Norman Olsson, Nathanael Dean Olsson, Stafford James Olsson
  • Patent number: 9662695
    Abstract: A method for producing workpieces wherein a substantially rotationally symmetrical workpiece (4, 9, 33), which has a workpiece axis (22), is tentered concentrically relative to an inner mandrel (3, 16) provided inside the workpiece (4, 9, 33), and is reshaped by a process of flow forming by radially applying external reshaping rollers (7). The wall thickness of the workpiece (4) is also reduced in at least some regions. The inner diameter (18, 41) of the workpiece (33) is enlarged by applying inner reshaping rollers (11) of an inner reshaping unit. The inner reshaping rollers (11) are arranged such that the roller axes of rotation and the enveloping cone (20) all intersect at one point on the workpiece axis (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Repkon Machine and Tool Industry and Trade Inc.
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Köstermeier
  • Patent number: 9662696
    Abstract: A method for producing a gun barrel with an integrally adjoining housing for at least one breech head includes the steps of providing a cylindrical blank having a through-bore corresponding to the breech head diameter; hammering a first longitudinal portion of the blank on a part of a first hammering mandrel corresponding to the inner profile of the barrel while the first hammering mandrel is guided through the through-bore; and hammering a second longitudinal portion of the blank on a second hammering mandrel corresponding to the inner profile of the housing while the second hammering mandrel is inserted into the through-bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Steyr Mannlicher GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Pichler
  • Patent number: 9662697
    Abstract: A take-up device includes a fluid-pressure device, a pressure detection device, a pressure calculation mechanism, and a controller. The fluid-pressure device is a device for expanding and contracting a mandrel. The pressure detection device detects a pressure of a hydraulic fluid in the fluid-pressure device. The pressure calculation mechanism calculates a tightening pressure acting on the mandrel, based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection device. The controller controls the fluid-pressure device. Also, the controller performs position control until the number of turns of a strip reaches a value. The controller performs constant-pressure control after the number of turns of the strip reaches the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Tachibana
  • Patent number: 9662698
    Abstract: A tube bender is provided. A rotatable member is pivoted to a base, defines an inner space and has a rack portion extending around the pivot portion within the inner space, a first arched groove archedly extending around the pivot portion and a holding portion having a holding recess for a tube. An abutting assembly has an arm portion connected with the base and an abutting chunk assembled to the arm portion. A gear assembly includes a driving assembly for being driven by a driving tool and a rotating assembly which is pivoted to the base and rotatably connected with the driving assembly. The driving assembly is pivoted to the arm portion and non-coaxially arranged with the rotating assembly, and the rotating assembly has a first toothed portion meshed with the rack portion and a driven portion meshed with the driving assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Chieh-Yu Cheng
  • Patent number: 9662699
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resin-coated Al sheet with which a drawn and ironed can having a lustrous appearance can be formed. An upper limit of a thickness of an outer surface resin layer which covers an Al surface which becomes an outer surface of the can and has an arithmetical mean roughness (Ra) of 0.5 ?m or less with a thickness which falls within a range of 0.02 ?m to 6 ?m is determined based on an arithmetical mean roughness (Ra) of the Al surface, wherein the upper limit of the thickness of a coating outer-surface resin layer is decreased when the arithmetical mean roughness (Ra) is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO KOHAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Okamura, Hiroaki Togo