Patents Issued in December 7, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170350017
    Abstract: A plasma reactor has an overhead multiple coil inductive plasma source with symmetric RF feeds and a symmetrical chamber exhaust with plural struts through the exhaust region providing access to a confined workpiece support. A grid may be included for masking spatial effects of the struts from the processing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Kenneth S. Collins, Kartik Ramaswamy, Shahid Rauf, James D. Carducci, Douglas A. Buchberger, JR., Ankur Agarwal, Jason A. Kenney, Leonid Dorf, Ajit Balakrishna, Richard Fovell
  • Publication number: 20170350018
    Abstract: A plasma reactor enclosure has a metallic portion and a dielectric portion of plural dielectric windows supported on the metallic portion, each of the dielectric windows extending around an axis of symmetry. Plural concentric coil antennas are disposed on an external side of the enclosure, respective ones of the coil antennas facing respective ones of the dielectric windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Kenneth S. Collins, Kartik Ramaswamy, Shahid Rauf, James D. Carducci, Douglas A. Buchberger, Ankur Agarwal, Jason A. Kenney, Leonid Dorf, Ajit Balakrishna, Richard Fovell
  • Publication number: 20170350019
    Abstract: A method of making cerium citrate includes combining cerium carbonate and citric acid to produce cerium citrate and carbon dioxide. The cerium citrate is substantially free of negative ions other than citrate. The cerium citrate can be used in a corrosion inhibitor composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Zhongfen Ding, Georgios S. Zafiris, Bart Antonie van Hassel, Catalin G. Fotache
  • Publication number: 20170350020
    Abstract: A corrosion resistant article including an aluminum substrate and a corrosion-inhibiting cerium based corrosion inhibitor corrosion inhibiting additive on the aluminum substrate, the corrosion inhibiting additive comprising an anodic corrosion inhibitor and a cathodic corrosion inhibitor, the anodic corrosion inhibitor greater than 25 wt % of the total inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Zhongfen (Vivian) Ding, Georgios S. Zafiris, Weilong Zhang, Michael A. Kryzman, Catalin G. Fotache, Mark R. Jaworowski
  • Publication number: 20170350021
    Abstract: Provided is an electromechanical hydrogen pump, including: (i) an electrolyte membrane; (ii) an anode electrode layer and an anode diffusion layer that are provided at one side of the electrolyte membrane; (iii) a cathode electrode layer and a cathode diffusion layer that are provided at the other side of the electrolyte membrane; (iv) an anode seal that has openings each surrounding the anode diffusion layer; (v) a cathode seal that has openings each surrounding the cathode diffusion layer; (vi) an anode separator that is placed on an outer side of the anode diffusion layer; and (vii) a cathode separator that is placed on an outer side of the cathode diffusion layer, wherein no spaces are provided between the anode diffusion layer and the anode seal or between the cathode diffusion layer and the cathode seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: NORIHIKO KAWABATA, KAZUYA USIROKAWA, SHINJI YOSHINO, HIDENOBU WAKITA
  • Publication number: 20170350022
    Abstract: An efficient electrolysis system for sodium chlorate production may include round or oval cells, reactors, a product pump transfer, a buffer tank, a circulation pump, and explosive clad plate, all of which are connected by way of pipelines. Inlet and the outlet of each cell are separately connected with the reactor via titanium pipes, allowing the electrolyte to recirculate naturally between the cells and the reactors. The outlet of every cell is conical while each reactor includes a standard electrolytic unit with three to eight cells. The electrolytic units are modularly identical and symmetrically linked to the buffer tank. Within each unit, adjacent cells are connected with the explosive clad plates. The buffer tank may be divided into two parts—part A and part B—with part A connecting with the overflow port of the reactor via pipeline, and the part B connecting with the reactor via the circulation pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Shuangfei Wang, Chengrong Qin, Xusheng Li, Chen Liang, Xinliang Liu, Zhiwei Wang
  • Publication number: 20170350023
    Abstract: A method and a device for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide for preparing a high-concentration formate salt. Carbon dioxide is continuously supplied to a cathode unit and is continuously supplied to a metal hydroxide to the anode unit. A voltage or current is applied to the cathode unit and the anode unit for reducing the carbon dioxide to obtain the formate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Woonsup SHIN, Mi Jung PARK
  • Publication number: 20170350024
    Abstract: An electrochemical system includes an electrochemical compressor through which a working fluid that includes a component that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component flows; a sealed vessel in which the electrochemical compressor is housed; an inlet conduit for passing working fluid into the vessel; and an outlet conduit for passing fluid out of the vessel. The working fluid that leaks from the electrochemical compressor is contained within the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Steven Naugler
  • Publication number: 20170350025
    Abstract: A module of the present invention is formed by housing, in a housing container, a cell stack device that includes cell stacks comprising an arrangement of a plurality of cells. The housing container includes a housing chamber that houses the cell stack device; a first gas introduction section provided in a lower portion of the housing chamber and configured to introduce a first gas supplied into the housing chamber; and a first gas circulation section provided on a side of the housing chamber and connected to the first gas introduction section. The width of the first gas circulation section is narrower than the width of the first gas introduction section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Oda, Eizou Matsui, Takashi Ono, Masanori Suehiro
  • Publication number: 20170350026
    Abstract: Provided is a cathode for electrolysis comprising a conductive substrate and a Ru element-containing catalyst layer on the conductive substrate, wherein in the catalyst layer, the ratio of the maximum intensity of the Ru 3d 5/2 peak appearing between 281.4 eV and 282.4 eV to the maximum intensity of the Ru 3d 5/2 peak appearing between 280.0 eV and 281.0 eV, in an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurement is 0.45 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyasu FUNAKAWA, Takayuki HATA, Toshinori HACHIYA
  • Publication number: 20170350027
    Abstract: The disclosed method proposes, for the mixing of a solid and dry granular mixture and a liquid bituminous binder, the solid and dry granular mixture being a mixture of two fractions of constituents, one of which is a coarse fraction including aggregates, the other fraction a fraction of submillimetre fines, that the mixing includes at least two consecutive mixing steps: an aggregate-preimpregnation step, consisting of mixing the coarse fraction of the granular mixture with a part of the bituminous binder, in a quantity at least sufficient for coating the aggregates and at least partially filling the open pore spaces of the aggregates; and a covering mixing step, which consists of mixing the preimpregnated coarse fraction of bituminous binder and originating from the first mixing step, with the balance of the bituminous binder, required for the manufacture of the electrodes, and with the fraction of fines of the granular mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Salima BELBACHIR, Jean-Francois ANDRE, Christophe BOUCHE, Olivier FELIX, Christian GONZALEZ, Andre PINONCELY, Bertrand SOMNARD
  • Publication number: 20170350028
    Abstract: A method for optimizing stability in an electrolysis cell of the Hall-Héroult type where the cell has suspended prebaked anodes and a cathode panel. The panel comprises several cathode blocks or cathode block sections. A metal pad and an electrolytic bath are located between said anodes and the cathode panel. The force field acting on the metal pad is calculated and monitored in a computer based model of the cell, whereby the local current paths and correspondingly the local forces in the metal above the cathode panel are modified by influencing selectively the current distribution in individual cathode blocks or block sections in the computer based model. At least one modification is implemented in the cell. The invention also relates to a correspondingly modified cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: NORSK HYDRO ASA
    Inventors: Jørund HOP, Anders LILLEBY, Asgeir BARDAL, Nils-Håvard GISKEØDEGÅRD, Sipke PAULIDES, Robert JØRGENSEN
  • Publication number: 20170350029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plated steel sheet, which can be used for vehicles, home appliances, construction materials and the like, and to a method for manufacturing the plated steel sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Seok-Jun HONG, Kyung-Hoon NAM, Mun-Jong EOM, Sang-Hoon PARK
  • Publication number: 20170350030
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an aperture plate includes depositing a releasable seed layer above a substrate, applying a first patterned photolithography mask above the releasable seed layer, the first patterned photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a desired aperture pattern, electroplating a first material above the exposed portions of the releasable seed layer and defined by the first mask, applying a second photolithography mask above the first material, the second photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a first cavity, electroplating a second material above the exposed portions of the first material and defined by the second mask, removing both masks, and etching the releasable seed layer to release the first material and the second material. The first and second material form an aperture plate for use in aerosolizing a liquid. Other aperture plates and methods of producing aperture plates are described according to other embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Stamford Devices Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Xu
  • Publication number: 20170350031
    Abstract: An overlay of a sliding component, such as a sliding component for an engine, may provide a bearing surface against a steel journal, for example. The overlay may include intermetallic particles disposed in a matrix including tin (Sn). The matrix may be formed by electroplating. Examples of intermetallic particles include, but are not limited to, aluminides and nickel aluminides. The matrix may include an electroplated matrix of tin and/or a tin alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: John Carey, Isaac Chang, Roger Gorges, Ian Laing, David Latham
  • Publication number: 20170350032
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy is described and has compositions with mass percentage content consisting of: 5.0%-5.4% Zn; 0.9%-1.2% Mg; Cu<0.05%; Si<0.05%; Fe<0.1%; Mn<0.05%; Zr<0.1%; Ti<0.05%; other impurities<0.15%; and the remaining composition being Al. An anodizing method of the aluminum alloy described above is described and has: a degreasing treatment, a first black-film stripping treatment, a chemical polishing treatment, a second black-film stripping treatment, an anodizing treatment, a hole filling treatment, and a drying treatment which are performed in turn. The aluminum alloy has a higher strength while eliminating an influence of a formed compound phase on a material texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Yuanqing ZENG
  • Publication number: 20170350033
    Abstract: Provided is a plating apparatus for plating a substrate by using a substrate holder including an elastic projection that seals a to-be-plated surface of the substrate, the plating apparatus comprising a measurement device configured to measure a deformed state of the elastic projection by measuring at least either one of a compression amount of the elastic projection and load applied to the elastic projection at a time when the substrate physically contacts the elastic projection of the substrate holder; and a controlling device configured to make a judgment on the basis of the measured deformed state as to whether sealing by the elastic projection is normal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Jumpei FUJIKATA
  • Publication number: 20170350034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to surface roughening methods and more particularly to a method for electrochemical roughening of thin film macro- and micro-electrodes. In one embodiment, an electrochemical etch template is formed comprising polymer particles adsorbed on a surface of a substrate to be roughened, followed by electrochemically etching of exposed regions of the substrate between the polymer particles in the electrochemical etch template so as to selectively roughen the surface of the substrate. In another embodiment, a surface of the electrode is immersed in either a adsorbing acidic solution, such as sulfuric acid, or a non-adsorbing acidic solution, such as perchloric acid, followed by electrochemically pulse etching the surface of the substrate at a narrow frequency range for adsorbing acidic solutions, or at a wide frequency range for non-adsorbing acidic solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Anna Nikolaevna Ivanovskaya, Vanessa Tolosa, Dylan Dahlquist, Satinderpall S. Pannu, Kedar G. Shah, Angela C. Tooker, Fang Qian
  • Publication number: 20170350035
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing an FZ silicon single crystal for a solar cell, including the steps of: pulling a CZ silicon single crystal doped with gallium by a Czochralski method; and float-zone processing a raw material rod, with the raw material rod being the CZ silicon single crystal, at 1.6 atmospheric pressure or more to manufacture the FZ silicon single crystal. As a result, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an FZ silicon single crystal for a solar cell that can decrease the amount of gallium dopant evaporated during the float-zone processing, thereby preventing the silicon single crystal from increasing the resistance while decreasing oxygen, which is inevitably introduced into a CZ crystal, and preventing formation of a B-O pair, which causes a problem to the characteristics of a solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20170350036
    Abstract: Bulk single crystal of aluminum nitride (AlN) having an areal planar defect density?100 cm?2. Methods for growing single crystal aluminum nitride include melting an aluminum foil to uniformly wet a foundation with a layer of aluminum, the foundation forming a portion of an AlN seed holder, for an AlN seed to be used for the AlN growth. The holder may consist essentially of a substantially impervious backing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert T. Bondokov, Leo J. Schowalter, Kenneth Morgan, Glen A. Slack, Shailaja P. Rao, Shawn Robert Gibb
  • Publication number: 20170350037
    Abstract: A method of growing a conductive Ga2O3-based crystal film by MBE includes producing a Ga vapor and a Si-containing vapor and supplying the vapors as molecular beams onto a surface of a Ga2O3-based crystal substrate so as to grow the Ga2O3-based crystal film. The Ga2O3-based crystal film includes a Si-containing Ga2O3-based single crystal film. The Si-containing vapor is produced by heating Si or a Si compound and Ga while allowing the Si or a Si compound to contact with the Ga.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicants: TAMURA CORPORATION, Novel Crystal Techonology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei SASAKI, Daiki WAKIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170350038
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to an improved vacuum processing system. In one implementation, the vacuum processing system includes a first transfer chamber coupling to at least one epitaxy process chamber, a second transfer chamber, a transition station disposed between the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber, a first plasma-cleaning chamber coupled to the second transfer chamber for removing oxides from a surface of a substrate, and a load lock chamber coupled to the second transfer chamber. The transition station connects to the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber, and the transition station includes a second plasma-cleaning chamber for removing carbon-containing contaminants from the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kin Pong LO, Schubert S. CHU
  • Publication number: 20170350039
    Abstract: A spinning beam for producing melt-spun filaments, in which liquid plastics material is conveyed via an externally arranged extruder to at least one pump, which conveys the liquid plastics material to at least one spin pack having a spinneret, at least the pump and the spin pack being heated by a heat transfer medium which is heated in a boiler. The pump, the boiler and an opening for receiving a spin pack are arranged in a modular assembly, which can be installed and fixed singly, or in a plurality one behind the other, in a frame of the spinning beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: TRUETZSCHLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang ROHM, Karl-Heinz SANDRITTER, Michael LÜTTINGER
  • Publication number: 20170350040
    Abstract: Provided are carbon fibers rich in surface functional groups, which has been recovered by thermolysis and anodization of a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material. Also provided is a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composition characterized by having excellent mechanical characteristics and an excellent surface appearance at a low cost as a result of using said carbon fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Noriaki IJUIN
  • Publication number: 20170350041
    Abstract: A yarn head rotor 1 for a cabling machine, comprising several deflection rollers 2 for evening the yarn tension of two yarns being twisted, each deflection roller being rotatably mounted on a pivot axis 5 at right angles to the rotor axis of the yarn head rotor 1 and guided across the two yarns. The deflection roller 2 is mounted in the yarn head rotor 1 by bearings 6 at both ends of the deflection roller 2, wherein the two ball bearings 6 are each enclosed by a housing 7 of the yarn head rotor 1, which is closed with a cover 8, and yarn guiding eyelets 9, guiding the inner and outer yarns 17, are arranged upstream of the deflection roller 2 in such a way that they supply both yarns of the deflection roller between the two ball bearings 6 to the yarn head rotor 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Walter Pede-Vogler, Andrej Raisich, Otto Scheitll
  • Publication number: 20170350042
    Abstract: A spinning machine (1) features a multiple number of work stations (3) arranged side by side between two front-side ends (2) of the spinning machine (1) on at least one longitudinal side of the spinning machine (1), each of which features a multiple number of work elements for the production and winding of a yarn (31), whereas the work elements comprise at least one feed device (4), one spinning chamber (5), one draw-off device (6) and one winding device (7). The spinning machine (1) features drives for driving the work elements and a suction device (8) for generating negative pressure at the work stations (3). The suction device (8) includes at least one negative pressure source (9) and at least two negative pressure channels (10), which extends in the longitudinal direction of the spinning machine (1) only over one part of the work stations (3). Thereby, each work station (3) features an individual drive (11), in particular an individual electrical drive (11), for the draw-off device (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Romeo Pohn, Adalbert Stephan
  • Publication number: 20170350043
    Abstract: A method of making a multi-ply fabric. The fabric has a top side and a back side with the top side being adjacent to an external environment when the fabric is in use and the back side being adjacent to an object to be cooled when the fabric is in use. The method includes providing a top yarn to form the top side of the fabric and providing a bottom yarn to form the back side of the fabric, with the bottom yarn having a higher SA:V than the top yarn. The two yarns are combined together to form a single fabric, with the top yarn looping through bobbins in the bottom yarn and the bottom yarn looping through bobbins in the top yarn so that the top and bottom yarns are linked and networked to-one-another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Lawrence S.C. LAI
  • Publication number: 20170350044
    Abstract: A metal fiber included in a fiber product includes a tungsten wire having a diameter less than or equal to 22 ?m. The tungsten wire may have, for example, a diameter less than or equal to 18 ?m. The tungsten wire may have, for example, a diameter within a range from 20% less than 13 ?m to 20% greater than 13 ?m. In addition, the tungsten wire may have, for example, a diameter greater than or equal to 5 ?m. Further, the tungsten wire may include, for example, pure tungsten. Moreover, the metal fiber may be, for example, a metal thread including a false-twisted yarn which is made of a chemical fiber and is wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kazushige SUGITA, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Taisuke SHIMAZU, Tomohiro KANAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170350045
    Abstract: The multilayer coated multicolor yarn according to the present invention is part-colored and exposes various colors on the surface of the yarn, and, therefore, a fabric woven by the inventive yarn gives a unique aesthetic feeling. In addition, due to the multiple urethane coating layers, the yarn has excellent abrasion resistance, mechanical properties, durability, thermoformability and adhesion property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Sung Jin KIM, Young Chul LEE, Dal Rae JO
  • Publication number: 20170350046
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an anti-gravity backpack, which comprises a backpack body and two shoulder straps. A supporting plate is provided on a back of the backpack body, and a pressure reducing plate is provided on a back of the supporting plate. A first elastic band and a length fixing band are provided between the pressure reducing plate and the supporting plate. The existence of the pressure reducing plate, the first elastic band and the length fixing band causes the backpack to bounce up and down to act as a buffer, which not only relieves the pressure on the wearer's shoulders but also saves the wearer's energy with the resilience produced by the elastic band, thus helping slow down the wearer's rate of muscle fatigue and make the wearer feel less burden on the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Pak To Petto Ng
  • Publication number: 20170350047
    Abstract: A needle-holding element for circular knitting machines, having a structure as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis and configured for rotating and for supporting a plurality of needles moving so as to produce a knitted fabric; the needle-holding element has at least one working surface shaped as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of a portion of generating straight line around the central axis; on the working surface a plurality of needle seats is defined, placed one beside the other and arranged circumferentially or radially around the central axis, wherein each needle seat movably houses at least a portion of at least one respective needle. At least one needle seat has at least a first length has a longitudinal development, on the working surface, inclined with respect to the generating straight line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: SANTONI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Andrea LONATI
  • Publication number: 20170350048
    Abstract: A method of forming a fiber reinforced composite material includes cutting a plurality of reinforcing fibers to a selected length, directing the plurality of reinforcing fibers through a fiber alignment mechanism, orienting the plurality of reinforcing fibers in a selected direction via the fiber alignment mechanism, and adhering the aligned plurality of reinforcing fibers to a substrate material to form the fiber reinforced composite material. A system for manufacturing a fiber reinforced composite material includes a feed mechanism to direct a substrate material along a selected path, a cutting mechanism to cut a plurality of reinforcing fibers to a selected length, and a fiber alignment mechanism to orient the plurality of reinforcing fibers in a selected direction before adhering the plurality of reinforcing fibers to the substrate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, Daniel O. Ursenbach
  • Publication number: 20170350049
    Abstract: Use of an electrically charged nonwoven fabric that is made of a fiber predominantly composed of an amorphous polymer provides a novel filtration material having improved performance compared to that of conventional filtration materials, and having excellent heat resistance and excellent flame retardancy as well as an electrically charged nonwoven fabric for use in the filtration material. It is preferable that the surface charge density is greater than or equal to 1×10?10 coulomb/cm2. It is preferable that the collection efficiency for collecting a dust particle with a particle diameter of 1 ?m flowing at a fabric-passing velocity of 8.6 cm/second is greater than or equal to 40%, the QF value is greater than or equal to 0.05, and the decrement of the dust-particle collection efficiency after being allowed to leave at 100° C. for 24 hours is less than or equal to 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SHIROTANI, Ikuhisa SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20170350050
    Abstract: A dyeing and welding process may be configured to convert a substrate into a welded substrate having at least some color imparted thereto via a dye and/or coloring agent by applying a process solvent having a dye and/or coloring agent therein to the substrate, wherein the process solvent interrupts one or more intermolecular force between one or more component in the substrate. The substrate may be configured as a natural fiber, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and silk. The process solvent may include a binder, such as dissolved biopolymer (e.g., cellulose). After application of a process solvent comprised of a dye and/or coloring agent, the substrate may be exposed to a second application of a process solvent comprised of a binder, which second application may occur before or after a process temperature/pressure zone, process solvent recovery zone, and/or drying zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Luke Michael Haverhals, Aaron Kenneth Amstutz, Jonglak Choi, Xiling Tang, Michael Molter, Spencer Jacob Null
  • Publication number: 20170350051
    Abstract: Software converts a photographic image into realistic and customized embroidery. Software reads photographic image, down-sampling or up-sampling so that a single pixel has a Density, One Grayscale image is created to calculate derivatives for each pixel using Sobel operator to calculate angle and magnitude and stores in a Sobel table. One Color Image is created to materialize and reduce color selection. A series of polylines are calculated to connect same-color pixels using the pixel's angle from the Sobel table. Polylines are reduced to a manageable size first by multiplying all points by Density resulting in stitch data in physical units, and by using a series of rules and formulas involving angles and magnitudes of each pixel from the Sobel table, Commands are appended to an embroidery machine to generate the final embroidery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Konstantinos Angelakis, Ioannis Doukakis, Miltiadis Vasileiadis
  • Publication number: 20170350052
    Abstract: Using an existing embroidery design that has been created for applique, data is automatically created for a cutting machine, which will cut the applique. Currently, the user currently has to cut these by hand—a labor intensive process or use a custom die that can be expensive. The process only requires that the applique steps in the sewing sequence are labeled as such. Generally, the applique steps are so labeled in order for the design creator to be able to let the sewer know what they are doing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Brian D. Bailie
  • Publication number: 20170350053
    Abstract: A water extraction facility comprising a suction box having a suction opening and a chamber (9) arranged above the suction opening by means of a connector (21) and a perforated sheet metal element (24) creating head loss is mounted in the connector (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Laurent SCHMIT, Alain PLANET
  • Publication number: 20170350054
    Abstract: Steam-treating printed fibrous sheet material to fix ink printed on the material includes conveying the printed material into a steam chamber on a conveyor with a surface containing condensed water. At least some of the condensed water is transferred to the sheet material on the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Luigi Milini
  • Publication number: 20170350055
    Abstract: A drainage-dehydration control method of a multi-drum washing machine, the washing machine at least comprising a first washing drum and a second washing drum; the method comprising: before the first washing drum executing drainage or dehydration procedure, judging whether the second washing drum is draining or dehydrating. If yes, the first washing drum continuing executing a washing procedure or a rinse procedure, or suspending executing the drainage or dehydration procedure until the second washing drum finishes dehydration; if no, the first washing drum starting drainage and dehydration. By the above method, the first washing drum and the second washing drum cannot execute the drainage-dehydration procedure at the same time; and during the waiting process of one washing drum, another washing drum continues a washing procedure or a rinse procedure, so as to make the rational use of waiting time and improve the efficiency of washing clothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenwei LI, Jinkai WANG, Jun WU, Bin DING, Shaolei YI
  • Publication number: 20170350056
    Abstract: Provided are a mist generator and a washing machine. The mist generator can provide mist having small enough particles. The mist generator includes: a housing having a discharge part; a mist generation unit having a mist spraying nozzle for spraying a mist and causing the mist sprayed from the mist spraying nozzle to collide in the housing to generate a mist with particles smaller than those of the sprayed mist; and a discharging unit for generating an airflow toward the discharging opening in the housing, so that in case of nonuse of a blowing fan, the mist with smaller particles generated by the mist generation unit is discharged from the discharging opening along with the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicants: HAIER ASIA CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Fukui
  • Publication number: 20170350057
    Abstract: Provided is a drum washing machine, including: an outer tank, configured in a shell; a drum, configured in the outer tank and capable of rotating by using a horizontal shaft or an inclination shaft inclining relative to a horizontal direction as a center; a rotating body, configured at a rear part of the drum and having protruding parts in contact with washings on a surface of the rotating body; a driving part, capable of operating in a first drying form and a second driving form, wherein the first driving form refers to a driving form which enables the drum and the rotating body to rotate at different rotating speeds, and the second driving form refers to a driving form which enables the drum and the rotating body to rotate integrally at the same rotating speed; and a control part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicants: HAIER ASIA CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Nakamoto
  • Publication number: 20170350058
    Abstract: The souring of wet laundry in a laundry treating appliance may be retarded by sending an alert signal indicative of an ending of a cycle of operation from the laundry treating appliance to a remote electronic device. The appliance may receive an authorization signal from the electronic device indicative of an instruction to execute an anti-sour cycle. An anti-sour cycle comprising the energizing of a fan to flow air through a laundry treating chamber may be automatically initiated for the laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: STEVEN D. FICKE, GREGORY T. HEINE, GREGORY S. LIETO
  • Publication number: 20170350059
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes an outer casing and, inside the casing, a washing tub arranged inside the casing directly facing a laundry loading/unloading opening realized in a front wall of said casing, a rotatable drum arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub and structured for receiving the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispenser which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub, and a water softening device which is structured for reducing the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Maurizio Del Pos, Daniele Favaro, Andrea Zattin
  • Publication number: 20170350060
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine having a treating agents dispenser (20) provided with one or more compartments (23 a) wherein one of the compartment is suited to receive a unit dose package (DP) comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) incorporated into a water-soluble pouch (P). The treating agents dispenser (20) comprises a water conveying line having at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43) for generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53) which hits and breaks the unit dose package (DP) inside the compartment (23a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Daniele Favaro, Maurizio Del Pos
  • Publication number: 20170350061
    Abstract: A washing machine comprising a cabinet that defines an interior with an access opening. A tank located within the interior. A first rotatable basket is located within the tank and defines a first washing compartment. A tower is rotatable about a rotational axis and is at least partially located within the first rotatable basket. A second rotatable basket defines a second washing compartment and is at least partially located within the first washing compartment and is mounted to the rotatable tower. A motor is drivingly coupled to the rotatable tower. A centrifugal dispensing assembly is coupled to the second rotatable basket. The centrifugal dispensing assembly comprises a first container that defines a first reservoir. A first centrifugal chamber is fluidly coupled to the first reservoir and is located centrifugally downstream of the first reservoir. A second centrifugal chamber is centrifugally downstream of the first centrifugal chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: BRUNO T. RAMASCO, GUILHERME HENRIQUE MANZI, MARCELO ARAUJO DOS SANTOS
  • Publication number: 20170350062
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for use with a laundry dryer includes a first section and a second section. Each section has a plurality of walls defining a cavity, the cavity comprising a portion of a channel for air flow. A first wall among the plurality of walls has a substantially flat exterior surface and a plurality of openings extending through the first wall from the exterior surface to the portion of the channel. The first section and the second section are configured to be disposed substantially adjacent to each other to form the channel. The first section comprises an air outlet cover at a first end, the air outlet cover configured to substantially cover an air outlet of the laundry dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Raveendran Vaidhyanathan, Viktor Kopyrin, Seong Min Oak
  • Publication number: 20170350063
    Abstract: The invention relates to a washing/drying machine equipped with a filter cleaning device for removing filaments released by laundry items during the washing/drying cycle. For this purpose, the cleaning device comprises nozzles that spray water onto the filtering walls, on the side thereof facing towards the drying tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: GIOVANNI BOMBARDIERI
  • Publication number: 20170350064
    Abstract: A drain pump is provided that may include a pump motor; an impeller connected to a rotational shaft of the pump motor. The impeller may include a circular hub, an impeller shaft that extends from a center of a lower surface of the hub, and a plurality of blades that extends from an outer circumferential surface of the impeller shaft and the lower surface of the hub in a radial direction of the hub. The hub may have a longitudinal cross section in which a thickness of the hub gradually increases from the center of the lower surface toward an edge thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Jinhyouk SHIN, Sungjun KIM, Minseong KIM
  • Publication number: 20170350065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a washing/drying machine equipped with a filter cleaning device for removing filaments released by laundry items during the washing/drying cycle. For this purpose, the cleaning device comprises nozzles arranged in a spider-like pattern, which spray water onto the filtering wall, on the side thereof facing towards the drying tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: GIOVANNI BOMBARDIERI
  • Publication number: 20170350066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clothes treating apparatus, including a door to open/close an accommodation space, a hanger provided in the accommodation space and having at least one clothes caught thereon, a sensing unit to sense information related to the clothes caught on the hanger, a controller to control an operation of the clothes treating apparatus based on the sensed information, and an input unit to receive a user input associated with the operation, wherein the controller determines whether a user input is applied to the input unit while a predetermined time interval elapses from a time point that the door has been opened and then closed, determines whether clothes have been added into the accommodation space when a user input is not applied during the lapse of the predetermined time interval, and performs a preset operation of the clothes treating apparatus when it is determined that the clothes have been added to the accommodation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Junhong KIM