And Spray Or Jet Applying Conduit Or Nozzle Patents (Class 134/148)
  • Patent number: 10625310
    Abstract: A washing device for a portable toilet includes a portable toilet lifting member that pivotally elevates a portable toilet from a substantially vertical position and rotates the portable toilet until disposed in a substantially horizontal position in a portable toilet washing enclosure. An access door of the portable toilet is unlocked and allowed to open when the portable toilet is horizontally positioned in the portable toilet washing enclosure. A portable toilet access aperture is orientated to enable internal washing members for the portable toilet that are disposed inside the portable toilet washing enclosure to discharge a liquid within an internal chamber of the portable toilet to ultimately clean the internal chamber and a toilet tank inside the internal chamber. The portable toilet washing enclosure also includes external washing members for washing external walls and a base portion of the portable toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Bradley Denton
  • Patent number: 10559479
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: a lid member; a support member; an oxidation resistant member; and an oxidizing system gas introducing member. The lid member is opposed to a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The support member supports the lid member. The oxidation resistant member is opposed to a back of the semiconductor substrate. The oxidizing system gas introducing member introduces an oxidizing system gas that oxidizes the back of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nozomi Sakano, Daisuke Nishida
  • Patent number: 10507498
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a particle cleaning apparatus. The apparatus comprises an acoustic wave generator configured to apply an acoustic wave to particles external to the acoustic wave generator. The apparatus also includes a removing module configured to remove the applied particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Ying-Hsueh Chang Chien, James Jeng-Jyi Hwang, Chi-Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 10363583
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing particles, such as dust, generated by a moving web is disclosed. A dust control platform is positioned adjacent to a traversing web to catch the particles generated by the web. The particles pass through one or more apertures defined by an accumulation surface. The particles pass through the accumulation surface and into an accumulation chamber. The accumulation chamber may include a sweeping device or other device that may be used to transfer the accumulated particles to a collection chamber. The collection chamber is connected to a vacuum source. Vacuum is applied to the collection chamber by the vacuum source such that the particles are removed from the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Pawel M. Siczek, Gustav Andre Mellin
  • Patent number: 10332759
    Abstract: A processing apparatus of an embodiment includes a stage that can have a sample placed thereon, a rotation mechanism that rotates the stage, a first nozzle that injects a substance onto the sample, and a second nozzle that supplies fluid to the rotation center of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masamune Takano
  • Patent number: 10213840
    Abstract: A blade fastening device is provided with a hollow clamping member including an axial channel for disposing a portion of a blade therein, and at least one slit formed on a peripheral surface so that the hollow clamping member is configured to be flexibly compressible; and a cylindrical extension formed with a first end of the hollow clamping member. The blade fastening device is capable of preventing cutting fluid from leaking, guiding cutting fluid to a cutting site, and fastening a blade so that a deflection of the blade is made impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: X'POLE PRECISION TOOLS INC.
    Inventor: Peter Chen
  • Patent number: 10204804
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of polishing a device includes providing a layer having a non-uniform top surface. The non-uniform top surface includes a plurality of protrusions. The method further includes removing the plurality of protrusions by exposing the layer to a fluid that has gas bubbles and a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Johann Kosub
  • Patent number: 10058119
    Abstract: A fruit and vegetable washer includes a housing, an upper cover, a spin-and-turbulence unit, a power unit, a control assembly, a cleaning basket and a stabilizing shaft. A polygonal accommodating chamber is formed in the housing. The cleaning basket is cylindrical and is mounted rotatably in the accommodating chamber. Because of the polygonal cross section of the accommodating chamber of the housing and the circular cross section of the cleaning basket, the space between the accommodating chamber and the cleaning basket has a circular inner surface and a rectangular outer surface. When water fills up the space and the power unit starts to rotate the cleaning basket, the water will flow between the rectangular outer surface and the circular inner surface and keep pushing the inner surface of the accommodating chamber, producing complex turbulent flows and fully cleaning the fruits and vegetables inside the cleaning basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventor: Chien-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 10049900
    Abstract: A substrate treatment method and apparatus including a change controlling unit which changes at least one of a protection liquid application position relative to a liquid droplet nozzle and a protection liquid incident angle relative to the liquid droplet nozzle, the protection liquid application position being a position at which the protection liquid is applied on an upper surface of the substrate, the protection liquid incident angle being an angle at which the protection liquid is incident on the liquid application position; wherein the change controlling unit controls the liquid application position and the incident angle in a first condition when the spraying region is located on an upper surface center portion of the substrate, and controls the liquid application position and the incident angle in a second condition when the spraying region is located on an upper surface peripheral portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota Sotoku, Takayoshi Tanaka, Masanobu Sato
  • Patent number: 9768040
    Abstract: A substrate treatment method and apparatus including a change controlling unit which changes at least one of a protection liquid application position relative to a liquid droplet nozzle and a protection liquid incident angle relative to the liquid droplet nozzle, the protection liquid application position being a position at which the protection liquid is applied on an upper surface of the substrate, the protection liquid incident angle being an angle at which the protection liquid is incident on the liquid application position; wherein the change controlling unit controls the liquid application position and the incident angle in a first condition when the spraying region is located on an upper surface center portion of the substrate, and controls the liquid application position and the incident angle in a second condition when the spraying region is located on an upper surface peripheral portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota Sotoku, Takayoshi Tanaka, Masanobu Sato
  • Patent number: 9768010
    Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus includes a substrate holder (21) that holds a substrate horizontally and rotates the substrate, a treatment liquid nozzle (82) that supplies a treatment liquid to the substrate held by the substrate holder, a cup (40) that is arranged outside of a peripheral edge of the substrate held by the substrate holder and receives the treatment liquid which has been supplied to the substrate by the treatment liquid nozzle, a top plate (32) that covers the substrate held by the substrate holder from above, a top plate rotation driving mechanism that rotates the top plate, and a liquid receiving member (130) that surrounds a peripheral edge of the top plate and has a circular liquid receiving space (132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihiro Ito, Kazuhiro Aiura, Naoki Shindo, Yosuke Hachiya
  • Patent number: 9595434
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a pattern on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; placing the substrate on a platform of a substrate treatment apparatus; rotating the wafer while applying a cleaning liquid from a first nozzle and a wetting liquid from a second nozzle to treat a first region on the surface of the substrate; vertically changing the distance of the second nozzle together with the first nozzle with respect to the platform; after the vertical change, rotating the wafer while applying the cleaning liquid from the first nozzle and the wetting liquid from the second nozzle to treat a second region on the surface of the substrate; and forming a semiconductor device from the treated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoungseob Kim, Yongsun Ko, Kyoung Hwan Kim, SeokHoon Kim, Kuntack Lee, Hyosan Lee
  • Patent number: 9443714
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus may include a substrate support having a support surface to support a substrate to be cleaned, wherein the substrate support is rotatable about a central axis normal to the support surface; a first nozzle to provide a first cleaning gas to a region of the inner volume corresponding to the position of an edge of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the support surface of the substrate support; a first annular body disposed opposite and spaced apart from the support surface of the substrate support by a gap, the first annular body having a central opening defined by an inner wall shaped to provide a reducing size of the gap between the first annular body and the support surface in a radially outward direction; and a first gas inlet to provide a first gas to the central opening of the first annular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: James Matthew Holden, Song-Moon Suh, Todd Egan, Kalyanjit Ghosh, Leon Volfovski, Michael R. Rice, Richard Giljum
  • Patent number: 9032979
    Abstract: An improved portable cleaning system for use in cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles, fin-fans, towers and other elongated components. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure that receives and cleans the component and a control unit that controls the operation of the system. The cleaning unit has a cleaning enclosure defining a chamber sized and configured to receive the component through a sealable lid. A roller assembly rotates the component while a spray assembly sprays cleaning fluid over and into the rotating component. The cleaning fluid is heated in the chamber using surface heating elements attached to heat transfer plates along sections of the chamber walls. A vapor recovery system captures and treats toxic vapors. In use, the cleaning system is transported to a facility to clean the components on-site using cleaning fluid supplied by the facility and discharging waste to the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Gary I Hays
  • Publication number: 20150053244
    Abstract: A nozzle for discharging droplets of a processing liquid for processing a substrate has a main body including a supply port, a drain port, a processing liquid flow passageway connecting the supply port and the drain port, and a plurality of discharge ports from which the processing liquid is discharged. The processing liquid flow passageway includes a plurality of branch flow channels, which branch out between the supply port and the drain port and collect together between the supply port and the drain port. The plurality of discharge ports form a plurality of columns respectively corresponding to the plurality of branch flow channels; and are aligned along and connected to the corresponding branch flow channels. A piezo element applies vibration to the processing liquid flowing through the plurality of branch flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Masanobu SATO, Hiroyuki YASHIKI, Mai YAMAKAWA, Takayoshi TANAKA, Ayumi HIGUCHI, Rei TAKEAKI
  • Patent number: 8919359
    Abstract: For reducing time required for sterilizing a container by hydrogen peroxide, mitigating a cost required therefore, simplifying a sterilizing apparatus, reducing space for installing such apparatus, and mitigating load to the environment, a method for sterilizing a container is provided according to which hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution, air at the normal temperature and hot air are simultaneously injected into a container whereby the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution which has been turned to minute droplets by the air at the normal temperature is instantly gasified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwashita, Kenichi Kominami, Chikako Sunohara, Miki Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8900373
    Abstract: A method of cleaning containers in a container cleaning machine, in which the containers are moved in receptacles to a cleaning area, where both the containers and the receptacles are at least partially submerged in a dipping bath of liquid cleaning medium. The containers are positioned such that closed portions of the containers are at an equivalent or higher vertical position than mouth portions of the containers. A nozzle arrangement is used to produce a jet of a cleaning medium which impinges the interior of a corresponding container. The jet has a force which is insufficient to move the container from its resting position in its corresponding container receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Molitor, Klaus Jendrichowski
  • Patent number: 8888925
    Abstract: A nozzle for discharging droplets of a processing liquid for processing a substrate has a main body including a supply port, a drain port, a processing liquid flow passageway connecting the supply port and the drain port, and a plurality of discharge ports from which the processing liquid is discharged. The processing liquid flow passageway includes a plurality of branch flow channels, which branch out between the supply port and the drain port and collect together between the supply port and the drain port. The plurality of discharge ports form a plurality of columns respectively corresponding to the plurality of branch flow channels; and are aligned along and connected to the corresponding branch flow channels. A piezo element applies vibration to the processing liquid flowing through the plurality of branch flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Sato, Hiroyuki Yashiki, Mai Yamakawa, Takayoshi Tanaka, Ayumi Higuchi, Rei Takeaki
  • Patent number: 8845819
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be an mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Gebhardt, Rahul J. Chillar, Dale J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8834649
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be a mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Gebhardt, Rahul J. Chillar, Dale J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8801863
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a rack provided with interior and exterior corner nozzles to direct washing fluid onto interior and exterior surface portions of an object placed in a corner of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Walter T. Blanchard, David H. Chen
  • Patent number: 8795437
    Abstract: A dishwasher (100) for pot washing, comprising a detector (160) for automatically detecting what type of washing basket (140) has been placed in the dishwasher (100). This enables automatic selection of water pressure and granule control, such that more sensitive crockery and plates are not damaged. The detector can be an inductive sensor (160) that detects an indicating member (141) of the washing basket. The washing basket can comprise one or several indicating members, for enabling a more reliable detection. A method of operating such a dishwasher (100) comprises the steps of automatically detecting what type of washing basket (140) is placed in the dishwasher, and then controlling the water pressure and granule addition according to what washing basket was detected. A system comprises an above dishwasher and an above washing basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GS Development AB
    Inventors: Per Walter, Hans Bramevik
  • Patent number: 8707974
    Abstract: A wafer cleaning device comprising a wafer stage for holding a wafer having a surface to be washed, a first nozzle positioned above the wafer, a second nozzle positioned above the wafer. A first height is between the first nozzle and the surface and a second height is between the second nozzle and the surface, wherein the first height is shorter than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Ting Tsai, Cheng-Hung Yu, Chin-Kuang Liu, Ming-Hsin Lee, Wei-Hong Chuang, Kuei-Chang Tung, Yan-Yi Lu, Chin-Chin Wang
  • Publication number: 20140076363
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a shiftable rack provided with a washing agent dispersal system including a housing into which washing fluid is delivered. When the rack is shifted to a retracted position within a tub of the dishwasher, a tube feed system is employed to selectively distribute washing fluid from a pump assembly to each of multiple spray arms, the housing of the washing agent dispersal system and an auxiliary spray unit carried by the upper rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROGER J. BERTSCH, DAVID HC CHEN
  • Patent number: 8590550
    Abstract: A substrate holder is defined to support a substrate. A rotating mechanism is defined to rotate the substrate holder. An applicator is defined to extend over the substrate holder to dispense a cleaning material onto a surface of the substrate when present on the substrate holder. The applicator is defined to apply a downward force to the cleaning material on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the cleaning material is gelatinous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Korolik, Erik M. Freer, John M. de Larios, Katrina Mikhaylichenko, Mike Ravkin, Fritz Redeker
  • Patent number: 8567420
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a semiconductor wafer includes: a gas jet device including a gas nozzle which jets a first gas onto the surface of a semiconductor wafer to thin the thickness of a stagnant layer on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a two-fluid jet device including a two-fluid nozzle which jets droplet mist onto a region where thickness of the stagnant layer of the semiconductor wafer is thinned, the droplet mist being mixed two-fluid of a liquid and a second gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Minako Inukai, Hiroshi Tomita, Kaori Umezawa, Yasuhito Yoshimizu, Linan Ji
  • Patent number: 8566994
    Abstract: A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Clint P. Arrington
  • Patent number: 8524008
    Abstract: In the case of a device and a method for cleaning substrates on a carrier, to the underside of which the substrates are fastened so as to be parallel to and slightly apart from one another, the carrier has in its interior a plurality of longitudinal channels, which run parallel to one another. As a result of the sawing of the wafers, they merge, via openings, into interstices between the substrates. As a result of a relative movement, an elongate tube, from which cleaning fluid is let out, is introduced into one of the longitudinal channels, the relative movement being achieved substantially through moving of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Gebr. Schmid GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Worm, Reinhard Huber
  • Patent number: 8511325
    Abstract: With the waste container washing system described herein, the waste container can be moved into a washing compartment of the washing vehicle for washing thereof; in a first washing phase, the waste container can be exposed to a plurality of water jets of grey water pumped from a grey water reservoir; and in a second washing phase, the waste container can be exposed to a plurality of clean water pumped from a clean water reservoir. The water used in the first and/or second washing phase can be collected and stored in the grey water reservoir. Other improvements, such as a double-action pump for the two phases, a filtering system for grey water, a container movement system and path, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: 9103-8034 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Serge Gingras
  • Patent number: 8414790
    Abstract: The various embodiments described in the specification provide improved mechanisms of removal of unwanted deposits on the bevel edge to improve process yield. The embodiments provide apparatus and methods of treating the bevel edge of a copper plated substrate to convert the copper at the bevel edge to a copper compound that can be wet etched with a fluid at a high etch selectivity in comparison to copper. In one embodiment, the wet etch of the copper compound at high selectivity to copper allows the removal of the non-volatile copper at substrate bevel edge in a wet etch processing chamber. The plasma treatment at bevel edge allows the copper at bevel edge to be removed at precise spatial control to about 2 mm or below, such as about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm or about 0.25 mm, to the very edge of substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bailey, III, Yunsang Kim
  • Publication number: 20130056035
    Abstract: A method of cleaning one or more air filter elements with a cleaning arrangement includes a rotatable basket for holding the one or more air filters, a spraying device for spraying cleaning fluid into the basket, and a driving unit for driving the basket into rotational motion. The method includes placing the one or more air filter elements in the basket, and performing at least three cleaning cycles. A cleaning cycle comprises the following steps. First the rotation of the basket is driven up to a rotational speed at which the one or more air filter elements have a speed greater than about 15 m/s, preferably greater than about 20 m/s. Then the rotation of the basket is brought back to a rotational speed at which the one or more air filter elements have a speed below about 2 m/s. In addition, the cleaning cycle includes spraying cleaning fluid into the basket during at least a portion of the cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: DAKRA B.V.
    Inventor: DAKRA B.V.
  • Patent number: 8375964
    Abstract: A template cleaning method for cleaning a template for nanoimprint, according to an embodiment of the present invention includes placing a wafer on a stage provided in a chamber, cleaning the wafer placed on the stage, inspecting the wafer for particles after the cleaning of the wafer, placing the template on the stage after the inspection of the wafer, and cleaning the template placed on the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Hisashi Okuchi, Minako Inukai
  • Patent number: 8277569
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method are capable of restraining or preventing the generation of streaky particles on a substrate surface by excellent removal of a rinsing liquid therefrom. The substrate processing apparatus has a substrate inclining mechanism for inclining a substrate held by a substrate holding mechanism. After a rinsing liquid has been supplied onto a substrate to form a liquid mass, the substrate is inclined at a small angle by the substrate inclining mechanism. Then, the liquid mass is downwardly moved without being fragmented and then falls down without leaving minute droplets on the substrate top. Thereafter, the substrate is returned to a horizontal posture and then dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Araki, Kentaro Tokuri
  • Patent number: 8251077
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus and method capable of separately collecting first and second processing liquids from each other, and preventing a formation of a defect (such as watermarks and particles) on a target substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate holding device, a processing liquid supply device to supply a first processing liquid and a second processing liquid, a rotating cup, an outer discharge portion and an inner discharge portion to respectively discharge the first processing liquid and the second processing liquid received from the first receiving surface of the rotating cup, and a discharge portion switch device to open/close the outer discharge portion. The lower end of the first receiving surface of the rotating cup extends to a lower position than the position of the substrate held by the substrate holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hidemasa Aratake, Norihiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8136539
    Abstract: Devices, including a wash ring assembly, and methods are provided for the removal of excess fluid or solids from the exterior or interior of a probe used to transfer fluids, for instance, in an automated assay device. Typically, a probe is used to aspirate and dispense a sample fluid material such as whole blood or a reagent. The devices and methods provided herein are useful for removing excess fluid from the exterior or interior of the probe so as to prevent dripping and cross-contamination between samples or reagents. It is also contemplated that, utilizing the devices and methods provided herein, washing and/or drying can be performed simultaneously as the probe is in motion, aspirating a sample and/or dispensing a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasser Jafari, Lawrence Blecka, Chris Tsai
  • Patent number: 8136540
    Abstract: An improved portable cleaning system for use in cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles, fin-fans, towers and other elongated components. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure that receives and cleans the component and a control unit that controls the operation of the system. The cleaning unit has a cleaning enclosure defining a chamber sized and configured to receive the component through a sealable lid. A roller assembly rotates the component while a spray assembly sprays cleaning fluid over and into the rotating component. The cleaning fluid is heated in the chamber using surface heating elements attached to heat transfer plates along sections of the chamber walls. A vapor recovery system captures and treats toxic vapors. In use, the cleaning system is transported to a facility to clean the components on-site using cleaning fluid supplied by the facility and discharging waste to the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Gary I. Hays
  • Patent number: 8037890
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning device and a substrate cleaning method reduces liquid drops remaining on a substrate to prevent the irregular heating of the substrate by a heating process due to liquid drops or water marks remaining on the substrate. A cleaning liquid is poured through a cleaning liquid pouring nozzle onto the surface of a substrate such that a region onto which the cleaning liquid is poured moves from a central part toward the circumference of the substrate. A gas is jetted radially outward at a region on the surface of the substrate behind a region onto which the cleaning liquid is poured with respect to the rotating direction of the substrate. The gas forces a liquid film of the cleaning liquid flowing on the surface of the substrate to flow in a circumferential direction and a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Taro Yamamoto, Hideharu Kyouda, Tetsu Kawasaki, Satoru Shimura
  • Patent number: 8020570
    Abstract: A part of the opening of the nozzle insertion hole located in the liquid discharging direction relative to the nozzle inserted in the nozzle insertion hole is enlarged in the liquid discharging direction. Therefore, the droplets which have migrated to the nozzle insertion hole adheres to the internal surface in the liquid discharging direction relative to the nozzle, that is, to the slanted part via the enlarged part. Moreover, the slanted part is provided slanted from the central portion of the nozzle insertion hole toward the enlarged part and separated away from the central portion of the substrate top surface. Hence, the adhering droplets flow in the liquid discharging direction along the slanted part to be discharged from the opening of the nozzle insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Kishimoto, Katsuhiko Miya
  • Patent number: 8006710
    Abstract: In order to produce a cleaning device which cleans in a particularly effective manner wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning chamber for accommodating a workpiece requiring cleaning and a fluid transfer device for transferring at least one fluid into the cleaning chamber and/or out of the cleaning chamber and wherein the fluid transfer device comprises at least one nozzle in the form of a slotted nozzle extending along a slot axis and said fluid is arranged to be fed into the cleaning chamber or fed out of the cleaning chamber by means of said fluid transfer device in a direction transverse to the slot axis, it is proposed that the cleaning device comprise a slotted nozzle moving device for moving at least a part of the slotted nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Dürr Ecoclean GmbH
    Inventor: Egon Käske
  • Patent number: 7980259
    Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine with a broken glass removal system includes a support, a liquid container or reservoir, a pump, a liquid applicator, and a liquid permeable member. The support supports a glass sheet being washed. The liquid reservoir is positioned below the support. The pump is coupled to the liquid reservoir. The liquid applicator is coupled to the pump. The liquid applicator applies the liquid from the liquid reservoir to wash the glass sheet. Excess liquid falls into the reservoir. The liquid permeable member is positioned between the support and the liquid reservoir to catch pieces of glass to inhibit the pieces of broken glass from falling into the liquid reservoir and is moved to remove the pieces from the glass washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: GED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Robert Dickerson, Timothy Robert Hall, Robert R. Sheperd, Diana Patricia Foltz, Michael Steven Misura
  • Patent number: 7979941
    Abstract: A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Clint P. Arrington
  • Patent number: 7964042
    Abstract: After the rinsing processing is completed, the rotation speed of the substrate is reduced from 600 rpm to 10 rpm to form a puddle-like DIW liquid film. After the supply of DIW is stopped, the control unit waits for a predetermined time (0.5 seconds) so that the film thickness t1 of the puddle-like liquid film becomes approximately uniform. Then, IPA is discharged to a central part of the surface of the substrate at a flow rate of 100 (mL/min) for instance. By the supply of IPA, DIW is replaced with IPA at the central part of the surface of the substrate to form a replaced region. Further, after three seconds of IPA supply, the rotation speed of the substrate is accelerated from 10 rpm to 300 rpm. This causes the replaced region to expand in a radial direction of the substrate so that the entire surface of the substrate is replaced with the low surface-tension solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Kojimaru, Katsuhiko Miya
  • Patent number: 7951244
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning printed circuit boards are provided. The method includes providing a cleaning apparatus with a housing having a conveyance mechanism for carrying printed circuit boards through the housing. The cleaning apparatus has at least a prewash station, a wash station and a final rinse station therein. The printed circuit boards are carried on the conveyance mechanism to the prewash station. A plurality of fluidic oscillator nozzles of the prewash station are utilized to direct liquid onto the printed circuit boards. Each fluidic oscillator nozzle outputs a stream of liquid with an instantaneous direction that oscillates back and forth relative to a nozzle axis over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Becker, Dirk Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110048469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus and a liquid processing method that can prevent a processing liquid from being left on a lift pin after a drying-out process of a substrate, thereby preventing the processing liquid from being attached to the back surface of the substrate after the liquid processing. The liquid processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a holding plate that supports a substrate, a lift pin plate provided above the holding plate having a lift pin that supports the wafer from a lower side, and a processing liquid supply unit that supplies the processing liquid to the back surface of the wafer. The processing liquid supply unit is provided with a head part configured to close a penetrating hole of the lift pin plate. The processing liquid supply unit and the lift pin plate are configured to be elevated with respect to the holding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuhiro OGATA, Shuichi NAGAMINE
  • Patent number: 7861732
    Abstract: What is contemplated is a printing cylinder washer having a removable or portable drive assembly, or a series of portable drive assemblies of different lengths to accommodate different sizes of print rollers. The drive assemblies have a drive mechanism enabled by a dynamic flow of cleaning solution within the washer reservoir. What is also contemplated is the use of an elevation system, an agitation platform, under-immersion spray bars, an ultrasonic wave cleaning system, and a hatch or door equipped with a thermal breaker in conjunction with the hydro-driven portable drive assembly. What is also contemplated is a method of washing printing rollers within the above-described printing cylinder washer by aligning a nozzle with the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudy Publ
  • Publication number: 20100313918
    Abstract: A substrate holder is defined to support a substrate. A rotating mechanism is defined to rotate the substrate holder. An applicator is defined to extend over the substrate holder to dispense a cleaning material onto a surface of the substrate when present on the substrate holder. The applicator is defined to apply a downward force to the cleaning material on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the cleaning material is gelatinous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Korolik, Erik M. Freer, John M.de Larios, Katrina Mikhaylichenko, Mike Ravkin, Fritz Redeker
  • Patent number: 7740021
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and kits are described, one method embodiment comprising loading a solids-laden screen into a carriage of a washing enclosure, the solids-laden screen comprising a screen mesh partially obstructed with solids from a well drilling or work-over operation, and spraying a cleaning composition onto first and second sides of the screen while vibrating the screen. Apparatus and kits for practicing the methods are also described. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: RNG Oilfield Sales & Service, LLC
    Inventor: Jack D. Baker
  • Patent number: 7727494
    Abstract: A child care storage having a steam sterilizing apparatus, wherein the steam sterilizing apparatus includes an outer tub defined by walls of a steam sterilizing compartment; a hollow upstanding coupling member installed on the center bottom of the outer tub and having an interlocking hole formed at its top; an inner tub inserted inside the outer tub for accommodating infant accessories therein, the inner tub having a reception hole formed at its bottom center and a latch part formed along the circumference of its bottom center; an evaporation vessel having a flange along its circumference, the flange being coupled to the latch part of the inner tub; a flat-type heater installed under a rear bottom surface of the evaporation vessel; and a supporting plate for placing the flat-type heater thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Young Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7686022
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle device comprising a substantially cylindrical nozzle body and a cup member which is arranged within the cylinder of the nozzle body and jets out fluid droplets from the tip thereof while being driven to turn, wherein two or more fluids including a detergent and a gas are mixed and jetted out of the tip of the nozzle in order to achieve sufficient cleaning of a single wafer without a re-adhesion of contamination or destruction of the pattern of the wafer. Therefore, the fluid droplets can be controlled to a smaller size than the conventional double-fluid cleaning system or high pressure jet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Sunac Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Seike, Keiji Miyachi
  • Patent number: 7673582
    Abstract: An edge bead removal device for a spin coater apparatus and methods of edge bead removal that overcome the deficiencies of conventional edge bead removal techniques. The edge bead removal device includes a coater cup and a head situated within the coater cup proximate to a peripheral edge of a substrate. The head is movable in a radial direction relative to an azimuthal axis of a rotatable substrate support inside the coater cup. The position of the head relative to a rim of the peripheral edge is mapped using an optical sensor. When the substrate support rotates the substrate and the head is used to dispense edge bead removal chemical, the radial position of the head is adjusted, as guided by the map, relative to the azimuthal axis to maintain a constant gap between the head and the substrate's peripheral rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Thomas E. Winter