With Gas Or Vapor Circulation For Contact With Treated Material Patents (Class 34/218)
  • Publication number: 20040187339
    Abstract: An industrial dishwashing machine with at least one essentially closed water circuit in which washing water is circulated, and with at least one water inflow which makes rinsing water available which is received into the water circuit after a rinsing operation following a washing operation. An air circuit is provided for drying the batchwith the air circuit being dehumidified by means of the water of the water inflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Roman Duden, Ralf Singer
  • Patent number: 6793881
    Abstract: A container and method for conditioning articles of hunting clothing and related gear so as to camouflage scents associated with humans. The container presents an enclosed space with an easily accessible opening where clothing and other gear may be placed. Within the confines of the container, one or more internal compartments are formed to hold natural, woodsy materials pre-selected as a natural scent source. Each internal compartment is provided passages permitting permeation of scents into the space where the clothing and gear are located, while preventing soiling contact with the scent source materials and the clothing articles. Each compartment includes a hinged portion such that source material may be changed or refreshed. Typically, the container is in the form of a transportable trunk with a lid pivoted on a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Wayne Himes
  • Patent number: 6785980
    Abstract: A compressed air supply system includes a compressor and an air dryer connected to receive compressed air from the compressor. The dryer includes a desiccant bed through which the compressed air flows to provide dry compressed air, and a blow-through valve operable to connect the desiccant bed to atmosphere. Secondary and primary reservoirs located remotely from the dryer are connected to receive dry compressed air from the dryer. Control components integral with the dryer are provided for controlling a charging operation by controlling air flow from the compressor through the dryer for charging the primary and secondary reservoirs with dry compressed air. The control components also control a purging operation by controlling air flow from the secondary reservoir through the dryer desiccant bed and through the blow-through valve to atmosphere in order to purge the dryer, while maintaining an initial air pressure within the primary reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Koelzer
  • Publication number: 20040168339
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for drying a stack of lumber, wherein the dry comprises a condensation collection device for collecting liquid in the chamber interior space; and an evaporation system for evaporating collected liquid from the chamber interior space. Process water or effluent discharge from the drying process is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: C. Wayne Roberts, Harold Wayne Hankins, Karl H. Grubb, Joel S. Bridges, David E. Miles, Michael L. Miles
  • Publication number: 20040159004
    Abstract: Treatment apparatus and a process for thermal desorption of hydrocarbon contaminants from excavated soil provides efficient contaminant removal by handling the soil in a thermally conductive treatment vessel that fits within an insulated treatment chamber. The soil is treated in this chamber with fresh air that is dried and electrically heated prior to contacting the treatment vessel. The dry air passes through the soil and the air mixed with contaminants is withdrawn from the chamber through piping in the treatment vessel. Excavating the soil directly into the treatment vessel allows the treated soil to be returned to the final disposition site in the same vessel, minimizing soil handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Patrick Richard Brady, John Lee Brady
  • Patent number: 6772535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating water vapor or humidity, useful in a variety of applications, including a wood drying kiln. The apparatus may contain a hydrophilic disk, a water supply structure that supplies water so that the water is deposited on the hydrophilic disk, and a motor for rotating the disk at a speed sufficiently high so that water which is deposited on the disk is caused to leave the disk in the form of a mist of particles or droplets which are sufficiently small to evaporate rapidly to generate the water vapor. The disk may be made hydrophilic by covering with a fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Koslow Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Evan E. Koslow
  • Publication number: 20040143987
    Abstract: The invention provides drying apparatus (10; 100; 200; 300) comprising a first chamber (32; 132; 232; 332) for receiving articles to be dried and having an outlet (38; 138; 238), a second chamber (26;126; 226;326) having an outlet (28a; 128; 228; 328), and a fan (40; 140; 240; 340) having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet communicating with the outlet (38; 138; 238) of the first chamber (32; 132; 232; 332) and the fan outlet communicating with the second chamber (26;126; 226; 326), the apparatus (10; 100; 200; 300) further comprising a vacuum pump (30; 130; 230; 330) communicating with the outlet (28a; 128; 228; 328) of the second chamber (26;126; 226; 326), the arrangement being such that transfer of thermal energy can take place between the first and second chambers (32, 26; 132,126; 232, 226; 332, 326).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Neil William Phillips
  • Patent number: 6757989
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a semiconductor substrate includes a chamber having a processing bath and a cover, a liquid flow system for supplying a liquid flow into the processing bath so as to clean the substrate and for draining a liquid from the processing bath, a gas distributor for spraying a gas for drying the substrate, and decompression means for exhausting air in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: DNS Korea, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Yong Bae, Chang-Ro Yoon, Pyeng-Jae Park
  • Patent number: 6748669
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a drying machine (10) comprising a frame structure (12), means for propelling air, and means for directing air. In this embodiment the drying machine (10) includes a flexible skirt (14) mounted about a perimeter of the frame structure (12). The frame structure (12) is a wing-type platform which includes an underlying cavity (16) which is substantially enclosed by the flexible skirt (14) to permit hovering of the frame structure (12). The propelling means includes a motor (18) which is operatively coupled to a fan (20) via a gearbox (22). The frame structure (12) is fabricated so as to define a duct (32) about the propeller (20) and the duct (32) provides a flow of air to both a main flow passage (34) and an auxiliary flow passage (36) which are separated by a dividing wall or splitter plate (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen Peter Burgess
  • Publication number: 20040107595
    Abstract: There is provided a drier which can shorten drying time of an article to be dried to greatly reduce the amount of energy consumption. A refrigerant circuit is disposed, which is constituted by sequentially installing and connecting a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion valve and an evaporator in an annular shape. A blower is disposed, which circulates air in a drying chamber to exchange heat with the gas cooler and the evaporator. Moisture contained in the air which dries the article contained in the drying chamber is condensed to be discarded by the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichiro Kamimura, Tetsuya Masuda
  • Patent number: 6745496
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for drying and de-wrinkling an article of clothing, which includes a housing having an upper compartment, a lower compartment, and a dividing wall separating the compartments. An exhaust hole is disposed through one side of the upper compartment of the housing, and an intake hole and an outflow hole are disposed through the dividing wall. A mechanical assembly is disposed within the upper compartment and includes a fan, heater, thermostat and humidity sensor. An exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the exhaust hole and is adapted to control a flow of air through the exhaust hole in the side of the housing. A control system is disposed within the upper compartment and accepts an input from a user, a temperature input, and a humidity input, and controls the heater, the fan and the exhaust fan based upon the temperature input and the humidity input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony Cassella
  • Publication number: 20040103554
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dryer enabling to switch a starting coil and a driving coil more simply. The present invention includes a cabinet, a drum, a heater, a converting switch, and a centrifugal switch. The centrifugal switch includes a body connected to a shaft of the motor to have loading recesses at an outside, a pair of balance weights having supports wherein one ends of the supports are inserted in the loading recesses, respectively, a pair of the balance weights revolving centering on the inserted one ends to be folded/unfolded, a plate provided to rear ends of the balance weights, and a return spring having both ends hooked on hanging portions of the balance weights to be fixed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Chul Bang
  • Patent number: 6742284
    Abstract: The invention is a drying system and a method for its use, the drying system having a container containing a product to be dried and a dryer. The dryer includes an inlet for providing the drying air, a drying air pathway, and a furnace for heating the drying air. The drying air flows through a supply route to the container, where the drying air dries the product and is converted into a return air. The return air flows through a return route back to the dryer. The return air flows through a return air pathway and a heat exchanger which intersects the return air pathway and the drying air pathway. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the return air to the drying air. The return air is exhausted through an outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a tobacco barn and the product is tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Dryer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 6735884
    Abstract: A dryer system for automated car wash systems includes a new and improved air dryer having a fan and a rotatable nozzle at its discharge end with the nozzle orientation being controlled by a rotary actuator whose drive shaft is mounted on the axis of rotation of the nozzle. A method of using the blowers includes the use of two or more blowers that are positioned above the vehicle and oriented so the streams of concentrated air complement each other in moving liquid particles on the vehicle toward the side or end of the vehicle where they drop from the lower edges of the sides and ends of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Mark VII Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Fratello, Dennis R. McCadden, Thanh Tran
  • Patent number: 6732446
    Abstract: A device for rapidly cooling a semiconductor wafer test/transfer machine and which includes a body which is provided with an interior gas passage one end of which is connected to a source of clean, dry air or other gas by a tubing. In typical application, the body is rested on the cover of a semiconductor wafer test or transfer machine, typically above or adjacent to the chuck or other wafer holder of the machine, with the other end of the gas passage in contact with the cover. The air or gas flowing through the gas passage impinges against the machine cover and rapidly cools the chuck or other wafer holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Pao-Kun Liao, Wen-Tsai Su
  • Patent number: 6732454
    Abstract: A system for removing from a particle mass a liquid permeating the particle mass includes a vaporizing stage having a space wherein the pressure is less than the pressure of the particle mass. As the particle mass enters the vaporizing stage, the lower pressure causes much of the liquid to vaporize. Once vaporized, the vapor can be removed with a pump. A first stripping stage receives the particle mass from the first stage at a first particle inlet port and discharges the particle mass at a first particle outlet port. A first stripping gas inlet near the first particle outlet port of the first stripping stage injects an inert stripping gas into the particle mass. The inert gas mixes with remaining elements of the liquid and any entrained gas formed by the liquid, and the mixture is discharged at a gas outlet near the first particle outlet port. A second stripping stage having construction and operation different from the first stripping stage may receive the particle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Crown Iron Works Company
    Inventors: George E. Anderson, Daniel D. Anderson, Richard W. Ozer, Floyd C. Teeter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6729041
    Abstract: This substrate processing apparatus supplies wafers W accommodated in a closed processing container 10 with ozone gas and steam for processing the wafers W. The apparatus includes an ozone-gas generator 40 for supplying the ozone gas into the processing container 10, a steam generator 30 for supplying the steam into the processing container 10 and a steam nozzle 35 arranged in the processing container 10 and connected to the steam generator 30. The steam nozzle 35 is equipped with a nozzle body 35a having a plurality of steam ejecting orifices 35f formed at appropriate intervals and a heater 35h for preventing dewdrops of the steam from being produced in the nozzle body 35a. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the formation of dewdrops of solvent steam, which may produce origins of particles in the closed processing container, unevenness in cleaning (etching), etc., and also possible to improve the processing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Shindo, Tadashi Iino
  • Publication number: 20040045184
    Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama
  • Publication number: 20040031168
    Abstract: The substrate drying apparatus has a substrate processing vessel 1, a substrate supporting section for supporting plural substrates 2 in a standing condition and lined up condition in the interior of the substrate processing vessel 1, fluid reservoir section 3 for drying provided at an upward predetermined position of the substrate processing vessel 1, a first inert gas supplying section 4 for blowing inert gas against the drying fluid 6 pooled in the fluid reservoir section 3 for drying so as to generate droplet of the drying fluid, and for guiding the droplet towards the center of the substrate processing vessel 1, and a second inert gas supplying section 5 for supplying inert gas vertically and downwardly so as to supply the generated droplet of the drying fluid towards the substrates 2, consequently safety is improved without providing special safety device, and sufficient amount of drying fluid is supplied to the dipping boundary face of the substrate and the cleaning liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Takazo Sotojima, Norio Maeda
  • Patent number: 6691430
    Abstract: Liquid for prevention of substrate drying is supplied into a processing chamber so that a pool of the liquid is created as an anti-drying atmosphere in advance inside a processing chamber, and substrates, as they are dipped in the pool, are kept on stand-by in a substrate board. In this manner, air drying of the substrates which are kept on stand-by is prevented. When the number of the substrates in the substrate board reaches a certain number, the anti-drying atmosphere is removed from the processing chamber, which is followed by introduction of an SCF into the processing chamber and supercritical drying (high pressure drying) of all of the plurality of substrates inside the processing chamber, namely, batch supercritical drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimitsugu Saito, Yusuke Muraoka, Ryuji Kitakado, Takashi Miyake, Tomomi Iwata, Ikuo Mizobata
  • Publication number: 20040025365
    Abstract: An animal dryer comprises an animal receiving chamber, a door member and an air providing member. The animal receiving chamber includes a first end portion, a second end portion and at least three side portions. The second end portion is disposed opposite the first end portion. The door member is disposed within one of the first or second end portions of the animal receiving chamber. The air providing member is either attached to one of the first or second end portions of the animal receiving chamber or disposed around the outside of at least one of the side portions of the animal receiving chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Connie J. Jewell
  • Publication number: 20040020071
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil removing device for cleaning pipes that are present in the form of coils (13). Same device comprises a furnace that accommodates and heats the pipes, with or without associated cooling zone, and a gas guiding device (15, 16′) for feeding a scavenging gas to or removing it from the pipes. Said gas guiding device is provided with means for detachably and sealingly establish a link with a gas feed line and a gas discharge line. The aim of the invention is to configure the link with the pipes in as easy and reliable a manner as possible. For this purpose, the device is configured in such a manner that both ends of every pipe are separately connected to one and the same connecting head (4) that has a gas inlet (5) and a gas outlet opening the axially aligned therewith. The end (7) of the gas feed line and the end (8) of the gas discharge line are opposite each other and can be displaced along with the gas inlet opening and/or the gas outlet opening while sealingly connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Willi Johnen, Glynn Jones
  • Patent number: 6684528
    Abstract: A paint drying system for drying a painted body (4), such as a painted motor vehicle, includes a spraybooth (1) having an enclosure (2) through which air flows from an air inlet (6) to an air outlet (16, 18). The spraybooth (1) may also have columns of air jets (34) mounted in respective corners of the enclosure (2) to direct air obliquely at surfaces of the vehicle body (4). The system includes ionization members (33) for electrically charging this air supply. In a preferred embodiment the air is negatively charged by ionization members comprising one or elongate rods (33) mounted parallel with the columns of air jets (34). The spraybooth (2) may also have a control system (210) for controlling the paint drying system (4). The control system (210) has user-operable controls (234) to pre-select a predetermined parameter/combination of parameters and thus control the characteristics of a respective drying stage or cycle which parameters, e.g. temperature, vary with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Neil Morrison
  • Patent number: 6684523
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an apparatus for removing particles from a substrate surface, wherein the apparatus includes a substrate support member configured to support a substrate thereon, and a broadband actuator in mechanical communication with the substrate support member. Additionally, an air knife assembly may be positioned proximate a perimeter of the substrate surface, and is configured to deliver a laminar stream of air across the substrate surface in order to remove the dislodged contamination particles therefrom. Alternatively, a plasma source may be used to remove dislodged particles from the area proximate the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Brad Bailey, Reginald W. Hunter, Steven Gianoulakis
  • Patent number: 6684529
    Abstract: A manually operated vehicle blow-drying device having a swingable overhead boom and an air supply hose extending down from a distal end of the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: James T. Morris, Dennis D. Evans, Duane A. Kent
  • Publication number: 20040006887
    Abstract: The present invention provides:
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Maurice Ladre, Serge Le Cocq, Gerard Limeuil
  • Patent number: 6668468
    Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and directing member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and directing member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and directing member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Graphic Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 6662467
    Abstract: A portable hand truck mounted drying assembly for the drying of an elevated enclosed space which has been subjected to flooding, the drying assembly having an inlet path for the introduction of ambient air into the enclosed space, the ambient air being preheated in a heat exchanger by moisture laden air removed from the enclosed space, the preheated ambient air being subjected to further heating before introduction into the enclosed space, the portable hand truck mounted unit being positioned within the enclosed space and having a plurality of conduits in communication with the enclosed space for the introduction of dry heated air and the removal of moisture laden air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventors: Charles S. Cressy, Michael Tufariello
  • Patent number: 6655041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller belt drier. The drying of panel-shaped products often requires the drier to have considerable construction lengths in order to achieve a high capacity. Long roller belt dryers, which are usually equipped with chain drives and a motor for each chain, present the problem that very strong chains are required to transmit the necessary driving forces. When the drier reaches a certain length, it is no longer possible to provide chains that are able to accommodate these forces. According to known solutions, a chain is divided and the drives are located in the centre of the drier. This causes problem s in terms of sealing the drier, as well as extra expense for the driving and tension station. The aim of the invention is to create a drier which has a driving and tension system that is structurally simple and economical even for considerable construction lengths. A chain is equipped with two drives (15, 23), the second drive (23) being integrated in a tension device (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Babcock-BSH GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schmidt, Gerhard Lehn, Bernd Schneider
  • Patent number: 6652274
    Abstract: Fans circulate heated air which is introduced from nozzles defining discharge axes that are respectively directed generally parallel to, yet slightly toward, the rotational axes of the fans. The fans operate in first and second modes to respectively force flow in opposite first and second directions. Heated air is introduced from the nozzles at the high-pressure sides of the fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Robert T. Nagel, John Craig Holbert
  • Publication number: 20030213143
    Abstract: A gas conduit for a load lock chamber. The gas conduit connects to a gas source to introduce gas from the gas source into the load lock chamber of semiconductor equipment. The structure includes a filter mounted on the top surface of the load lock chamber, a pressure limitative device to maintain a preset pressure of gas source, and a gas inlet device including an inlet end connected to the pressure limitative device and an outlet end connected to the filter, wherein the gas inlet device introduces gas from the gas source into the load lock chamber with its maximum flow rate when breaching the vacuum therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Shih, Wei-Chen Chen, C.C. Luo, Hsin-Cheng Liu, Andy Lin
  • Patent number: 6649879
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for homogenizing the energy being supplied to products being cooked. The product is cooked in a cooking chamber of the apparatus on at least one receptacle or container, such as a baking tray or grill. The cooking chamber atmosphere is conducted over the container essentially along a plurality of flow paths which extend essentially parallel in relation to one another and the direction of the flow paths is periodically reversed so as to obtain a uniform heating of the products being cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Rational Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Kohlstrung
  • Publication number: 20030192196
    Abstract: A compact ultraviolet dryer adapted to be conveniently carried by a user and to enable a user to easily and quickly repair a spinning rod is disclosed. The compact ultraviolet dryer includes a chamber housing, made from material which does not allow ultraviolet rays to be transmitted therethrough, and shaped into a box form, the chamber housing including side walls having retaining cuts for holding a spinning rod, a cover plate openably attached to a front face of the chamber housing, an ultraviolet lamp provided in the chamber housing to irradiate ultraviolet rays to the spinning rod received in the chamber housing, and a ballast for supplying the ultraviolet lamp with stable current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Kun Taek Bae
  • Patent number: 6631567
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for the removal of moisture from particulized, solid food products, comprising; a housing (9); a perforated plate (2), creating two chambers (3, 4) in the housing (1), gas-inlets (5, 6), present below the perforated plate (2); an outlet (8) in the perforated plate (2), provided with a removable plug (9); heating means (15, 18) for the gases. The invention further concerns a process for the removal of moisture from solid, small particles, by subjecting these particles, while in an annular, fluidized bed to a heat treatment for a specific time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV
    Inventor: Sander ten Have
  • Publication number: 20030182818
    Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated and dried fibers. In accordance with the process a feed pulp is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael David Vrbanac, Ramon Charles Dezutter, Brian Wester, Michael James Yancey
  • Patent number: 6625900
    Abstract: A hearing aid drying device for receiving and heat-drying one or more hearing aids. The device includes an electrical outlet-supported and electrically actuated wall light having a base with electrical contacts for operative engagement into an electrical outlet and an electric light bulb operatively supported in the base. A support member is connected to the base and a container is connected to the support member in a position directly above and in close proximity to the light bulb. The container preferably includes a closeable lid and defines an interior volume adapted to receive at least one hearing aid placed therein whereby moisture in the hearing aid accumulated. during use thereof is heated sufficiently by the light bulb to cause the moisture to evaporate. Apertures formed through the lid and bottom of the container facilitate circulation of heated air through the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Stewart W. Tobias
  • Patent number: 6622399
    Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention relates use of a warm and dry atmosphere in electronic component storage areas. The warm and dry atmosphere provides the benefit of eliminating the baking process and other moisture management issues by removing moisture from the components. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a component storage system includes an enclosed component storage area and a dry gas delivery system for delivery of a dry gas to the storage area to prevent moisture from being absorbed by the components, and a temperature control system for controlling a temperature of the dry gas to about 10° C. to about 60° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: l'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a' Directoire et Conseil de Sureveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide America, L.P.
    Inventors: Martin Theriault, Kristen Boyce, Stephane Rabia
  • Publication number: 20030172545
    Abstract: A device for sanitizing moisture containing cleaning implements is provided and includes a first and second heatable plate, a hinge for moving the first heatable plate relative to the second heatable plate, and heating elements positioned with respect to the first and second heatable plates to provide heat to the first and second heatable plates respectively. During operation of the device the heatable plates are heated and steam is generated by the cleaning implement which acts to sanitize the heating implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Marc L. Vitantonio, John R. Nottingham, John W. Spirk
  • Patent number: 6615508
    Abstract: A floor drying system that includes a housing have rollable wheels and a combination heater/blower mechanism for generating a heated air flow wherein ambient temperature air flow caused to enter the housing from the top, heated within the housing and forced to exit the housing through the four sides and bottom; the heated air exiting at angles directed toward the floor upon which the housing is supported; the top of the housing being provided with a caution strobe light which emits a strobe light action when the system is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rosendo Valle
  • Patent number: 6615510
    Abstract: Liquid is removed from wafers for drying a wafer that has been wet in a liquid bath. The wafer and the bath are separated at a controlled rate as the wafer is positioned in a gas-filled volume. The controlled rate is generally not less than the maximum rate at which a meniscus will form between the liquid bath and the surface of the wafer when the liquid bath and the wafer are separated. The gas-filled volume is defined by a hot chamber that continuously transfers thermal energy to the wafer in the gas-filled volume. Hot gas directed into the volume and across the wafer and out of the volume continuously transfers thermal energy to the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Lam Research Corporation, Oliver Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver David Jones, Kenneth C. McMahon, Jonathan E. Borkowski, Scott Petersen, Donald E. Stephens, Yassin Mehmandoust, James M. Olivas
  • Publication number: 20030163932
    Abstract: Sequentially carried out are: a sealing-agent applying step of applying a sealing agent to a predetermined portion of a vehicle body; a coating step of applying a coating material to the vehicle body after the sealing-agent applying step; and a baking step of baking the coating material to the vehicle body after the coating step. Further, a sealing-agent drying step of drying the sealing agent by heating only the predetermined portion of the vehicle body is carried out between the sealing-agent applying step and the coating step. Thus, the sealing agent applied partially to the vehicle body can be dried with a high thermal efficiency in the process of forming a coating on the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Samekawa, Yuji Itou, Hideyuki Sawaki, Minoru Suzuki, Yasuhiro Kume
  • Publication number: 20030154621
    Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and discharging member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and discharging member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and discharging member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Graphic Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Publication number: 20030145482
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally de-coating and/or drying coated and/or contaminated materials comprises a support and an oven (10) pivotally mounted to the support. The oven has charging portion (12) for receiving material to be treated and a changeover portion (14). Incorporated within the changeover portion is a heat treatment chamber (16) through which a stream of hot gasses (15) can be passed. The oven is pivotally moveable between a first position in which the changeover portion is higher than the charging portion and a second position in which the charging portion is higher than the changeover portion. The arrangement is such that the oven can be repeatedly moved between the first and second positions so that material within the oven falls from one portion to the other portion, passing through the stream of hot gasses in the heat treatment chamber. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Ophneil Henry Perry, Rifat Alchalabi
  • Publication number: 20030140516
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating workpieces comprises a treatment chamber enclosing a treatment zone for workpieces. A conveyor guides workpieces through the chamber. Said conveyor comprises drive elements located outside the chamber, and a carrier arm, extending through a slot along the conveyor's path of motion, in a wall of the chamber. A sealing arrangement comprises a first set of spring strips, which overlap laterally and are attached on one side of the slot to the wall, and an opposing second set of spring strips attached on the other side of the slot to the wall. In a resting position, the end zones of the spring strips overlap. Two deflecting devices, which move together with the carrier arm by the conveyor, open the sealing arrangement proximate the carrier arm by resiliently bending apart the spring strips. After passage of the carrier arm, the spring strips return to a sealing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Kersten Link, Wolfgang Renner
  • Publication number: 20030140515
    Abstract: A hot air drying apparatus for noodles which makes possible steady production of high quality instant noodles by blowing hot air at an optimal velocity and in an optimal flow rate all over noodle ribbons to be dried in a short period of time and thereby makes a texture of noodle ribbons uniform and fine is to be provided. In a hot air drying apparatus, a conveyor runs from one end of a lengthwise direction of this apparatus to the other, and noodle ribbons carried from a preceding step riding on this conveyor move within an apparatus at a prescribed speed. The apparatus includes a plurality of drying chambers D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and so forth into which it is divided in the lengthwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Hatsuo Sakurazawa
  • Patent number: 6598313
    Abstract: The invention produces equipment for drying bales of forage comprising: at least one unit for generating hot air (30) channeled onto at least one pair of treatment units (A, B) stack one over the other, each having a rectangular bottom chamber (2, 5) and top chamber (4, 6), kept apart by spacing devices (40, 41; 60, 61; 103, 104) supporting the top chamber above the bottom chamber, and where one or more telescopic columns (A1, A2, A3; B1, B2, B3) set between the bottom chamber and the top chamber transfer the hot air from the bottom chamber to the top one. The bales are set in each treatment unit between the bottom chamber (2, 5) and the top chamber (4, 6) stacked in two layers so that they can be dried by the countercurrent flow of hot air. One or more of the telescopic columns (A3; A1, A2) is provided with shutoff dampers (20; 101, 102) suited to opening/closing the air flow from the bottom treatment unit (A) to the top treatment unit (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Clim.Air. 50 Srl
    Inventor: Giovanni Beltrame
  • Publication number: 20030131492
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a vessel having a first end and a second end. A first cap is releasably mounted on the first end. A second cap is releasably mounted on the second end. The vessel is configured to prevent crushing and promote ventilating thereof. The first cap and/or second cap may have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. A fan may be fixed relative to, for ventilating, the vessel. The may be mounted on a cap. The fan may be energizable with a battery. A switch may provide for selectably supplying energy to the fan. If a fan is provided, a barrier may be disposed in the vessel configured to protect an object in the vessel from the fan. The barrier should have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. The invention may include a handle connected to, for carrying, the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis J. Zuccaro
  • Publication number: 20030121173
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a semiconductor substrate includes a chamber having a processing bath and a cover, a liquid flow system for supplying a liquid flow into the processing bath so as to clean the substrate and for draining a liquid from the processing bath, a gas distributor for spraying a gas for drying the substrate, and decompression means for exhausting air in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: DNS KOREA CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jeong Yong Bae, Chang-Ro Yoon, Pyeng-Jae Park
  • Publication number: 20030097762
    Abstract: A regenerative dehumidifier includes: a housing having perforations formed through the housing for directing moisture-laden (or moisture-free) air therein (or therefrom), a moisture-absorbable dehydrating agent including silica gel filled in the housing for absorbing moisture as laden in the air entering the housing for dehumidification or dehydration, and a heating device sandwiched in a first layer and a second layer of the dehydrating agent disposed on opposite sides of the heating device for heating the moisture-saturated dehydrating agent for vaporizing water from the dehydrating agent in order for regenerating the water-absorbed dehydrating agent for its re-use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Tsang-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 6564469
    Abstract: A device for performing surface treatment on semiconductor wafers has a cassette (1) for accommodating a plurality of wafers (5) in its interior (3); the wafers (5) are aligned in a first row. The wafer surfaces (51) are essentially in parallel with each other. The cassette (1) has a side-wall (10) which can be arranged essentially perpendicular with respect to the wafer surfaces (51); the side-wall (10) has openings (111′-145′) on its face (101) which is directed to the wafers (5), the openings (111′-145′) are aligned in second rows, the second rows are essentially parallel to the first row; the openings (111′-114′) are connected to respective supply channels (11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) for transporting a surface treatment medium which is fed to one (15′) of these supply channels via a feeding point (FP). The cross-section of the openings (111′-145′) is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignees: Motorola, Inc., Semiconductor 300 GmbH & Co. KG, Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mohamad Jahanbani, Stefan Ruemmelin, Ronald Hoyer