With Two Or More Nondrying Means Patents (Class 34/61)
  • Patent number: 10782067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new device, a system and a method for both cooking and drying or removing the water phase from material. The device of the present invention has a large area for heat exchange and scrapers which stir the material in the container rather than transferring it around in circles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: HEDINN HF.
    Inventor: Gunnar Palsson
  • Patent number: 10500566
    Abstract: A system and device for drying and deodorizing coolers includes a core layer including a desiccant and a deodorizer encased within a liquid resistant vapor barrier material. The device also includes a first super absorbent layer including a super absorbent polymer encased within a liquid permeable fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FAZ TOO, LLC
    Inventor: Ron Lesseraux
  • Patent number: 8914989
    Abstract: A clothes dryer and method for forming and supplying a treating chemistry solution to a laundry load located in the treating chamber of the clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kaustav Ghosh, Thomas A. Latack, Robert J. Pinkowski, Brian K. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20140245803
    Abstract: A granulation method may include feeding a graded powder into a granulator. The powder may have a particle size distribution (PSD) of at least 98%-115 mesh and at most 50%-200 mesh. The powder may have a PSD of at least 98% less than or equal to 4.2% of a median product particle size and at most 50% less than or equal to 2.5% of the median product particle size. The powder may have a PSD of between 40% and 80% between 3% and 6% of the median product particle size, between 5% and 30% between 2% and 4% of the median product particle size, and between 10% and 40% between 1% and 3% of the median product particle size. A liquid binder may be fed into the granulator. Wet granules may be discharged from the granulator and may have a moisture content of between 7% and 12%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Phillip Forsythe, Christopher Jones, Joshua Green
  • Publication number: 20140190031
    Abstract: A crushing drying device includes an object-to-be-treated supply port from which an object is supplied into a main body, a crushing portion for crushing the object by hammers rotated on a drive shaft, and a classifying portion having a space for circulating the object to be treated at a position away from the crushing portion, the crushing portion has a dry gas supply port from which the heated air is supplied in a predetermined direction along an inner surface of the device main body, and the classifying portion has discharge portions from which the crushed object is discharged together with the heated air, and deviation plates for changing a flow of the object transferred to the classifying portion, so that the crushing drying device is one machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kinki
    Inventors: Naoya Wada, Katsu Matsumoto, Hiroaki Kajiyama, Masuyuki Mieda, Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Natsuki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8533974
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems that are used for reclaiming components of wellbore cuttings material. In one illustrative embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes, among other things, a dryer that is adapted to receive a drill cuttings mixture that includes drilling fluid and cuttings material, the dryer being further adapted to treat the drill cuttings mixture by drying the cuttings material below a preselected moisture content level. The system also includes a moisture sensor that is adapted to sense a moisture content of the cuttings material after it is dried by the dryer, and a cuttings reinjection system that is adapted to reinject the dried cuttings material into a well bore. Additionally, the system includes a conveyor system that is adapted to convey the dried cuttings material to the cuttings reinjection system, wherein the conveyor system includes, among other things, a positive pressure pneumatic conveying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20120266485
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a fine-grained fuel from solid or paste-like raw energy materials by torrefaction. The apparatus including an impact reactor having a rotor and impact elements which is temperature resistant up to 350 degrees Celsius, a feed device for hot circulation gas in the lower region of the impact reactor, a feed device for solid or paste-like raw energy materials in the head region of the impact reactor. The apparatus further including at least one withdrawal device for a gas flow having comminuted and torrefacted raw energy particles and a separation and withdrawal device for crushed and torrefacted raw energy particles from the gas flow taken out of the impact reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicants: PROACTOR SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGSGMBH, THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Abraham, Stefan Hamel, Ralf Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20120201900
    Abstract: A suspension of gas-filled microbubbles can be synthesized by sonicating a lipid solution and a first gas in a reaction volume. The resulting microbubble suspension can be stored for later use, for example, for infusion into a patient for gas delivery thereto. Various techniques can improve the shelf life of the microbubbles. For example, the microbubble suspension can be freeze-dried to remove water and the first gas therefrom while leaving the microbubble shells intact. In an alternative, the microbubble suspension can be frozen. In still another alternative, the microbubble suspension can be formed with a first gas that has a low solubility, thereby creating microbubbles with increased stability. Prior to use, the microbubble suspension can be prepared by exchanging the gas in the microbubble cores, rehydrating, and/or raising the temperature of the stored microbubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Mark A. Borden, Edward J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8037617
    Abstract: A soil remediation apparatus for treating contaminated soil comprises an air deck unit and a remediation unit. The air deck unit comprises an enclosure with a contaminated soil inlet and a remediated soil outlet; at least one conveyor located inside the enclosure and operable to convey soil from the enclosure inlet to the enclosure outlet; and contaminated air extraction means having an inlet in fluid communication with the enclosure and an outlet, and operable to extract air from the air deck unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Russell Gary Kossowan
  • Publication number: 20100122470
    Abstract: A dehumidifier is used for restoring a water damaged electronic device. The dehumidifier comprises a sealable watertight container having a wall with an inside surface. The container has an interior chamber, and an open end. The open end has a releasable seal. The wall has an anti-static property, which prevents electrostatic charges from damaging the electronic device. The wall is a moisture barrier. The interior chamber is large enough to receive the electronic device. A desiccant material is placed within a water vapor-permeable enclosure, which is disposed within the interior chamber. The desiccant material is a hydrophilic material such as silica gel, calcium carbonate, molecular sieve, activated clay, or alumina. The container wall is generally transparent. A humidity indicator is placed within the interior chamber. An optional heater is placed within the interior chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Bradley C. Davis, Gregory Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20100115786
    Abstract: A method and system for drying a water containing substance, such as manure, into a single dry product, wherein an airflow is conditioned, in order for the airflow to be able to take up moisture, and wherein a substance/airflow interface is provided, in order to allow the air to take up moisture from the substance at the interface to thereby dry the substance, wherein the method comprises the steps of heating the airflow, separating the substance in a relatively solid fraction and a liquid, using the relatively solid fraction to create a first, static substance/airflow interface, using the liquid fraction to create a second, dynamic substance/airflow interface, guiding the airflow to the first substance/airflow interface to dry the relatively solid fraction of the water containing substance, and thereafter guiding the airflow to the second substance/airflow interface to pre-dry the liquid fraction of the water containing substance, mixing the pre-dried liquid fraction with water containing substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Gÿsbert Docters Van Leeuwen
  • Publication number: 20080127508
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a chamber, and a cleaning-liquid supply unit that supplies a cleaning liquid containing hydrofluoro ether onto a substrate to be processed placed in the chamber. In the chamber, there is further disposed a gas supply unit that supplies into the chamber a gas for preventing moisture from being adhered to a substrate to be processed, when a cleaning liquid containing hydrofluoro ether is supplied onto the substrate to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroki Ohno, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7322122
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for curing a coated fiber, comprising either two fiber coating curing stages separated by a cooling stage, or two fiber coating curing stages separated by a distinct time interval, or both. One of the two fiber coating curing stages responds to the coated fiber, and provides a partially cured fiber coating. The other of the two fiber coating curing stages responds to the partially cured coated fiber for further curing the coating of the fiber. In one embodiment of the invention, a cooling stage is placed between the two curing stages, while in the other the curing stages are placed a set distance apart such that polymerization of the coating initiated by the first curing stage has time to complete prior to the coating being irradiated by the second curing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Bob Overton, Ling Li
  • Patent number: 7213347
    Abstract: Apparatus for vaporization of powdered or granular material, includes a container for holding powdered or granular material having at least one component; a vaporization structure; and a positive displacement mechanism spaced from the vaporization structure defining a chamber for receiving powdered or granular material from the container, and delivering such powdered or granular material to the vaporization structure, the positive displacement mechanism defining an orifice for delivering powdered or granular material from the chamber to the vaporization structure, an actuable member movable in first and section directions into the orifice and back from the orifice to be spaced therefrom for driving powdered or granular material from the chamber through the orifice for delivery to the vaporization structure and a vibratory diaphragm for fluidized material in the chamber between the actuable member and the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michael Long
  • Patent number: 7204911
    Abstract: A microcavity-forming system for making microcavities in a wire (especially a tungsten filament wire). The system has a coating station receiving the wire and applying a polymer coating to the wire. A mask-forming station receives the polymer-coated wire and blows moist air over it to form air bubbles which result in holes in the polymer coating, thereby creating a mask. An etching station receives the wire, as coated with the polymer mask, from the mask-forming station and etches the wire through the holes in the polymer mask to form microcavities in the wire. A stripping station receives the wire from the etching station and removes the polymer mask from the wire, leaving the wire with microcavities. Processes of forming microcavities in a wire and, more generally, of making an etching mask having arrays of holes and conforming to substantially any surface, including an arbitrary curved surface, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinbing Liu
  • Patent number: 7165340
    Abstract: Apparatus for vaporization of powdered material, includes one or more containers each containing possibly distinct powdered materials each having at least one component; a structure for fluidizing the powdered material in each container; a vaporization zone that is thermally isolated from at least one of the containers; a transporting structure for receiving fluidized powdered material from each container and delivering such fluidized powdered materials to the vaporization zone; and vaporizing the delivered powdered materials at the vaporization zone by applying heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael Long, Bruce E. Koppe, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 7047984
    Abstract: A cleaning device for use in the production of semiconductor components comprises two feed devices with which a fluid medium is guided across a respective surface of an object to be cleaned so that different faces of the object are simultaneously cleaned. At least two gas feeding devices, having one means each for directing a gas flow onto the surface of the object to be cleaned, open into a cleaning chamber supplying a pressurized cleaning gas. At least two extraction means are connected to the outside of the cleaning chamber for discharging the gas fed to the cleaning chamber. The object can be introduced into the cleaning chamber through at least one gap. At least two ionization means are used to ionize the gas and the particles that are present in the cleaning chamber. One ionization means each is mounted between a direction means and an extraction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jakob Blattner, Rudy Federici
  • Patent number: 7000333
    Abstract: A system for recovering nutrients from animal byproducts includes a grinder, a separator, and a dehydrator. The grinder is adapted to reduce the animal byproduct into smaller particles. The separator is adapted to separate the animal byproduct into water, oil and solids. The dehydrator is adapted to dry the solid material of the animal byproduct. A method for recovering nutrients from animal byproducts includes grinding animal byproduct material, separating protein from the animal byproduct material to produce a meal, and drying the meal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ABC, LLC
    Inventors: Alexis A. Yarem, legal representative, Robert J. Yarem, deceased
  • Patent number: 6928747
    Abstract: A method and a device for decorating objects made of a material such as glass or metal, which includes coating at least part of the surface of the objects with a substance adapted to form patterns during polymerization. The method also includes drying and dusting the objects by blowing; conditioning the objects so as to place them in specific physical conditions, for a certain time interval; applying, on the surface of each of the objects, the polymerizable substance; and placing the objects in an environment suitable for their polymerization by drying while forming the desired patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sarl LB de la Rosiere
    Inventor: Fabien Lecart
  • Patent number: 6922908
    Abstract: A dryer is constructed and arranged to dry vegetable product, such as coffee beans. The dryer includes a thermal collector that is constructed and arranged to convert solar energy to heat energy, a heat transfer system, and a housing that defines a drying chamber. The thermal collector is positioned toward a light source and is thermally connected to the heat transfer system. The heat transfer system is also in thermal communication with the drying chamber. Therefore heat is able to move from the thermal collector to the drying chamber. Convective forces, or flow, can be used to move air inside the drying chamber, but photovoltaic energy could also be used to enhance this effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Raul Raudales
  • Patent number: 6883251
    Abstract: A livestock cooling system creates an environment for protecting the health and productivity of animals, particularly dairy cows. One or more cooling fans are connected to programmable oscillation means, enabling the herds man to program fan oscillation according to the location of the livestock. Water is injected under high pressure into the air stream of the fans to create a fog. The system is also programmable according to various environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind velocity. The pressure and volume of the injected water are programmable and may be adjusted by the controller according to the observed environmental conditions. The disclosed system provides a cool and healthy environment for livestock, where the environment is programmed to track the animals according to the time of day, location of the animals and the location of shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventors: Michael E. Terrell, Frank Gilbert Marks
  • Patent number: 6772536
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the physical strength and ability of a solid sample, to resist breakdown into fines after repeated cycles of hydration and regeneration of temperatures in excess of 100° C. The test samples are evaluated using an accelerated degradation apparatus that subjects the sample to a predetermined number of timed cycles of wetting/drying under heat and vacuum, and the weight-percent of any fines produced by the degradation of the sample are measured and recorded after a prescribed number of cycles. Specific values are used for predicting potential useful service life, in years of samples from different commercial manufacturers of the same class of product; the resulting data can be used by manufacturers for more effective quality control of production batches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Ely, Rashid Mohammad Al-Othman, Abdul Rahman, Douglas Patrick Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20040000066
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the physical strength and ability of a solid sample, to resist breakdown into fines after repeated cycles of hydration and regeneration of temperatures in excess of 100° C. The test samples are evaluated using an accelerated degradation apparatus that subjects the sample to a predetermined number of timed cycles of wetting/drying under heat and vacuum, and the weight-percent of any fines produced by the degradation of the sample are measured and recorded after a prescribed number of cycles. Specific values are used for predicting potential useful service life, in years of samples from different commercial manufacturers of the same class of product; the resulting data can be used by manufacturers for more effective quality control of production batches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Ely, Rashid Mohammad Al-Othman, Abdul Rahman, Douglas Patrick Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6658762
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transporting substrates in all organic light emitting diode (OLED) process is disclosed, which has a transferring chamber provided for transporting substrates between processing modules and the atmosphere condition therein is able to be adjusted to be the same as the processing module by an atmosphere conditioner unit. According to the present invention, the substrates are not contaminated by moisture and the process operation and the factory layout are more flexible. Moreover, the OLED yield is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: RiTdisplay Corporation
    Inventors: Yih Chang, Jung-Lung Liu, Chih-Jen Yang, Chih-Ming Kuo, Jih-Yi Wang, Tien-Rong Lu
  • Patent number: 6574883
    Abstract: A dispenser for laundry products, particularly for fabric softener products to be used in the dryer. The dispenser comprises a hollow ball having a plurality of product dispensing openings and a further product ingress opening for placing product in the ball. A measuring cup to hold product is accessed from the product ingress opening. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the measuring cup includes only a single opening in its side wall for releasing product from the cup and into the hollow sphere. One or more closures are associated with the dispenser. After travelling through the small hole in the cup, the product is dispensed to the exterior of the hollow ball through the product dispensing openings and thus onto product. The hollow ball is preferably a manually squeezable plastic such as polyurethane. In another embodiment, the cup includes more than the single hole in the cup walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward John Giblin, Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Corrine Saso, Ramon E. Poo
  • Publication number: 20020178603
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wafers has at least one rotatable cylinder in addition to a plurality of wafer slots. A wafer is supported in a slot by means of a plurality of wafer holders. The rotatable cylinder is in contact with the edge of a wafer. By rotating the rotatable cylinder, a wafer is also rotated. An isopropanol vapor flows through a wafer surface. Because of the wafer rotation, the isopropanol vapor flows through the wafer surface in different directions so that water drops or moistures can be carried away from the wafer and dried thoroughly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Chuan-Ju Chuang, Lung-Hui Tsai, Su-Ling Tseng
  • Patent number: 6463672
    Abstract: The process of mitigation of spacecraft surface charging using ionized water vapor is used, since it helps taking excess surface electrons away from a spacecraft surface, leaving practically no residue after complete evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Shu T. Lai, Edmond Murad
  • Patent number: 6393716
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transporting substrates in an organic light emitting diode (OLED) process is disclosed, which has a transferring chamber provided for transporting substrates between processing modules and the atmosphere condition therein is able to be adjusted to be the same as the processing module by an atmosphere conditioner unit. According to the present invention, the substrates are not contaminated by moisture and the process operation and the factory layout are more flexible. Moreover, the OLED yield is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Ritek Display Technology Co.
    Inventors: Yih Chang, Jung-Lung Liu, Chih-Jen Yang, Chih-Ming Kuo, Jih-Yi Wang, Tien-Rong Lu
  • Patent number: 6381870
    Abstract: A flexible container in the form of a bag is described for use in a non-immersion dry cleaning process. Bag walls that are appropriately stiff and slick are preferred (preferred Kawabata Evaluation System stiffness and surface friction values are given), as are bag designs that are inherently three-dimensional and self-supporting. A preferred embodiment is a tetrahedral bag having a slick polymeric coating on the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Randolph S. Kohlman, Allan W. Smith, Thomas E. Godfrey, Charles E. Willbanks, Allen M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6370796
    Abstract: A cooling system and method are provided for cooling a heater block located in a cylindrical processing chamber of a wafer processing apparatus. The cooling system includes first and second frame assemblies having respective ends adapted to rest on an upper peripheral surface of the processing chamber, and fan assemblies mounted to the frame assemblies at spaced locations therealong. A first pair of fan assemblies are directed to push air into the processing chamber, and a second pair of fan assemblies are directed to pull air out of the processing chamber. The fan assemblies are arranged such that they circulate ambient air through the processing chamber to provide a rapid cooling of the heater block to a safe working temperature. The frame assemblies have an adjustable length that can be adjusted to fit processing chambers having different sizes and configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignees: sony corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Zucker
  • Patent number: 6357137
    Abstract: Non-woven fabrics prepared from fibers having two different deniers useful as substrates in the preparation of dryer-activated fabric conditioning articles. By combining lower denier fibers with higher denier fibers, a substrate is produced that has the tensile strength similar to that of the lower denier substrate combined with the thickness and coating capacity similar to that of the higher denier substrate. Articles comprising said substrates contain: (A) at least about 5% fabric conditioning composition comprising fabric conditioning active; and (B) said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephen Lee Childs, Anthony James Burns, Alessandro Corona, III
  • Publication number: 20020020076
    Abstract: The invention proposes a mixer for mixing gases and other Newton liquids, with a flow channel and built-in surfaces (2) arranged in it that influence the flow. The built-in surfaces are vortex-generating surfaces with free surging leading edges (4) directed against the flow whose path has both a component running in the main flow direction (3) of the gas and a component running transverse to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Hans Ruscheweyh, Michael Kaatz
  • Patent number: 6286228
    Abstract: The present invention involves a drying system for removing a wetting agent from surfaces of a vehicle. The drying system comprises an application of a surfactant to the surfaces of the vehicle to provide a reduction in the coefficient of friction between the surfaces of the vehicle and the wetting agent The surfactant can be applied to the surfaces of the vehicle prior to, and/or during the wetting of the vehicle. The present invention also involves an air blower device for the removal of the wetting agent from the surfaces of the vehicle which when used in combination with the surfactant provides an enhanced drying effect. The air blower comprises a housing formed for use proximate ground level with an inlet and an outlet, and a motor therein having a shaft with blade means attached thereto for producing an air flow. The blower housing is further formed so that the air blower does not draw in debris proximate ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Quick Air, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bodnar, Rodger Gleason, Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 6279249
    Abstract: A method of transporting a reticle is disclosed. The reticle is placed in a reticle carrier that has an ionizer. Moreover, the reticle may be attached with a pellicle. The pellicle consists of a pellicle frame and a pellicle film stretched over the pellicle frame. The pellicle frame has included within an absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Giang T. Dao, Ronald J. Kuse
  • Patent number: 6276072
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating and cooling a substrate are provided. A chamber is provided that comprises a heating mechanism adapted to heat a substrate positioned proximate the heating mechanism, a cooling mechanism spaced from the heating mechanism and adapted to cool a substrate positioned proximate the cooling mechanism, and a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer a substrate between the position proximate the heating mechanism and the position proximate the cooling mechanism. The heating mechanism preferably comprises a heated substrate support adapted to support a substrate and to heat the supported substrate to a predetermined temperature, and the cooling mechanism preferably comprises a cooling plate. The transfer mechanism may comprise, for example, a wafer lift hoop having a plurality of fingers adapted to support a substrate, or a plurality of wafer lift pins. A dry gas source may be coupled to the chamber and adapted to supply a dry gas thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratson Morad, Ho Seon Shin, Robin Cheung, Igor Kogan
  • Patent number: 6270584
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning and/or drying objects that may have been wetted or contaminated in a manufacturing process. The objects are submerged in a rinse liquid in an enclosed chamber, and aerosol particles from a selected liquid are introduced into the chamber above the rinse liquid surface, forming a thin film on this surface. As the rinse liquid is slowly drained, some aerosol particles settle onto the exposed surfaces of the objects, and displace and remove rinse liquid residues from the exposed surfaces by a “chemical squeegeeing” effect. Surface contaminants are also removed by this process. Chamber pressure is maintained at or near the external environment pressure as the rinse liquid is drained from the chamber. Inert gas flow is employed to provide aerosol particles of smaller size and/or with greater dispersion within the chamber. Continuous filtering and shunt filtering are employed to remove most contaminants from the selected liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventors: Gary W. Ferrell, Thomas D. Spencer, Rob E. Carter
  • Patent number: 6263586
    Abstract: A device and method for planarizing a film layer device on a silicon wafer. The device has a circular track whose surface faces the track center, a carrier capable of moving along the track and carrying wafers around with their front surfaces facing the center, and a set of heating elements for heating the film layers on the wafers to make them fluid. Utilizing the centrifugal force on the film layer generated by the circular movement and the fluidity of the film layer provided by heating, planarization of the film layer is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kung Linliu
  • Patent number: 6256902
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying and deagglomerating substances of finely-divided solids suspended in a fluid medium. The apparatus includes the basic components of a phenumatic friction dryer, a flash dryer and a ring dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: John R. Flaherty, Bradley P. Gehring
  • Patent number: 6243969
    Abstract: A process for dry cleaning fabrics comprising the steps of: (i) placing one or more fabrics to be cleaned in a device which provides heat and agitation; (ii) placing one or more carrier sheets in the device wherein the carrier sheets have 200 grams of a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition releasably absorbed therein; (iii) heating the air within the device to at least 130° F. (55° C.); and (iv) agitating the fabrics and the carrier sheets until at least 40% by weight of the liquid cleaning/refreshment composition from the carrier sheets has been evaporated and vented from the device. There is further provided a kit for dry cleaning fabrics comprising: one or more carrier sheets, and from 200 grams to 1,000 grams of a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition, wherein the one or more carrier sheets can absorb at least 200 grams of the liquid cleaning/refreshment compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Bruce Albert Yeazell
  • Patent number: 6223448
    Abstract: In a device for conditioning a preferably freshly printed paper web (2) with a dryer (1) and a remoistening device, wherein the dryer (1) exhibits a heating zone (3), a temperature maintenance zone (4) and a cooling zone (5) and the remoistening device exhibits spray jets (10), arrayed above and below the transport surface of the said paper web (2), through which moisturizing agents can be admitted, and spray chambers (9) containing the same, a particularly compact form of construction is achieved, in that the cooling zone (5) of the dryer (1) contains a moisturizing device (8) for the purpose of remoistening and cooling the said paper web (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Baldwin Grafotec GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Motzke, Bruno Brischler
  • Patent number: 6199293
    Abstract: A mobile, motorized washing and drying apparatus is described which includes a mobile cart or base which is formed for the attachment of both a motorized washing device and a motorized drying device. The motorized washing device is attached to the base and has a motor capable of pressurizing and discharging washing fluids for the washing and cleaning of something, for example, an automobile. The motorized drying device is also attached to the base and has a housing formed with an inlet and an outlet and a motor therein. The motor of the drying device has a shaft with a blade means attached thereto for producing an air flow. The drying device further has a hose extending from it to direct the produced airflow for drying something, for example, a freshly washed automobile. In some embodiments, the motor of the washing device and the motor of the drying device are both electric; and, in other embodiments the motor of the washing device and the motor of the drying device are both internal combustion type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Quick Air, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bodnar, Rodger Gleason, Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 6184193
    Abstract: A shrinkage prevention agent for water washing of clothing that would conventionally have been dry cleaned. The shrinkage prevention agent is compromised of a steam or vacuum dry-distilled liquid of two or more plants selected from sagebrush, beefsteak plant, tea, plantaginales, aloe, chrysanthemum, pine, cedar, cypress. The shrinkage prevention agent is used in a wet cleaning system that includes water washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Mic, Co., LTD
    Inventor: Yukio Yamada
  • Patent number: 6115936
    Abstract: The device consisting of a hollow body made of foam rubber or other shock absorbing material defining an enclosed chamber and having a plurality of holes therein. A closeable opening is provided that is of adequate size to allow wet tennis shoes or other objects in need of drying to be placed inside said enclosed chamber. The unit with the articles to be dried within are inserted into a rotary drum clothes dryer and the loud thumping and banging noise normally associated with drying heavy shoes in a rotating metal drum are significantly reduced or eliminated. Further, the padding and shock absorbing shape of the envelope prevents the dryer's door from being knocked open from the inside as often happens when hard shoes hit the back of the door during the tumbling and drying process. Furthermore, shoes and delicate fabrics may safely be dried in the same load as they are effectively separated by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Daniel Arlie
  • Patent number: 6067723
    Abstract: A hanging feature is provided for a clothes dryer. The hanging feature is included on the door, or on the cabinet adjacent the door opening so that shoes or other objects can be hung from the hanging feature and suspended in a position exposed to the hot air within the rotating drum while at the same time being held free from rotation with the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Lafrenz
  • Patent number: 6035549
    Abstract: A method for closely protecting materials (10) sensitive to contamination by airborne contaminating agents and placed on a work surface (P). At least one decontaminated gas stream (1, 2) is fed from either side towards the materials in a direction substantially parallel to the work surface, and each gas stream (3) leaves the work surface in an intermediate area between the edges of the work surface and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. Alternatively, at least one gas stream is fed towards the materials from above the work surface at an intermediate area between the edges thereof, and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and each gas stream leaves the work surface in a direction substantially parallel thereto and on either side of the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Ultra Propre Nutrition Industrie Recherche (U.N.I.R.)
    Inventors: Mathieu Chevalier, Christophe Chevalier
  • Patent number: 6012232
    Abstract: Described is a through-flow cup which can be filled with a granule material and through which a liquid to be treated can flow, having side walls and sieves which are disposed at the ends thereof and by means of which the liquid can flow through the granule material in the interior of the through-flow cup and the granule material is substantially non-losably held.To improve such a through-flow cup to the effect that the incoming flow of liquid and at the same time any discharge flow of gases are offered the lowest possible level of resistance, it is provided in accordance with the invention that at least one sieve has a flat textile article in which plastic fibres of at least two different kinds are connected together to form a hybrid, wherein the one kind of plastic fibres contains hydrophilic components and the other kind of plastic fibres contains hydrophobic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: BRITA Wasser-Filter-Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Detlev Weyrauch
  • Patent number: 6006439
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and chemical activation of a plurality of plate lug surfaces. The apparatus includes an ultrasonically-stirred flux vessel, an ultrasonically-stirred rinsing water vessel and a gas-blowing device contained inside a dirt collection vessel. Each vessel has an independent movement capability in the upward or downward directions, and all three vessels are mounted on a common supporting frame which allows their simultaneous horizontal displacement. When coupled to a conventional cast-on-strap machine, the apparatus allows the manufacture of pore-free cast-on-strap joints for lead-acid batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Acumuladores Mexicanos, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Luis Francisco Vazquez Del Mercado, Gregorio Vargas-Gutierrez, Jorge Lopez-Cuevas
  • Patent number: 5930909
    Abstract: A process and system for impregnating garments with insect repellent, the ocess including the steps of placing the garments in a first machine and tumbling the garments therein, introducing into the first machine a mixture of liquid insect repellent and water so as to spray the mixture onto the tumbling garments, terminating the introduction of the mixture into the first machine and continuing the tumbling of the garments therein, terminating the tumbling of the garments in the first machine, and placing the garments in a second machine and tumble drying the garments therein; and the system comprising a reservoir for a mixture of the repellent in liquid form and water, a first machine for receiving and retaining the garments and tumbling the garments, a spray nozzle in the first machine for directing a spray of the mixture onto the garments during tumbling thereof, a conduit extending from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and a pump in the conduit for flowing the mixture from the reservoir to the spray nozz
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Bartley F. McNally
  • Patent number: 5907908
    Abstract: A dehumidifying pouch comprising a container having a moisture-absorption compartment and a collection compartment, the moisture-absorption compartment comprising semi-permeable material that encloses a deliquescent desiccant material and an optional deodorizing material. The collection compartment comprises walls made of a moisture impervious material. The collection compartment is connected to the moisture-absorption compartment, preferably by a broken seal, so that liquids from the moisture-absorption compartment can be transferred to the collection compartment of the pouch. The semi-permeable material can comprise polyethylene or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, individually or a combination thereof. The moisture impervious compartment can comprise either polyethylene film or polypropylene film. Alternatively, the dehumidifying pouch is comprised of one compartment having a moisture-absorption section and a moisture collection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Tetra Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joaquin Paz Cunanan, David Prince Heaner, David J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 5787606
    Abstract: A clothes dryer fabric softener sheet dispenser with a fabric softener sheet dispenser mounted on a door of a clothes dryer, a filling chamber in the dispenser for holding a roll of fabric softener sheets, a sheet guide inside the filling chamber guiding the sheets away from the filling chamber, a pair of electric motors allowing the driving of the sheets away from the sheet guide and allowing the driving of the sheets away from the filling chamber toward a dryer compartment of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer fabric softener sheet dispenser also has belts for engaging the sheets driven from the sheet guide in order to facilitate movement toward the dryer compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Timothy A. Bokholdt