Abstract: An apparatus comprises a duct having a fluid outlet for fluid propelled through the duct and a container positions a substance for diffusion into the fluid through an opening. A movable valve selectively places the opening in fluid communication with the fluid in the duct and seals the opening to prevent introduction of the substance into the fluid. In a particularly advantageous embodiment the apparatus is a blow dryer in which a heating element disposed in the duct heats air flowing therethrough. The substance can be a fragrance or a conditioner introduced into the air stream. According to other aspects of the invention, the container is interchangeable with containers containing other substances, such as different fragrances, and is completely sealed when the blow dryer is not in use. In another embodiment, a container attached to the duct ejects the substance in a spray external of the duct proximate to the duct outlet.

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.

Abstract: A method of drying wet toner particles includes adding different sized wet toner particles to a dryer drying chamber and drying each of the wet toner particles for a drying time TD. The drying time TD can vary for each toner particle and is proportional to the mass of the wet toner particle. The method can also include introducing a heated drying gas into the drying chamber to create a circulating flow of drying gas. The method also includes adjusting the pressure and/or velocity and/or angle of the heated drying gas to control the amount of deagglomeration of the toner particles.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to drying equipment and can be used in wood and wood treatment industries, etc., whenever parameters and procedures necessary to dry materials such as wood are used. The invention allows the drying process to achieve a higher degree of environmental protection, a larger product output and power saving features on the account of the following design of the plant: the drying chamber (1) which contains the material to be dried includes a bottom (4) which has two cavities (5,6); hot combustion products are injected into one of these cavities (5) from the flue pipe (9) of the furnace (3) which is used to burn wood waste; hot air is supplied into the other cavity (6), whereby said air is heated in pipes which are located in the flue (9), and is used as a drying agent.

Abstract: In a compact combined spray drying and after-treatment apparatus having internal gas filters and an internal fluidized bed in the drying chamber and a fluidized bed in the after-treatment zone, pipe means are used for conducting a stream of particle-loaded gas formed in the after-treatment zone to suitable locations in the drying chamber without disturbing the normal operation of the drying chamber and the fluidized bed therein.

Abstract: A sheet material, a production method therefor and a drying apparatus is provided wherein a heating gas comprising mainly superheated steam is blown directly to reach the sheet internal water content via a permeable belt for restricting free shrinkage of the sheet, to give instantaneous evaporation (pressure flow) and form a porous sheet. A wet sheet 35 is clamped between an externally heated rotor 1 having heated gas blowing ports 19 for blowing heated gas from an outer peripheral direction, and a permeable endless fabric belt 36 which moves in synchronous with the rotor under a tension capable of restraining dry shrinkage of the sheet material, to thereby give rapid direct moisture evaporation and form a porous sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lyophilization method which comprises the following steps: reducing the pressure in the drying chamber until the onset of a visible crystallization of the solvent at a temperature in the drying chamber which is above the solidification point of the preparation; reducing the temperature in the drying chamber to a temperature which is below the solidification point of the preparation or is identical to it, until completion of the crystallization of the solvent, resulting in a frozen solvent; and sublimation of the frozen solvent by means of reduced pressure.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for drying wood, characterized in that it comprises a pressurizing step to place a sealed chamber (1) under a predetermined pressure by injecting or generating saturating steam and maintaining this pressure for a predetermined time interval, while ensuring a forced circulation of air and saturating steam within the chamber, a heating step to heat the wood core and central zone of the wood pieces by emitting microwaves at frequencies ranging between 400 and 2450 MHz, an evacuation step to carry away the liquid exudates from the wood when run down to the bottom of the chamber (1) where they are collected.

Abstract: A combined washer and dryer that automatically moves laundry from the washer to the dryer thereby allowing the operator to avoid manually moving wet laundry and eliminating a step requiring the operator's presence. The invention includes an automatic load-feeder that automatically loads laundry into the washer.

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.

Abstract: In a drying section of a machine for producing a material web such as, in particular, a paper or cardboard web, a pick-up suction roll, in particular a larger pick-up suction roll, is provided between the last pressing nip of a pressing section and a subsequent impingement drying unit, which suction roll removes the material web from a pressing felt guided through the pressing nip or from a transfer belt and transfers it to the impingement drying unit.

Abstract: A moisture indicator in an air flow drying process where hot gas is circulated over and around a granular material having an undesirable amount of moisture includes a detector located in the path of the exhaust gas to determine exhaust flow temperature, a valve control device associated with the temperature detector to control the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the hot gas intake and an indicator connected to the valve control device. A display is associated with the indicator to display the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the gas intake which indicates the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage of hydrocarbon gas needed in the intake is inversely proportional to the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage signals the loader operator whether the granular material loaded has an acceptable amount of moisture for successful operation of the drying process.

Abstract: An air ionizing drying includes an elongated housing that has an interior, an inlet opening, and an elongated outlet opening. A microcontroller is positioned in the interior of the housing. A control panel is coupled to the housing and operationally coupled to the microcontroller. An intake conduit is positioned in the housing and extends from the intake opening. A heating assembly is positioned in the interior of the housing for receiving air passing through the intake conduit. The heating assembly is operationally coupled to the microcontroller. A manifold is environmentally coupled to the heating assembly for receiving air passing through the heating assembly. A fan assembly has a plurality of fans and is coupled to the manifold for drawing air through the manifold. An outlet conduit extends between the fan assembly and the outlet opening. An ionizing assembly is coupled to the outlet conduit for ionizing air passing through the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A medical device is provided that includes a catheter and a stylet positioned in the catheter. The stylet is configured to guide the catheter through a passage of a patient. The stylet is preferable tubular and made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when heated to bend or turn the catheter.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of drying wet or water damaged structures. Specifically, several improved features of a forced air system are provided.

Abstract: A clothes dryer in accordance with the present invention includes a drum rotatably supported in a case having an interior space for drying clothes. Air for drying clothes is supplied to the suction duct that is connected to one side of the drum. An extension duct extending from the suction duct into the drum supplies the air from the suction duct into the drum. An exhaust duct is connected to the other side of the drum for exhausting the air that is used to dry clothes to the outside of the case. The clothes dryer uniformly dries clothes inputted into the drum as the dryer directly transmits heated air to the center portion of the drum, thereby improving clothes drying efficiency.

Abstract: An air flow detecting system is provided for monitoring air flow in a dryer system. The dryer system has an exhaust passage through which air from a drying compartment flows. The air flow detecting system includes a detector for monitoring a rate at which air from the drying compartment travels through the exhaust passage, and a signal generator. The signal generator is responsive to the detector and generates an electrical signal for which at least one of phase, frequency, voltage, or current varies over a continuous range based on a measured flow rate.

Abstract: The method serves for drying an active part containing at least one winding and solid insulations. The active part is arranged in a vacuum-tight housing and is heated there to a final temperature value (Tfin) by means of warmed oil and by means of a current (I) carried in the winding. The warmed oil is sprayed in the housing at reduced pressure (p) and with the current (I) switched on. At the same time, water is extracted from the active part. The sprayed oil is collected on the housing bottom, after discharging heat to the active part, and, after rewarming, is sprayed once again in the housing at reduced pressure and with the current switched on. The active part is thus dried particularly quickly and carefully.