Patents Examined by Kathryn S. O'Malley
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Patent number: 6742283Abstract: Method for drying wood in a short period of time by maintaining the concentration of a combustion gas contained in a drying room atmosphere for use in drying the wood to a high value and by maintaining the pressure of the drying room atmosphere to a high value. Wood fuels such as waste wood are put into a combustion chamber ins lower area of a combustion gas generating furnace and then the wood fuels are burned, followed by introducing the high-temperature combustion gas generated by the burning of the wood fuels into an upper area of a drying room housing the green wood to thereby dry the wood. Thermal drying of the wood is carried out by maintaining the concentration of the combustion gas present in the drying room atmosphere at a the high value and by maintaining the pressure of the drying room atmosphere at a high value.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Technical System Keep Limited CompanyInventor: Sachio Ishii
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Patent number: 6742277Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Fuji Manufacturing Corporation Ltd.Inventor: Hatsuo Sakurazawa
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Patent number: 6739069Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer has a drying cycle followed by a cool down cycle where the cool down cycle is terminated when the sensed output temperature of the dryer drum falls below a default temperature value preselected or altered by user. This permits the user to adjust the termination cool down cycle temperature to the user's preference and touch sensitivity to the warmth of clothing removed from the dryer. The user adjusts the setting of a user variable selection device on the dryer control panel to a preferred temperature signal representing the desired temperature of articles in the dryer when the cool down cycle is terminated. The dryer has a comparator that is connected to the outlet thermistor for receiving the sensed signal representing the temperature of the air leaving the drum and that is connected to the user variable selection device for receiving the user preferred temperature signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Camco Inc.Inventors: Silvia Ionelia Prajescu, Hugh Howard Hunt
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Patent number: 6735882Abstract: A concentration of a gas introduced into a circulation blower and an exhaust blower is reduced with a simple apparatus configuration. In an exhaust system, exhaust gases from a plurality of drying chambers are joined to a joining duct to be then exhausted by an exhaust blower. A plurality of exhaust ducts having inlets at different positions in each drying chamber are provided, and the exhaust duct having the inlet in the lowest gas concentration area is used as a duct for an exhaust gas circulated to a circulation blower.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shinsuke Takahashi
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Patent number: 6729039Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling airflow in a desiccant drying system having two desiccant beds (10, 12). A first diverter valve (14) communicates with each of the desiccant beds, a regeneration air inlet (22), and a press air outlet (20). A second diverter valve (16) communicates with each of the desiccant beds, a process air inlet (18), and a regeneration air outlet (28). First and second regeneration air control valves (24, 30) are also provided which during a cooling phase of the regeneration cycle admit a cooling bleed stream of process air to the desiccant bed being regenerated and then convey the cooling air bleed stream from the desiccant bed and through a heat exchanger (42) back to the process air inlet.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Universal Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Crawford
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Patent number: 6729043Abstract: A method and an apparatus is proposed for drying stacked wood with the help of a drying gas guided in a circulatory flow. The stacks of wood (H1, H2) are charged zone by zone depending on the average moisture of the wood (u) in the respective zone with partial streams of the drying gas which differ with respect to their drying power.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Inventor: Kurt Mühlböck
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Patent number: 6725563Abstract: A drying method, a drying device, and a drying machine, capable of remarkably reducing a drying time by assigning the standby time for an article to be dried to a preliminary drying time in drying, wherein hot air is supplied to the drying machine so as to dry the article to be dried and, at the same time, hot air exhausted from the drying machine is led into a preliminary drying machine so as to preliminarily dry the article to be dried before drying, and then the article to be dried contained in the preliminary drying machine is fed to the drying machine for drying.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Hakko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihisa Miyamoto, Shigemitsu Hayashi
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Patent number: 6718652Abstract: A rotary particle dryer has a shaft extending along an axis and a hollow drum coaxially and spacedly surrounding the shaft and rotatable about the axis in a direction. A set of axially extending inner baffles fixed to the shaft extend radially outward therefrom and each form at least one angularly open inner pocket. A set of axially extending outer baffles fixed to the drum extend radially inward therefrom and each form at least two angularly open outer pockets. Structure mechanically connects the inner baffles directly with the outer baffles.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Buttner Gesellschaft fur Trocknungs-und Umwelttechnik mbHInventors: Andreas Klug, Wolfgang Schröder
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Patent number: 6708423Abstract: Device and process for dewatering a fibrous material web by expelling water via gas pressure. The dewatering device includes at least four rolls arranged to radially limit at least one pressure chamber and sealing units arranged to axially limit the at least one pressure chamber. Adjustment devices are arranged to at least partially individually axially adjust positions of the at least four rolls and the sealing units. A pressure gas is introducible into and the fibrous material web is guidable through the at least one pressure chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbHInventor: Klaus Dölle
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Patent number: 6705025Abstract: A bottom element for a device for treating particulate has a two-dimensional body having numerous apertures. Means for imposing to a treatment medium passing said bottom are provided. Said bottom being designed as blade-shaped body, said apertures being designed as slots, said slots being generated by a removal of material from said plate-shaped body. Said slots having side walls sloping towards a plane of said body. For facilitating a cleaning of said bottom said side walls of said slots further consecutively tapers to a direction of a side of said bottom a particulate material rests.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Huttlin GmbHInventors: Thomas Werner, Martin Gross
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Patent number: 6694637Abstract: Flux management systems and methods are provided for filtering vaporized flux from the gas of a reflow soldering oven. A flux management system includes a cooling chamber having a cooling medium through which the gas passes. The vaporized flux condenses on the surfaces of the cooling chamber and drips into a collection pan, thereby preventing it from dripping onto circuit boards passing through the oven. The flux management system may further include a self-cleaning feature that includes a compressed gas, which is allowed to enter the cooling chamber through a solenoid valve. The compressed gas may then be directed through a heater, which increases the temperature of the cooling chamber, thereby causing a decrease in viscosity of the flux, which allows it to flow freely into a drain tube. The flux may then be transported by gravity into a collection container.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Miller, Jr., Jonathan M. Dautenhalm, Marc C. Apell
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Patent number: 6691428Abstract: A separator for removing contaminants from compressed air, the separator including an elongate enclosure having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, the inlet end of the separator being in flow communication with a source of compressed air, the separator defining a first air flow path between the inlet and outlet ends of the separator and a second air flow path between the outlet end of the separator and a wall member positioned adjacent outlet end of the separator for being contacted by air exiting the outlet end of the separator, wherein air traveling in the first flow path undergoes a volumetric expansion and substantial change of direction as it exits the separator and enters the second air flow path and further undergoes a change of direction as it impacts the wall member.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Aircel CorporationInventor: Mahmoud A. Zarif
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Patent number: 6691430Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kimitsugu Saito, Yusuke Muraoka, Ryuji Kitakado, Takashi Miyake, Tomomi Iwata, Ikuo Mizobata
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Patent number: 6688018Abstract: A heated airflow dryer system for drying granular, crushed, and in particular, sliced fruit and other crops and materials where granules are of at least about one quarter inch diameter or slices are about one quarter inch or more thickness. An integral or removable materials holding container has multiple removable airflow plates configured with airflow channels extending through the container interior connecting an inlet high pressure plenum to a lower pressure outlet plenum of a primary heated airflow circuit. The airflow plates are parallel and uniformly spaced to form vertical or horizontal bays of sufficient width to hold the granules or slices. The primary airflow is directed through the container. An air dryer removes excess moisture in the primary airflow or a secondary airflow circuit, which may incorporate a heat exchanger, exhausts moist air and provides make up air to the primary airflow.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Inventor: Paul B. Soucy
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Patent number: 6681498Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum drying of contact lenses on a gripper, while at the same time minimizing interruptions in operations. This is achieved by a convex shape of the end face of the blast nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Werner Steffan
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Patent number: 6675492Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Inventor: Tsang-Hung Hsu
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Patent number: 6675496Abstract: A bearing for supporting the drum of a clothes dryer which includes an interior structural layer of high coherency felted fibrous material and an exterior surface covering for contact with the dryer drum formed of fibrous material including a wool constituent. The felted interior provides support and noise damping character while the exterior surface covering provides friction reduction and enhanced flame retardancy.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: The Felters CompanyInventors: Joseph Moon, John J. Burns, Jerry W. Owens, Jr.
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Patent number: 6665949Abstract: A drying tool for drying moisture present in cells of a honeycomb core. The tool includes an inflatable bladder compartment having a bendable exterior surface and a plurality of open-ended nozzles protruding from this exterior surface, with each nozzle having a passage in fluid communication with the bladder compartment. A connector element is connectible with a hot air source for delivering hot air into the bladder compartment for subsequent dispatch through the plurality of nozzles. Preferably, the nozzles are situated in a grid formation and are of a generally conical configuration. In use, the bendable exterior surface with the protruding nozzles is bowed or curved to generally configure to the exterior shape of the honeycomb core such that hot air is pinpointed in a grid pattern to drive heated air into the core and thereby cause circulation through the core cells for moisture evaporation.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Carl A. Reis, Doris Andren Reis
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Patent number: 6665951Abstract: Spin drying of a stack of flats such as egg trays is performed within a housing by movement of a rotatable lifting head into engagement with the undersurface of the stack. A stack lifting device lifts the lifting head and the stack of flats positioned thereon vertically upwardly into engagement with a drive engagement device thereabove which is rotatably powered by a drive with an optional braking device. Operation of the drive will cause rotation of the lifting head, the stack of flats and the drive engagement device simultaneously. The stack of flats will be held between the lifting head engaging the lower surface thereof and the drive engagement device engaging the upper surface thereof for fixedly securing these three elements together during powered rotation thereof. The rotation will spin off any liquids remaining on the flats such as would be present after being washed.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Inventor: Jeffrey B. Kuhl
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Patent number: 6662468Abstract: A high speed dryer section has single-wire draw drying groups (R1, RN). A paper or board web (W) is supported by a wire (F) as it meanders over drying cylinders (20) in an upper row and reversing cylinders/rolls (21) in a lower row. A first cylinder drying group (R1) has at least five drying cylinders. In the first cylinder drying group (R1) a runnability component (30) is placed in a pocket space defined by every two successive drying cylinders (20) and the reversing roll (21) between them and by the drying wire (F) for applying a high under-pressure of 1000-8000 Pa to an area (50Y) in which the web (W) separates from the drying cylinder (20), and by which runnability component (30) a lower under-pressure of 100-500 Pa is produced in at least part of the rest of the pocket space (T).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen