Abstract: The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for the monitoring and control of apparatus designed to remove moisture from an initially wet product, such as a continuous dryer (14). The net rate of water removal from the wet product (16) is determined during drying thereof, preferably on a real-time basis. A control assembly (20) is operatively coupled with the dryer (14) and includes sensors (24, 26, 28, 34), which are operatively coupled with a digital controller (38). The controller (38) has a PID controller operable to continuously determine the average net rate of water removal from the product (16).

Abstract: The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for the monitoring and control of apparatus designed to remove moisture from an initially wet product, such as a continuous dryer (14). The net rate of water removal from the wet product (16) is determined during drying thereof, preferably on a real-time basis. A control assembly (20) is operatively coupled with the dryer (14) and includes sensors (24, 26, 28, 34), which are operatively coupled with a digital controller (38). The controller (38) has a PID controller operable to continuously determine the average net rate of water removal from the product (16).

Abstract: A method for drying a fluid film, which is applied to a surface of a substrate and includes a vaporizable liquid, includes following steps: transporting the substrate on a transport surface of a transport device along a transport direction through a drying device; vaporizing the liquid by way of a heat source having a heating surface, wherein the heating surface is disposed at a distance of 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm opposite to a surface of the substrate; and removing a vaporized liquid in a direction of the heat source.

Abstract: A washing machine having a drying apparatus, which can perform a heated drying operation and shorten a drying time of laundry, is provided. The washing machine having a drying apparatus includes a top cover which is provided in an upper part of a body and has at least one air hole formed in a top surface thereof, a drying duct which is provided in the top cover to supply air heated by a heater provided thereinside to the air hole, and a rack member which is provided to be extractable from the body to hang laundry above the body.

Abstract: A vent apparatus comprises a mount with air flow opening for mounting to a wall, a housing covering the mount, and a door pivoted to fall by gravity to a closed position but being movable to an open position when air flows from the air outflow passageway. The housing forms a downwardly and outwardly open chute extending well below a bottom of the mount and door, thus discouraging birds from approaching the air flow opening. The door and mount include bottom flanges that overlap when the door is in the closed position, further discouraging bird entry. The mount, housing and door are all metal with stiffening bends that are relatively simple construction, making assembly tow cost and providing a reliable function. The housing does not include large horizontal surfaces, thus discouraging birds and animals from building a nest in or on the housing.

Abstract: An ink drying method and device is provided for injection energy to overheated dry vapor in which saturated moisture vapor is heated and dried so as to miniaturize and cluster particles of the overheated dry vapor; apply impact energy to the clustered overheated dry vapor so as to further miniaturize the clustered particles of the overheated dry vapor and generate nano-size overheated dry vapor; and supply the nano-size overheated dry vapor in a supersaturated state into a chamber in which a substrate is placed to form an anoxic atmosphere within the chamber, infuse the nano-size overheated dry vapor into ink molecules and molecular boundaries in the anoxic atmosphere, and apply the energy of the nano-sized overheated dry vapor to the ink, so as to evaporate the moisture of the ink and degraded or reduced the organic solvent of the ink.

Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus and a method for controlling a clothes treatment apparatus are provided. The method may include feeding heated hot air to clothes or other items received in a drum, and dehydrating the clothes or other items by performing a first rotation cycle for rotating the drum at a first RPM for a predetermined period of time. The first RPM may be a RPM that allows a centrifugal force applied to the clothes or other items during rotation of the drum to exceed gravity.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and an optical device mounted on the vehicle frame. A first temperature sensor senses ambient air temperature surrounding the vehicle frame, a second temperature sensor senses a temperature of a lens of the optical device, and a humidity sensor senses moisture content of air proximal to the lens. An exhaust directs gas at the lens in response to the sensed ambient air temperature, the sensed lens temperature, and the sensed moisture content.

Abstract: A system for producing free-flowing powder with a narrow particle size distribution from liquid compositions comprising in combination: a feeding reservoir comprising said liquid compositions: a pumping device to pump said liquid composition into at least one atomizing device: said at least one atomizing device composed of at least one fluid nozzle to distribute an upward gaseous drying medium over said nozzle: two lateral streamlined tube-like devices for supplying said liquid composition and pressurized gas to said at least one nozzle from two opposite directions: a cylindrical plenum chamber wherein the fluid nozzle is located: an accelerating zone of a drying medium consisting of a cylindrical pipe located at the bottom of the cylindrical plenum: a conical-cylindrical drying chamber equipped with a manhole, a multi-nozzle manifold and insulation panels: and an intermediate drying medium consisting of a single bed or multi-beds of inert carriers within the drying chamber.

Abstract: A body drying and personal inspection apparatus is provided for air drying and for providing the user with several inspection and data input devices. The apparatus comprises a base platform and an upright member with one or more handles to support the user. A blower assembly forces air through the base platform and through an elongated blower tube handled by the user. Further provided is an inspection camera coupled to the blower tube and a foot camera within the base platform, both used to capture images of the user's body while on the platform. A display and processing system is also provided that allows images to be processed and displayed, for input to be received via a user input device, and optionally for data to be transmitted to a third party over a network. The base platform also provides weight measuring capabilities for measuring the weight of the user thereon.

Abstract: The removal of moisture from an object to be sterilized is provided through at least the steps of placing the load in the chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the load, monitoring over a predetermined period of time the increase in the quantity of vapor within the chamber resulting from evaporation of moisture from the load, admitting gas into the chamber and repeating the steps following placing the load into the chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle air dryer for removing water from a vehicle as the vehicle emerges from a car wash includes a plenum, a source of pressurized air, a slot nozzle, and a screen. The plenum extends a length, has an annular wall, and defines an interior cavity to hold air. The plenum also defines inlet and outlet ports communicating with the interior cavity. The source of pressurized air is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the plenum. The slot nozzle has an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet port, an inlet spaced from the outlet and in fluid communication with the interior cavity, and an interior passageway extending between the outlet and the inlet. The screen can be disposed between the inlet of the slot nozzle and the interior cavity.

Abstract: A process and system for lyophilizing a product. The product is first cooled in a cooling chamber (12) and then passed through a liquid nitrogen bath (14) where it is frozen. It is then freeze dried in a lyophilization chamber (26) during which the water or non-aqueous media is sublimated using a combination of gaseous nitrogen and vaporized nitrogen from liquid nitrogen supplied to the lyophilization chamber. Water and non-aqueous media removed from the product during sublimation is purged from the chamber. The system of the present invention provides more energy efficient operation, eliminates the use of hot oils and oil leaks, operates more reliably, and the liquid nitrogen can be used both as a refrigeration source, for heating shelves instead of hot oil and also can maintain the lyophilization temperature in case of power failure with minimum electric power supply in case of a power outage.

Abstract: A wall-mountable hand dryer for drying one side of a user's hands at a time, the dryer having two nozzle sections—one for each hand—which nozzle sections are positioned towards the front of the dryer so that they are spaced away from the wall in use, the nozzle sections each extending to span the width of a user's open hand and being arranged for directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections from the front of the dryer, wherein the dryer comprises a downwardly pitched guide part positioned behind each nozzle section for guiding the pitch of the user's hands underneath the nozzle sections.