Abstract: A jet spouted fluidized bed drier is described in which the bottom half of the drier chamber comprises a first lower conical part, and the top half of the drier chamber comprises a second upper conical part surrounding a conical grid located near to the top end of the second part. The drier chamber thus comprises two conical parts connected together at their wide ends. The result of this arrangement is that the collision zone becomes a toroid with an essentially triangular cross-sectional shape defined essentially by the conical internal surface of the top part and the conical outer surface of the conical grid. This revised structural arrangement has been found to be able to process materials which either cannot be processed, or cannot be processed efficiently, with known jet spouted fluidized bed driers. Additionally, this revised structural arrangement has been found to be able to process materials more efficiently, and to a lower desired final liquid content values.

Abstract: An air knife or air nozzle manifold for drying or blowing off passing articles moved by a conveyor system is provided with a coupling that permits rotation of the air knife or air nozzle manifold relative to the air inlet duct leading from a blower. The air knife or air nozzle manifold has opposing ends located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of rotation relative to a stationary element of the coupling. Thrust nozzles are provided at each of the opposing ends of the air knife or air nozzle manifold to deflect a certain portion of the air from the plenum chamber to provide thrusting jets of air that rotate the air knife or air nozzle manifold about the longitudinal axis. The flow of air emitted from the air knife or air nozzle manifold is thereby directed onto the passing articles from different directions as the articles move by. The efficiency of drying and blowing off the articles to be processed is thereby significantly improved.

Abstract: An enhanced apparatus and method for cleaning, drying, and disinfecting brine shrimp eggs is provided. The apparatus may have a blower and a furnace that provide pressurized, dry air to a screening device. The screening device may include a vibrating screen designed to release detritus while retaining viable cysts. The dry air may convey the cysts upward and suspend them within a containment vessel. The containment vessel may have a lower, narrow section and an upper, wide section; the larger airflow velocity within the narrow section suspends the brine shrimp eggs while the remaining detritus moves upward, into the wide section, in which the airflow velocity is lower. The air suspension rapidly dries the cysts to maintain a high percentage of viable eggs. Ultraviolet lights disinfect the cysts within the narrow section. An extractor with a cyclone separator draws material from the wide section and removes viable eggs from the detritus.

Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting lint in use with a dryer having an interior compartment. The filter assembly includes a control unit, an input air pathway in communication with the interior compartment, an exhaust, and a micro-filter. The input air pathway carries air and lint from the interior compartment through the micro-filter into the exhaust. The filter assembly includes a first and second air flow sensor in the interior compartment for determining the change of air flow between the input air pathway and exhaust. The control unit is in communication with the first and second air flow sensors and an alarm. The control unit triggers the alarm when the air flow sensors detect a restricted pattern of air flow, thereby signaling a build-up of lint in the filter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: A device for drying substrates which stores a plurality of substrate (1) and which comprises a processing container (3) to which cleaning fluid (2) after cleaning the substrates (1) is drained and an injection nozzle (5) for injecting drying fluid located at the terminating part of a feed pipe (4) through which liquid drying fluid is supplied, whereby an exhaust equipment is eliminated or simplified, and the drying fluid is fed smoothly.

Abstract: An intermediate assembly has a vertical plate with an orifice. The intermediate assembly also has a first and a second side wall and a top and a bottom wall. The walls extend rearwardly from the orifice with a rear wall. The walls are joined and form a generally rectilinear chamber. A lip has a planar surface parallel with the vertical plate with an intermediate surface coupling the planar surface of the lip and the vertical plate of the intermediate assembly. The lip forms an orifice essentially coextensive with the orifice of the intermediate assembly. The lip has an upper edge and a lower edge. Between the upper and lower edges are a first side edge and a second side edge. The edges of the lip each have a large radius of curvature. A circular air hole with a large diameter is located in the top wall. The intermediate member and lip are integrally fabricated.

Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for detecting a residual drying time of a clothes dryer, by detecting a quantity of moisture contained in clothes in a clothes dryer and displaying a residual clothes drying time on the basis of the detected moisture quantity, a residual clothes drying time can be displayed accurately.

Abstract: A portable air heating system for use in remote areas is disclosed. The portable air heating system provides a stream heated air for use in heating the interior of a structure, such as a tent or camp trailer. The heating system generally comprises an air transfer assembly for providing a flow of air through the system, a fuel burner assembly for providing heat by combustion, and a heat transfer housing for safely transferring the heat produced by the fuel burner assembly to the air flowing through the transfer assembly. The burner assembly and the heat transfer housing are both positioned outside the area being heated. Further, the exhaust gases are completely isolated from the air heated by the system, thereby virtually eliminating the likelihood of asphyxiation by the exhaust gases from the burner. The present heating system is also highly portable and simple to use, thereby providing an efficient mechanism for providing heat where more traditional heating apparatus are not readily available.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing electromagnetic drying of printed media. A resonant cavity allows support of standing waves along many radial axes throughout the resonant cavity. The electromagnetic drying unit allows forced air to be introduced into the resonant cavity, thereby reducing moisture within the resonant cavity and extending the life of the resonant cavity. Input and output openings may be arranged longitudinally along the resonant cavity and may be designed to substantially reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation emanating from them during operation. A honeycomb feature at the end of the resonant cavity may allow egress of the forced air, while substantially reducing the amount of electromagnetic radiation emanating from the end of the resonant cavity.

Abstract: An improved centrifugal pellet dryer that employs forced air in the direction opposite that of the pellet travel through the dryer. The air may be preheated depending on the particular product. The resulting airstream reduces water spray and lowers the humidity level of the air in the dryer system. The airstream exits the dryer at or below the lower level of the rotor, thus providing increased exposure to the airflow. The result is enhanced drying effectiveness and increased dryer capacity.

Abstract: A durable and maneuverable hand-held or small home appliance having a swivel structure attached at the end handle of the appliance to permit the electrical cord to pivot about the handle of the appliance. Further contemplated by the present disclosure is a swivel structure that permits for an electrical cord having at least about 180 degrees of rotation about a pivot point and operable at elevated wattage levels.

Abstract: An entrance sealing assembly for a hinged door of a laundry dryer provides a complete sealing of all gaps between the essential components of the entrance sealing assembly. The laundry dryer includes a door frame, the door frame being provided with a door glass; a frame cover having a frame cover panel in which an entrance hole is formed for receiving the door frame, the frame cover panel having an inner end surface; a front support, coupled with the frame cover, for supporting a drum, the front support having an inner end surface; and a unified sealing member having first and second ends, disposed between the frame cover and the front support, the second end of the unified sealing member providing for contact with the door glass when the hinged door is closed.

Abstract: A drying unit for removing solvent from moist material, and a method for drying moist material with the drying unit. The unit comprises at least one drying chamber (23) having at least one stand plate (2) for holding vessels (3), which are filled with moist material, or flat layers of moist material, the drying chamber (23) being connected to a condenser (22) via a vapor passage (15), in which sublimed solvent can be separated out, the stand plates (2) being connected to a temperature-controlled heating/cooling circuit, the chamber (23) having heating/cooling plates (4) or (4?) which are connected to a second heat-transfer circuit, wherein the heating/cooling plates (4) or (4?) are substantially thermally isolated from the chamber wall (6).

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dirty-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chamber are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.