Abstract: A wheel includes a peripheral outer wall onto which are sequentially loaded veneer panels. The panels are held in place by cable runs against a heated outer surface of the wheel outer wall. Drying of the veneer panels occurs during wheel rotation. A heated fluid medium such as hot oil flows through an annular chamber of the wheel. A series of inlet conduits supply the annular chamber with the heated medium while return conduits return same to a heat source. Multiple tensioned runs of cable confine each panel in place during wheel rotation. A modified form utilizes a continuous screen for panel retention. A drive system imparts rotation to the wheel by powered components in contact with the wheel periphery. A panel pre-heater and jet dryers are supplemental heat sources.

Abstract: A centrifugal processor includes an elongated inlet and outlet in fluid communication with a rotor housing having an eccentric bowl. A rotor having fan blades and adapted to hold flat media is rotatably disposed within the rotor housing. An intake gate is pivotably mounted to the rotor housing to swing about the rotor into a closed position during a rinse mode and into an open position during a drying mode. The gate has a wedge that is designed to almost contact the rotor when the gate is in the open position for drying. The geometry of the elongated inlet, outlet, and eccentric bowl, in combination with the design of the rotor and that of the intake gate, work together to create a cross flow fan having a flow path across the flat media and one that exposes the flat media to large volumes of incoming air only once.

Abstract: A nail dryer includes a housing for contacting a user's fingers and an air stream generation unit received in the shell for generation of air stream in order to dry nail polish on the user's nails. The housing defines a plurality of vents and a plurality of apertures. Air leaves the housing through the vents and enters the housing through the apertures. The housing includes two shells each defining a plurality of apertures. One of the shells includes a plurality of hooks formed thereon and the remaining one of the shells includes a corresponding number of recesses defined therein for receiving the hooks. The air stream generation unit includes a motor and a propeller connected with the motor. The motor is connected with a DC power supply through a circuit. The circuit includes a switch. The housing includes a seat on which the motor is mounted. The seat includes a plurality of plates projecting from one of the shells. Each of the plates of the seat includes an edge complementary to the motor.

Abstract: A heat-drying device of a knife holder includes a heat-generating member installed in a knife groove base of a knife holder consisting of a front shell and a rear shell and an upper cover having a plurality of insert holes for knives to insert. A knife groove base with open knife grooves are fitted in the shell body and has a pull-push water-collecting tray provided at the bottom. A fundamental base is positioned under the shell body and is collapsible for convenience of being placed on a flat surface or on a table. The heat-generating member is installed in the knife groove base and a cement resistor or an electric-heating tube or an electric-heating rod can be used as the heat-generating member to generate heat energy for heat-drying the knife blades inserted in the knife grooves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for drying shoes, gloves or garments comprising a fan which produces an airflow and which is accommodated in a housing. The housing comprises two openings that are connected to two tube sockets which are arranged opposite one another and which are fastened to said housing. The tube sockets are connected to tubes for guiding the airflow. To this end, the tube sockets are angular and one end of each tube socket is rotatably connected to the housing while forming a swivel joint.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system and process for drying a shoe, for example a leather shoe comprising a fan operable to produce an air flow, a heating element and at least one duct having at least one outlet, which is adapted to direct a portion of the air flow into a shoe. Additionally, the shoe drying system provides a drying effectiveness of at least 70 g/hr within the first hour of drying.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating workpieces comprises a treatment chamber enclosing a treatment zone for workpieces. A conveyor guides workpieces through the chamber. Said conveyor comprises drive elements located outside the chamber, and a carrier arm, extending through a slot along the conveyor's path of motion, in a wall of the chamber. A sealing arrangement comprises a first set of spring strips, which overlap laterally and are attached on one side of the slot to the wall, and an opposing second set of spring strips attached on the other side of the slot to the wall. In a resting position, the end zones of the spring strips overlap. Two deflecting devices, which move together with the carrier arm by the conveyor, open the sealing arrangement proximate the carrier arm by resiliently bending apart the spring strips. After passage of the carrier arm, the spring strips return to a sealing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a process chamber comprises a lower process chamber wall, a quartz dome over the lower process chamber wall, a pumping mean for making an interior of the process chamber vacuous, a bell-jar over the quartz dome, a bell-jar heater built in a side of the bell-jar, a susceptor on which a wafer is loaded, a susceptor heater built in the susceptor, and a wafer temperature compensator having a reflector plate and supporting elements, the reflector plate being spaced apart a certain distance from the wafer and having a larger area than that of the wafer, the supporting elements being connected to the wafer and supporting edges of a bottom surface of the wafer.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is a shoe dryer and deodorizer that can be hung on the back of a door or mounted on a wall. It is comprised of an upper housing support member that is attached to a flat shoe rack with mesh pockets with which to hold shoes. The upper housing support member contains a motorized fan assembly, an air intake screen, a deodorizing filter, and an air discharge duct. The motorized fan assembly is comprised of a fan intake duct, a blower, a baffle, and a fan discharge duct. Air is taken into the unit through the intake screen and passes through the deodorizing filter and the fan intake duct on its way to the fan blower. The fan blower pushes this air through the baffle and the fan discharge duct and out to the air discharge duct where the air is dispersed over the shoes that are placed in the mesh pockets. The unit can have a manual power switch or can be programmed by a timer mechanism to turn on and off.

Abstract: A material drying apparatus having a sealable chamber for receipt of wet material, such as clothing, and in particular fire-fighting outfits. In this embodiment clothing placed into the chamber is dried upon the evacuation of air from the chamber wherein moisture drawn from the clothes is condensed on a condensate coil placed in the chamber. Heating coils placed around the chamber elevate the temperature to enhance condensate operation providing an energy efficient material dryer requiring no make-up air. Condensed water is purged after the drying process although provisions provide for an interim purge should excess liquid be drawn from the material.

Abstract: There is provided a method for drying wood which is capable of efficiently drying wood in a shorter 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. According to the method, wood fuels such as waste wood are put into a combustion chamber 4a provided in a lower area of a combustion gas generating furnace 4 and then the wood fuels are burned, followed by introducing the high-temperature combustion gas generated by the burning into an upper area of the drying room 1 housing the green wood, to thereby thermally dry the wood by the combustion gas. In this method, the thermal drying of the wood is carried out by maintaining the concentration of the combustion gas present in the drying room atmosphere to the high value and by maintaining the pressure of the drying room atmosphere to the high value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for spin drying substrates in a spin dryer tank. A spin dryer cover is movable between a closed position to close an opening of the spin dryer tank and an open position to open the spin dryer tank, and a cylinder is coupled with the spin dryer cover. The cylinder is movable in a first operation to move the spin dryer cover to the open position and movable in a second operation to move the spin dryer cover to the closed position. A system for sensing the position of the spin dryer cover comprises a cylinder sensor configured to sense the first operation and the second operation of the cylinder. A cover sensor is configured to sense the position of the spin dryer cover. A logic circuit is configured to output a cover opening signal indicating that the spin dryer cover is in the open position when the cylinder sensor senses the first operation of the cylinder and the cover sensor senses that the spin dryer cover is in the open position.

Abstract: A device for performing surface treatment on semiconductor wafers has a cassette (1) for accommodating a plurality of wafers (5) in its interior (3); the wafers (5) are aligned in a first row. The wafer surfaces (51) are essentially in parallel with each other. The cassette (1) has a side-wall (10) which can be arranged essentially perpendicular with respect to the wafer surfaces (51); the side-wall (10) has openings (111′-145′) on its face (101) which is directed to the wafers (5), the openings (111′-145′) are aligned in second rows, the second rows are essentially parallel to the first row; the openings (111′-114′) are connected to respective supply channels (11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) for transporting a surface treatment medium which is fed to one (15′) of these supply channels via a feeding point (FP). The cross-section of the openings (111′-145′) is variable.

Abstract: An air blowing tool includes a connecting pipe (1) and an air blowing head (2). The air blowing head includes an inner wall (22) and an outer wall (21). An annular passage (24) is defined between the inner and outer walls. The inner wall encloses and defines a heating space (23) for accommodating a package (3) to be heated. An annular outlet (221) is defined in the inner wall. The annular outlet communicates with the annular passage and with the heating space.

Abstract: A sanitizer which utilizes hot air to destroy bacteria upon household products such as nursery, bathroom and kitchen items. The sanitizer includes a base, heating element, fan, and a sanitizing chamber with spacers which allow optimal placement of the products being sanitized. The sanitizer includes a vented cover which allows operation within a set temperature range and fast cool down when the sanitizing process is complete.

Abstract: A material drying apparatus having a sealable chamber for receipt of wet material, such as clothing. Material placed into the chamber is dried upon the evacuation of air from the chamber wherein moisture drawn from the material is condensed on a condensate coil placed in the chamber. Heating coils placed around the chamber or beneath a drawer elevate the temperature to enhance condensate operation providing an energy efficient material dryer requiring no make-up air. Drum or thermal blanket enhances temperature elevation. Condensed water is purged after the drying process although provisions provide for an interim purge should excess liquid be drawn from the material.

Abstract: An air blowing tool includes a connecting pipe (1) and an air blowing head (2). The air blowing head includes an inner wall (22), and an outer wall (21). An annular passage (24) is defined between the inner and outer walls. The inner wall encloses and defines a heating space (23) for accommodating a package (3) to be heated. A plurality of evenly distributed outlets (221) is defined in the inner wall. Each outlet is defined at an acute angle relative to the annular passage.

Abstract: A heat-drying device of a knife holder includes a heat-generating member installed in a knife groove base of a knife holder consisting of a front shell and a rear shell and an upper cover having a plurality of insert holes for knives to insert. A knife groove base with open knife grooves are fitted in the shell body and has a pull-push water-collecting tray provided at the bottom. A fundamental base is positioned under the shell body and is collapsible for convenience of being placed on a flat surface or on a table. The heat-generating member is installed in the knife groove base and a cement resistor or an electric-heating tube or an electric-heating rod can be used as the heat-generating member to generate heat energy for heat-drying the knife blades inserted in the knife grooves.

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 ventilated foot rest for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger vehicle, has a housing which contains at least one air-inlet opening and at least one air-outlet opening, and which has a foot-depositing board on its upper side. In order to better utilize this foot rest, it is proposed to form a storage space and at least two flow paths which are independent of each other in the housing. A first flow path ventilates the storage space, while a second flow path bypasses the storage space and ventilates the foot-depositing board.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying “dry suits”, HAZ MAT suits, cleanroom suits and the like utilizes a blower and heating elements mounted through a neck, wrist or ankle seal of the suit. The heated and compressed air is discharged into the suit to absorb moisture from the internal suit surfaces, then is discharged through the suit seals, rapidly drying the suit. Inserts for establishing a desired discharge rate from the suit seals are described. The inserts also serve to stretch the neck and arm seals to the proper diameter for maintaining comfortable wear.

Abstract: A golf club grip drying device includes one chamber for receipt of a golf club grip and an adjacent chamber for receipt of an aerosol gas dispenser with a transfer tube conveying gas from the aerosol gas dispenser chamber to the golf club grip chamber. An actuator is provided which is responsive to movement of the golf club grip within its chamber so that when the golf club grip is so inserted, it engages the actuator which in turn engages the aerosol gas dispenser to open a valve contained within the aerosol gas dispenser and cause dispensing of aerosol gas within the golf club grip chamber to remove moisture from the surface of the golf club grip and therefore dry it.

Abstract: A dehumidifier drying apparatus adapted to dry saturated drying agent of dehumidifiers, including a top-open drying box, the drying box having an air inlet, a detachable seal cover covered on the drying box and adapted to hold saturated drying agent for drying, the detachable seal cover having a plurality of air vents, and a hot air source, for example, a hair dryer adapted to blow hot air through the air inlet of the drying box and the air vents of the detachable seal cover to dry saturated drying agent being put on the detachable seal cover.

Abstract: A cabinet for clothes drying and dewrinkling which comprises a main enclosure that defines an inner area for housing clothes, a fan for supplying air to the inner area, a steam generator for supplying steam to the inner area, a controller for regulating the air supply and steam supply, and at least one airing duct. The airing duct can be opened and closed by the controller.

Abstract: An evaporating system for evaporating solvents from chemical samples held in supply plates, which accelerate evaporation by warming the samples in a hot air bath. The system includes adapters to allow the use of supply plates of varying heights, such as either standard micro-plates or deep well micro-plates.

Abstract: An access door to a pressurized enclosure such as an ear corn dryer swings about an axis of rotation that divides the door into first and second panels. If the door axis of rotation is midway between the door edges, forces on the panels from the pressurized air when the door is closed are substantially equal. A person need exert only a nominal force on one of the panels to open the door. Preferably, one of the panels has a larger area than the other panel. The force produced on the larger panel keeps the access door closed such that a measurable force must be exerted by a person to open the door. The door is sealed on opposite faces when the door is closed.

Abstract: A cabinet (1) for clothes drying and dewrinkling which comprises a main enclosure (2) that defines an inner area (3) for housing clothes, means for supplying air to the inner area (3), means for supplying steam to the inner area (3), control means for regulating said means, and at least one airing duct (10). It also includes means for opening and closing said airing duct (10), said opening and closing means being controlled by said control means.

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.

Abstract: An environmental test chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a partition. The first chamber receives one or more electronic components to be tested. The first chamber includes an exhaust area through which air is introduced to the first chamber and an intake area from which air is evacuated from the first chamber. The exhaust area and intake area are both fitted with a panel having a plurality of apertures. The size and/or the distance between the apertures is varied to provide a uniform airflow through the first chamber, thereby insuring that each electrical component housed within the first chamber experiences the desired temperature and humidity conditions. An air intake assembly is provided which draws air into a control panel chamber housing the electrical circuitry necessary to operate the environmental test chamber, and transports the air into the second chamber to thereby permit both the control panel chamber and the second chamber to receive ambient air.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an object with ultra-violet light is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a container, a transducer, coupled to the container; and a source of ultraviolet light configured to deliver ultraviolet light to an object disposed within said container. The UV source is configured to deliver the ultraviolet light through the vapor to process the object. The vapor and UV light react with a surface of the object to process the object. The apparatus is particularly suited to wet processing substrates in a single substrate processing system having multiple wet processing chambers configured within a process bench. The apparatus can include a robot arm having a pick-up, such as a vacuum wand, that adheres to a back side of the substrate.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heating systems for drying wet coatings such as printing inks, paint, sealants, etc. applied to a substrate. In particular, the invention relates to a drying system in which a blower having an inlet directs a current of heated gas such as air towards a wet coating on a substrate to dry the coating and wherein the heated air is circulated back to the inlet of the blower once the air impinges the coating on the substrate. The present invention also relates to a drying system in which the substrate is supported about a thermally conductive roll having a plurality of energy emitters disposed within the conductive roll along a length of the conductive roll. The plurality of energy emitters are controlled to selectively emit energy along the length of the conductive roll.

Abstract: A toploading weighing instrumentality which determines loss on drying by a cylindrical microwave. The cylindrical cavity of the microwave includes a power supply, a magnetron, a power module operatively coupled between said power supply and said magnetron for driving said magnetron, a wave guide communicating with the magnetron and with a microwave containment chamber for delivering energy thereto, at least one microwave energy sensor for sensing microwave energy or magnetic and/or electric field strength within the chamber for controlling, inter alia, the loss on drying process of the sample being assayed and determining when the drying process is complete. A precision electronic balance is operatively disposed within the microwave chamber for allowing a specimen being assayed to be weighed. In addition, a ventilation chamber is provided for venting moisture from the microwave chamber.

Abstract: Nitrogen gas is jetted into a space on the liquid level of pure water in a drying chamber in which wafers are immersed. Simultaneously therewith, liquid-phase isopropyl alcohol is jetted at a temperature higher than the temperature of the wafers and in the vicinity of jetting openings for the nitrogen gas. When the wafers are exposed above the liquid level in the drying chamber, the pure water held on both front and rear surfaces of the wafers is replaced by the isopropyl alcohol of mist-form. The isopropyl alcohol is then evaporated, whereby the wafers are dried.

Abstract: A gas fired garment drier is described in which a base is provided with an air conduit including an internal air passageway leading from a bottom end to a top end. A gas burner is positioned adjacent the bottom end of the conduit. A heat exchanger is situated adjacent the gas burner and leads into the air conduit and the air passageway. The heat exchanger includes a convection air duct extending into the air conduit within the air passageway. A garment support is provided adjacent the top end of the air conduit.

Abstract: A system (10) for processing wafers and cleaning wafer cassettes (160, 260, 460) includes a work cell (12) having a plurality of processing stations (14) for processing wafers, and at least one processing/cleaning station (30, 130, 230, 430) for receiving and delivering wafers to and from a wafer cassette (160, 260, 460), a transfer mechanism (16) for moving the wafers between the plurality of processing stations (14) and the cleaning station (30). The cleaning station (30, 130, 230, 430) may have an exterior door (32, 132, 232, 432), an exhaust (34, 134, 234, 434), an interior door (40, 140, 240, 440), a plurality of gas nozzles (166, 266, 466) for delivering a sweeping gas over the wafer cassette (160, 260, 460). The cleaning process can also be done with a loaded cassette (160, 260, 460) that is unloaded before cleaning.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the gelatin coating of medicaments which includes a continuous conveyer system to advance a plurality of pallets through a loading station, at least one dipping station, at least one dryer station, a reorientation station and an unloading station. Medicaments to be coated are loaded into pallets at the loading station and advanced to the first dipping station where a vacuum is applied to secure the medicament to the pallet. The pallet is inverted and a first portion of each of the medicaments is dipped into a coating mixture. The pallet is then returned to its upright position, the vacuum is removed and the coating is dried. The medicaments are then transferred from the first pallet to a second pallet by a reorientation mechanism. The second pallet is then advanced to a second dipping station which operates in the same manner as the first dipping station.

Abstract: A paint drying system for drying painted motor cars, particularly those cars painted with water-born paints. The system includes a spray booth (2) which is supplied with heated air which flows in a downdraft from an upper inlet (32) to a lower outlet (44) and also from wall-mounted air jets. The air from the air jets disrupts the downdraft causing air turbulence within the spraybooth (2) which accelerates drying of the painted cars. In a preferred embodiment, the spraybooth has corner mounted air jets.

Abstract: A portable purge system for transporting materials, such as semiconductor wafers used in the manufacture of ICs, comprises a carrier having compartments for releasably receiving and enclosing the materials therein. The carrier is flooded with an inert gas such as nitrogen so as to adsorb the nitrogen on the surface of the materials, dilute contaminants, and purge the contaminants from the carrier. The carrier and the flooding means are mounted in a transport case. A humidifier is connected to the flooding means so that the materials will adsorb water and thereby further resist adsorption of hydrocarbon contaminants.

Abstract: A hand drier for drying the hands in a turbulent air flow region of cross flowing multiple air streams, and for recycling already heated air for reheating to conserve energy and having a housing and a fan in the housing to create air flow, scrolls for dividing the air flow into two air streams, and guiding them in opposite directions, a heater for heating the air, and, air outlets spaced apart from one another for receiving the air streams so as to redirect respective air streams from opposite directions and cause them to flow countercurrent in opposition to one another to produce a turbulent air flow where the two countercurrent air streams meet, in which the hands can be placed for drying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and process for transporting flat objects confined in a specific atmosphere. The device comprises at least one assembly provided with several thin, flat cells (31) that open onto a lateral face (33) of said assembly with the cells arranged in parallel and linked by the same ventilation system. Each cell is constructed to receive a flat object (10) and is closed by an independent door (33). The cells are arranged in tandem and the device includes assembly means for interlocking an upper cell to an adjacent lower cell in each successive pair and in a complementary arrangement.

Abstract: A spa enclosure for a spa tub is provided with a cabinet having at least one towel bar or towel hook and which at least partially recesses into the wall of the enclosure. The cabinet is provided with vent openings which permit heat cogenerated by a water pump used to pump water in the spa, an air blower, and/or a water heater to enter the cabinet by convection, heat towels provided on the bars or hooks, and exit through an upper portion of the cabinet. No additional dedicated heating element is provided to heat the towels. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the cabinet is hinged at a lower portion to the enclosure and pivots about the hinge to open. The front and sides of the cabinet are preferably insulated to retain heat within the cabinet, and likewise, the enclosure may be insulated. A supply of towels may be kept in the cabinet or towels may be placed in the cabinet just prior to entering the spa tub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for confirming the initial conditions of a clothes dryer prior to the start of the drying cycle is provided. The clothes dryer comprises a drying chamber with air inlet and outlet ports. A blower powered by a first motor is arranged in the outlet port to draw air into the drying chamber through the inlet port. A burner for heating the air before it enters the drying chamber is arranged in the inlet port. Also arranged at the inlet port is an air proving device for measuring the air flow through the drying chamber. A second motor is provided for the drive system which creates the tumbling action in the drying chamber. The air flow proving device must be enabled before the second motor is started.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating an object and specifically a substantially flat object described. The apparatus may be a hot plate post-baking apparatus for heat treating a substantially flat object such as a photomask used in a semiconductor photolithographic process. The apparatus is provided with an upper heat reflector plate that is equipped with upwardly curved edge portions such that the amount of heat reflected by the reflector can be controlled and the center region on the substantially flat object can be temperature compensated for achieving more uniform temperature profile across the entire surface of the mask. By utilizing the heat reflector plate in a post-baking apparatus, the normally observed 5.degree. C. temperature difference across a mask surface is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A dryer for drying articles, such as vials of pharmaceutical bulk product, such as vaccines is disclosed. The dryer circulates ambient air through a plenum to evenly evaporate condensation on vials of pharmaceutical brought from refrigeration for labeling and further handling.

Abstract: In a monitoring system for a wood drying kiln having a housing with an interior area for placement of a charge of wood for drying the charge of wood, the interior area having a floor, environment devices for adjusting heat and humidity in the interior area of the kiln, and a control unit for controlling the environment devices, the improvement is a support in the interior area for supporting a representative sample of the charge of wood, a sensor mounted to the support for sensing the weight of the sample which is a function of moisture content in the sample and a proportioning mechanism connected between the sensor and the sample for suspending the sample and for applying a proportioned force resulting from the weight of the sample to the sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit for generating a signal which is proportional to the weight, and thus, to the moisture content of the sample.

Abstract: A portable sport equipment bag having an air distributor is connected with a hose to blower and ozone generator operable to move air and ozone under pressure into the air distributor. The air distributor has one or more manifolds located within the bag. The manifolds have a plurality of holes to allow air and ozone in the manifolds to flow into the bag to dry sport equipment and objects within the bag and destroy bacteria, molds and fungus in the bag. One or more air filters mounted on the bag remove odors and foreign matter from the air flow from the bag into the environment adjacent the bag.

Abstract: Timber drying apparatus comprises a housing defining a microwave cavity (4) for containing a quantity of timber, a microwave generator (1) coupled to the housing for introducing microwave energy into the cavity, temperature sensing means (13) arranged to sense the temperature of timber within the cavity and/or weight sensing means (8) for sensing the weight of timber within the cavity and control means for varying the power output of the microwave generator in response to the sense temperature and/or weight. The humidity and/or air temperature may also be sensed in the cavity. The timber may be oscillated within the cavity.