Gas Or Vapor Flow Directing Or Control Patents (Class 34/487)
  • Publication number: 20120144693
    Abstract: A heat pump type clothes dryer compensates for pressure loss caused by a radiator to increase the flow rate of air passing around the radiator, and suppressing introduction of ambient air through gaps formed in air flow lines to avoid degradation in drying capacity, while avoiding an increase in the power consumption or noise of a fan. The clothes dryer includes a drum to accommodate clothes, an air suction or intake line to suck air into the drum, an air exhaust line to exhaust air from the drum, a heat pump circuit including a compressor, a radiator, a pressure reducer, and a heat absorber, where the heat absorber is provided in the air exhaust line, and the radiator is provided in the air suction or intake line, a first blowing mechanism provided in the air exhaust line, and a second blowing mechanism provided in the air suction or intake line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji WAKIZAKA
  • Publication number: 20120137538
    Abstract: The device according to the invention for drying and torrefaction of at least one carbon-containing material flow in a multiple-hearth furnace substantially comprises a drying zone, which comprises a feed device for feeding a carbon-containing material flow, a discharge point for discharging a drying gas flow containing water vapour and an infeed point for recycling at least a part of the drying gas flow, a torrefaction zone for degassing the material flow dried in the drying zone, which comprises a discharge point for discharging a torrefied material flow, at least one infeed point for an exhaust gas and a discharge point for a torrefaction gas flow, a heat exchanger for heating the drying gas flow, the discharge point of the drying zone being connected via the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the drying zone, a combustion assembly, wherein the discharge point of the torrefaction zone is connected via the combustion assembly and the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the torrefaction zone, wherei
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Karl Lampe, Jürgen Denker, Christoph Beyer, Richard Erpelding
  • Publication number: 20120090195
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating an electronic component, the apparatus includes a table on which a printed board is placed, a heating head having a contact surface that comes into contact with the upper surface of a rectangular electronic component mounted on the upper surface of the printed board, a discharge portion that jets heated air; and a first passage that guides the air discharged from the discharge portion to the four vertexes of the electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Mitsuo TAKEUCHI, Tohru Harada, Toru Okada
  • Publication number: 20120079737
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a drum, an air suction duct forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an auxiliary fan introducing air into the air suction duct, an air exhaustion duct forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a main fan exhausting air to the air exhaustion duct from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction duct, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion duct, and a compressor and an expander forming a heat pump together with the condenser and the evaporator. The method includes measuring a discharge side pressure of the compressor, and comparing the measured discharge side pressure with a maximum allowable pressure, and determining that the auxiliary fan does not operate when the discharge side pressure is more than the maximum allowable pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hyuksoo LEE, Sungmin Ye, Seonghwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120073159
    Abstract: A method for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Wyssmont Company Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Weisselberg, Joseph Bevacqua, Robert Borre
  • Publication number: 20120066929
    Abstract: An improved desolventizer toaster and methods are provided wherein a solvent vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle solvent vapor throughout a portion of the desolventizer portion of the apparatus housing. In other embodiments of the invention, a water vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle water vapor throughout a portion of the toaster portion of the apparatus housing. The solvent vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate meal dust separator, blower and superheater. The water vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate ejector or blower and superheater. Water vapor recovered in the solvent extraction process may be used as a water vapor feed to the heated water vapor recycling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: DESMET BALLESTRA NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Kemper, Marc Kellens, Philippe Van Doosselaere
  • Publication number: 20120061345
    Abstract: A method of drying a substrate comprises: supplying a first air flow 4 downwardly in an inclined direction onto the substrate; supplying a second air flow 5 upwardly in an inclined direction onto the substrate, while moving relatively the substrate and the upper and lower blowing portions so that the substrate, from the end area as a front of the substrate, passes between the upper blowing portion and the lower blowing portion; and controlling the first and second air flows such that a velocity component of the second air flow in an upward direction perpendicular to the virtual plane is smaller than a velocity component of the first air flow in a downward direction perpendicular to the virtual plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazushige Utsumi
  • Publication number: 20120030964
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hopper structure for the dehumidification of granular plastic material by means of a dehumidifying process fluid, including: a main body (1a), bearing, at the top in use, a closure wall (1b) with loading opening or mouth (4a) for the granular plastic material to be treated; at least one discharge mouth or opening (4c) for the process fluid provided on the main body (1a) or on the closure wall (1b), a tapered lower section (1c) terminating with a discharge opening (4b) for the dehumidified granular plastic material, an insert member (3) fluid-sealed and positionable in the main body (1a) and in the tapered section (1c) so as to delimit an annular air space (AG) therewith, the insert member (3) comprising at least one conical or frustoconical lower part (3a), which tapers towards bottom, and an upper part (3b), and at least one dehumidifying fluid feed duct (26) to the annular air space (AG), the lower tapered section (1c) comprising at least one pair of walls or wall segment
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Renato MORETTO
  • Publication number: 20120017463
    Abstract: In a dryer machine a drying method which involves sending a pulse according to a pulse pattern formed by: energizing each of a plurality of actuators of a heater for a first determined set time; de-energizing one actuator of the heater for a second determined set time; de-energizing another actuator of the heater for a third determined period of time; compare, during the previous steps, the temperature detected by a temperature detector versus a target temperature; in case the temperature detected is higher than the target temperature, interrupting a drive signal to drivers for the heater; in case the temperature detected is lower than the target temperature, uninterrupting the signal to the drivers; and repeat the previous steps at least one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Ionelia Silvia PRAJESCU, Sebastièn BEAULAC
  • Publication number: 20110239483
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for applying heated-air flow to wet or damp copper cable and specifically to individual mutually-insulated copper conductors within that cable including their respective paper sheath coverings. This cable can be used in telecommunications applications. Disclosed embodiments permit drying of difficult to reach wet/damp areas within a cable and between and amongst layers of wet/damp cable. A heat gun muzzle-insert attaches, at one end, to a heat gun barrel's muzzle end to extend hot air flow from the gun through the insert and through a plurality of tubes attached to its other end, This allows air flow to be pin-pointed at wet/damp areas otherwise not reachable without the tubes. The muzzle-insert attaches via threaded connection and is made from the same material as the gun to have the same thermal expansion characteristic. The hot air flow extender mechanisms can be modularized, each ha mg differently-sized pluralities of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON NEW YORK INC.
    Inventor: Anthony ROTONDI
  • Publication number: 20110219640
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to systems and methods for drying wood products in one or more kilns with recovered flue gases. In some embodiments, methods for drying wood products include firing a fuel in the one or more combustion devices, thereby producing a heated fluid and a flue gas. The heated fluid is circulated to provide a primary heat source to the one or more indirect fired kilns. An amount of flue gas is recovered and transferred to provide a secondary heat source to the one or more indirect fired kilns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY
    Inventor: Philip Latos
  • Publication number: 20110214308
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for control of a gas turbine or a gas turbine generator, where the gas turbine is connected to a dryer vessel in which gas turbine exhaust gases are used to heat treat a material in the dryer vessel. The control system comprises one or more sensors for temperature, moisture and/or flow rate in the dryer vessel and/or of the material inside, entering and/or exiting the dryer vessel and a controller responsive to the sensor for controlling the fuel and/or air flow into the gas turbine. This control system and method enables providing the appropriate heat output from the gas turbine to meet the process heat required for the desired material treatment. Optionally, the gas turbine can be a liquid fuel turbine engine, or a reciprocating engine can be substituted for the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Patent number: 7980003
    Abstract: A heat processing apparatus includes a heating plate configured to heat the substrate; a cover configured to surround a space above the heating plate; an exhaust gas flow forming mechanism configured to exhaust gas inside the cover to form exhaust gas flows within the space above the heating plate; a downflow forming mechanism configured to form downflows uniformly supplied onto an upper surface of the substrate placed on the heating plate; and a control mechanism configured to execute mode switching control between a mode arranged to heat the substrate while forming the downflows by the downflow forming mechanism and a mode arranged to heat the substrate while forming the exhaust gas flows by the exhaust gas flow forming mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shigeki Aoki, Yuichi Sakai, Mitsuo Yamashita, Hiroshi Shinya
  • Patent number: 7931755
    Abstract: In a method for removing deposit that has attached to a main surface of a substrate from the main surface of the substrate using air knife units where a slit portion is formed so that a fluid can be discharged in band form, a fluid introduction path having an approximately uniform form in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which a number of air knife units move relative to the substrate is formed between the air knife units and the main surface of the substrate while the air knife units move relative to the substrate, a fluid is discharged toward the fluid introduction path from a slit that is formed in the rear portion of the above described air knife units, and then, passes through the fluid introduction path so as to be led to a wall surface that is formed so as to face the front portion of the air knife units or the fluid which has the appearance of a wall surface, and furthermore, deposit on the substrate that has attached to the substrate is led away from the main surface of the substrate,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nishio, Yukio Oshima
  • Patent number: 7882646
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Patent number: 7866060
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Publication number: 20100293810
    Abstract: A method for drying a work piece is provided. The method includes raising a plurality of submerged workpieces supported on a first transition arm partially above a fluid/air interface and capturing the plurality of partially submerged workpieces during the raising by a second transition arm located above the fluid/air interface. A system for drying a workpiece is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Mike Wallis, Sean Harbison, John McEntee
  • Patent number: 7837804
    Abstract: In a dry process after a cleaning process using a cleaning-liquid nozzle and a rinse process using a side rinse nozzle are performed on a wafer W, the wafer W is turned, feeding of pure water to a center point of the wafer W from a pure-water nozzle is started, and substantially at the same, injection of a nitrogen gas from a gas nozzle to a center portion of the wafer W at a point at an adequate distance apart from the center of the wafer W is started. Next, while the pure-water nozzle is caused to scan toward the periphery of the wafer W, the gas nozzle is caused to scan toward the periphery of the wafer W in an area radially inward of the position of the pure-water nozzle after the gas nozzle passes the center of the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Ohno, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7765714
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the VOC and CO content of dryer offgas that is discharged into the atmosphere from a moist organic product drying process using thermal oxidizing apparatus that includes a furnace, mixing chamber, thermal oxidizer, tempering chamber, and an indirect gas-to-gas heat exchanger. The dryer offgas is separated into two portions, with a larger portion being preheated by indirect heat exchange with the hot gaseous output from the thermal oxidizer. The non-preheated portion is directed to a rotary waste heat evaporator in which moisture is removed therefrom. The preheated portion is recycled to the hot gas inlet of the dryer and serves the function of dryer heat transfer media. By removing moisture from the non-preheated portion of the offgas that is directed to the thermal oxidizing apparatus, simultaneous achievement of thermal oxidizer temperatures of 1600° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Aeroglide Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Ronning
  • Publication number: 20100154247
    Abstract: A drier apparatus for removing water or other liquids from various materials includes a mixer, drying chamber, separator and regenerator and a method for use of the apparatus. The material to be dried is mixed with a heated media to form a mixture which then passes through the chamber. While passing through the chamber, a comparatively cool fluid is passed counter current through the mixture so that the mixture becomes cooler and drier and the fluid becomes hotter and more saturated with moisture. The mixture is then separated into drier material and media. The media is transferred to the regenerator and heated therein by the hot fluid from the chamber and supplemental heat is supplied to bring the media to a preselected temperature for mixing with the incoming material to be dried. In a closed loop embodiment of the apparatus, the fluid is also recycled from the regenerator to the chamber and a chiller is utilized to reduce the temperature of the fluid to a preselected temperature and dew point temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Steve D. Shivvers
  • Publication number: 20100101109
    Abstract: This disclosure reveals a combination of embodiments that increase the evaporation rate of liquid solutions when subjected to blow-down gas flows. Certain gas flow separator baffles or framed inserts with vanes may be especially effective to enhance evaporation when combined with aggressive blow-down flow rates and centrifugal force. The centrifugal force applied to the evaporating liquid protects sample integrity by preventing the solution(s) from splashing out of the drying container. Such splashing, when high blow-down gas flow rates are directed into the sample containers, affects yield and purity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Herbert J. Hedberg, Brian A. Kangas, Michael A. Burns
  • Publication number: 20100058611
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the air flow in a clothes dryer by determining a pressure characteristic of the air within the drying chamber when the dryer is turned on and comparing the determined pressure characteristic to a predetermined reference value to ascertain the condition of the air flow in the dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: GREGORY JOHN NEUMANN
  • Patent number: 7654011
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the VOC, CO, and, alternatively, the NOx content of dryer offgas that is discharged into the atmosphere from a moist organic product drying process using thermal oxidizing apparatus that includes a burner, furnace, mixing chamber, thermal oxidizer, tempering chamber, and an indirect gas-to-gas heat exchanger. The dryer offgas is separated into two portions, with a larger portion being preheated by indirect heat exchange with the hot gaseous output from the thermal oxidizer. The non-preheated portion is directed to the burner in the function of flue gas recycle for NOx control. The preheated portion is separated into two portions, with one portion being directed to the furnace/mixing chamber of the thermal oxidizing apparatus. The other portion of the preheated offgas is recycled to the hot gas inlet of the dryer and serves the function of dryer heat transfer media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ronning Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Ronning, Michael V. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100000118
    Abstract: While a dryer is running, continuously automatically monitor operation of a dryer venting system, and continuously automatically determining if the dryer venting system is operating improperly, and if it is determined that the dryer venting system is operating improperly then automatically disabling the dryer. If the dryer starts running then automatically turning on a booster fan. Operation of booster fan is monitored by sensing the current drawn. Monitoring operation of the venting system through a first controller and automatically disabling the dryer through a second controller. Automatically turn off the booster fan if the dryer is not running. Automatically adjust operating parameters of the dryer venting system in an attempt to operate the venting system properly, and disabling the dryer if the venting system continues to operate improperly after adjustment. Check to determine if the dryer is drawing current to indicate the dryer is running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: J. Vern Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20090158615
    Abstract: A method is described for drying wood combined into stacks (2) with the aid of a drying gas stream which flows through the wood stacks (2), which, by removing moist waste gas (8) after the wood stacks (2) and supplying fresh gas (9) before the wood stacks (2), is passed through the wood stacks (2) partially in circulation, wherein the wood is dried more rapidly with a moisture content above the fibre saturation than with a moisture content below the fibre saturation. In order to provide advantageous, economical drying conditions, it is proposed that before its slower drying with the aid of the drying gas stream guided partially in circulation, the wood is dried more rapidly with a drying gas stream consisting substantially only of fresh gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Kurt Muehlboeck
  • Publication number: 20090107002
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for forcing evaporation of a solvent from a coating on a surface of a panel. The method includes directing air to flow along the surface of the panel, and generating turbulence in the air within the column, by creating one or more high pressure pulses of air within the airflow, at a chosen frequency. The turbulence travels in the direction of the airflow, replacing air laden with vapor adjacent to the surface of the panel with dry air, thereby accelerating drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Andras Uhlyarik
  • Publication number: 20090100702
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the efficiency of dryer appliances that utilize heated air for drying and are disposed within a residence or other closed conditioned space includes an intake air duct connected between the dryer appliance and a source of intake air outside the conditioned space, an exhaust outlet diverter valve to receive exhaust air from the dryer and direct the exhaust air for release within the conditioned space or alternatively outside the conditioned space. Alternative embodiments provide for drawing intake air from more than one source, with and without heat exchange, for releasing heated air to more than one location, including into a heating system return air duct, either directly or through a heat exchanger. A method of controlling the operation of the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Wood Fair
  • Patent number: 7513062
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method of drying a substrate is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) lifting a substrate through an air/fluid interface at a first rate; (2) directing a drying vapor at the air/fluid interface during lifting of the substrate; and (3) while a portion of the substrate remains in the air/fluid interface, reducing a rate at which a remainder of the substrate is lifted through the air/fluid interface to a second rate. The drying vapor may form an angle of about 23° with the air/fluid interface and/or the second rate may be about 2.5 mm/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Younes Achkire, Alexander N Lerner, Boris Govzman, Boris Fishkin, Michael N Sugarman, Rashid A Mavliev, Haoquan Fang, Shijian Li, Guy E Shirazi, Jianshe Tang
  • Publication number: 20090077828
    Abstract: An electric switching circuit with a first current path for operating an electric motor and with a second current path for operating a first heater. The electric motor drives a fan during which an air flow created by the fan is heated by the first heater. A switch for opening or closing the second current path in response to an actual operating state of the electric motor is, in the second current path, connected in series to the first heater. The switch is designed as a bimetallic switch and a second heater is assigned thereto that is arranged and designed for detecting the actual operating state of the electric motor and for controlling the bimetallic switch by changing its ambient temperature in response to the detected operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Nawrot, Bert Peters, Guido Sattler
  • Publication number: 20090031580
    Abstract: A dehumidification plant for granular material, comprising: dehumidification hopper having loading mouth and discharge mouth of granular material, inlet duct of a hot, dry gaseous processing fluid medium for each hopper and discharge duct of moisture-loaded treatment fluid medium for each hopper; generator group of hot, dry gaseous processing, supplied by discharge duct; pressurization means connected in input to generator group and set to pressurize the gaseous fluid medium generated by generator group and feed it in parallel to each hopper through a respective inlet duct; a programmable control unit; and a flow intensity adjustment device of the gaseous processing supplied into each inlet duct, each flow intensity adjustment device comprising valve means controllable by the programmable control unit, the flow intensity adjustment device of the gaseous fluid medium comprising at valve means controllable by the programmable control unit and arranged in each discharge duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Renato Moretto
  • Publication number: 20090025248
    Abstract: A food dehydrator apparatus comprising a plurality of modular food trays, each tray comprising a generally horizontal drying rack having an upper and lower surface and openings providing for air passage extending generally vertically through the tray, a wall located at the periphery of the tray, the wall extending generally vertically at the periphery, and having a top and bottom edge, and an inner and outer wall surface, and a plurality of legs extending from the lower surface of the tray and below the lower edge of the wall, where the trays are stackable, whereby when a first tray is adjacent a second tray, the top edge of the wall of the first tray and the bottom edge of the wall of the second tray form a close fit preventing air passage therebetween, and where when the first modular food tray is position with the legs set on a substantially flat support surface, a gap is formed between the wall bottom edge and the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Andris Lannon
  • Publication number: 20080307669
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20080312773
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for barrier-free control of a household appliance, said method comprising, providing a program-controlled household appliance with a control panel having a plurality of operating program selectors for selecting programs of appliance operations and corresponding program cycles controlled by a micro controller, a memory component for storing the functions of the appliance operating programs and corresponding program cycles, a display unit for displaying the output of the status of the appliance operation, selecting the desired appliance operating program, enabling by an automatic selection a set of compatible program cycles corresponding to the selected appliance operating program, disabling automatically the corresponding non-compatible program cycles that are contrary to the selected appliance operating program, disabling automatically the corresponding non-compatible program cycles that are contrary to the selected program cycles, and executing the program cycles of th
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: IFB Industries Limited
    Inventor: Bijon Nag
  • Publication number: 20080276485
    Abstract: A system configured to dry containers before a date coding process includes a blower assembly, an air manifold and a bracket assembly. The blower assembly includes a centrifugal air blower. The air manifold is connected to the blower assembly and includes a plurality of air nozzles. The air nozzles are configured to be positioned over a conveyor line, wherein the air nozzles are configured to expel air moved by the centrifugal air blower. The bracket assembly is configured to adjustably mount the air manifold over the conveyor line, wherein the bracket assembly allows the air manifold to be horizontally and/or vertically adjusted with respect to the conveyor line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Allen S. Pucciani, Steven E. Broerman
  • Patent number: 7426791
    Abstract: An energy savings apparatus configured for use with a clothes dryer comprising an air duct and a damper assembly. The air duct has a first end and a second end. The damper assembly includes an air duct portion and a damper device mounting on the duct portion. The air duct portion of the damper assembly is attached at a first end thereof to the first end of the air duct. The second end of the air duct portion of the damper assembly is configured for being attached to an air inlet of a heater assembly of a clothes dryer. The damper assembly is configured for selectively enabling air to be routed to the air inlet of the heater assembly from the second end of the air duct and from an air inlet intermediate the ends of the air duct portion of the damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: Mack V. Martin
  • Patent number: 7425688
    Abstract: A heating assembly for heating a hot air stream flowing in a flow passage of a tumble dryer. The heating assembly is configured for installation in the flow passage and comprises at least one heating element and at least one temperature sensor. The heating element is arranged such that the hot air stream can flow around it in a passing direction (D). The at least one temperature sensor can detect the temperature of the hot air stream and is arranged such that it projects into a core area of the hot air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: DBK David + Baader GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Loesch, Ralf Frohn, Jerome Grunewald, Jens Koehne
  • Publication number: 20080216347
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and method of drying a wafer including supplying a drying material for drying a wafer and controlling a flow of the drying material to uniformly or substantially uniformly dry the wafer. The flow of the drying material may be controlled by a vent unit including at least one part for controlling the flow of the drying material to uniformly or substantially uniformly dry the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Hun-Jung Yi, Sang-Oh Park
  • Patent number: 7412782
    Abstract: A process for the continuous drying of water-surrounded granulate transported by a screen-type belt conveyor. In a first conveying region in the form of a chute, water is withdrawn under gravity from the plastic granulate at a temperature of > than 100° C., wherein, in a following second region on a belt conveyor, any remaining water is substantially removed by air extraction through the belt conveyor, the air extraction taking place at an air speed of > than 20 m per second and with a dwell time in the second region of < than 2 seconds, there being a following third region, as an evaporation zone, with a dwell time of more than two seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Rieter Automatik GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 7401417
    Abstract: When drying a web-formed material, the web-formed material is passed, in contact with a gas-permeable dryer screen, through a drying plant. One or more fans blow hot process air against, and through, the web-formed material in order to dry it. A chamber, surrounding the fan or the fans, has a limiting surface that is essentially parallel to the surface of the web-formed material. This limiting surface has an opening that extends essentially across the whole width of the web-formed material. A distributing member, in the form of an arcuate perforated, sheet-formed element, placed outside the chamber, covers the opening completely. With the distributing member a first flow of process air is divided into a large number of jets, distributed over essentially the whole of the angular area that faces the web-formed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Andritz Fiber Drying Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Ingemar Rydell, Ake Ringqvist, Heikki Salo
  • Patent number: 7377053
    Abstract: A device for drying substrate comprising a processing vessel housing a specified number of substrates such as semiconductor wafers installed erectedly in parallel to one another, a first substrate supporting member supporting substrates within the processing vessel, the processing fluid supplying section supplying to the processing vessel, the processing fluid for performing processing such as cleaning processing on the substrates, a processing fluid exhausting section exhausting processing fluid from the processing vessel, and a drying fluid supplying section supplying, to the processing vessel, the liquid drops of drying fluid for performing drying processing on the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Maeda, Koji Sumi, Hiroshi Aihara, Masao Oono, Takao Matsumoto, Naoaki Izutani
  • Publication number: 20080110042
    Abstract: A method and a device for drying wet washing that has been placed in a drier device equipped with a rotatable drum. The stream of drying air is guided in such a way that the surface of the washing to be dried that is exposed to said stream is maximised. To achieve this, the invention provides a washing spacer, at least some sections of which are flexible and on which the washing to be dried can be placed. The spacer can then be rolled up together with the washing to be dried into a preferably cylindrical form. The washing spacer and the wet washing, which is rolled with a radial distance between its layers, is connected in an air-conductive, sealed manner to the extraction opening, allowing the stream of drying air to be guided through the washing spacer and the washing to be dried. Said method is extremely effective and reduces the drying times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH ü
    Inventors: Uwe Ackermann, Lothar Dittmer, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Harald Moschutz, Kai Nitschmann, Ingo Schulze, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20080110041
    Abstract: A method for drying moist goods is provided. The method uses a dryer positioned within a building connected to a dual flow duct that includes a fresh air passage and an exhaust air passage. The method includes the steps of supplying drying air to the dryer through the fresh air passage, passing air through the moist goods, and exhausting the air from the building through the exhaust air passage of the dual flow duct. The method may include the steps of transferring heat energy from the exhausted air to the drying air. Also, the flow of supplied air and exhaust air may flow concentrically relative one another or in side-by-side relation. Furthermore, the method may include sensing characteristics of the air and controlling the dryer according to the sensed characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERTSHAW CONTROLS COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Allen Ehlers
  • Publication number: 20080110043
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Publication number: 20080066339
    Abstract: A system for drying a work piece is provided. The system includes a chamber containing a cleaning fluid in a first portion of the chamber and a drying region. The system includes a wet transition arm configured to support a plurality of work pieces while disposed in the cleaning fluid. A dry transition arn configured to accept the plurality of work pieces from the wet transition arm as the wet transition arm is being raised is also included. The dry transition arm and the wet transition arm are coupled to a common drive mechanism, wherein the common drive mechanism includes a first and a second motor. The first motor is configured to drive both the wet and dry transition arms. The second motor is configured to control an amount of separation between the wet and dry transition arms. A transition arm and method for drying a work piece are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Mike Wallis, Sean Harbison, John McEntee
  • Patent number: 7343698
    Abstract: A reduced pressure drying apparatus comprises a substrate stage section for disposing thereon a substrate having the surface coated with a coating liquid containing a film-forming component and a solvent, a hermetic vessel having the substrate stage section arranged therein, an exhaust means for reducing the pressure inside the hermetic vessel, a gaseous stream distribution control plate arranged apart from and in a manner to face the surface of the substrate disposed on the substrate stage section and provided with a plurality of gaseous stream-flowing ports through which flow a gaseous stream, each of the plurality of gaseous stream-flowing ports having a gaseous stream-flowing region, and a control means for controlling the distribution pattern of the gaseous stream-flowing regions of the gaseous stream distribution control plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Sugimoto, Masayuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20070227034
    Abstract: A coated film drying method for drying a film which is coated on a surface of a web while the web is running through a tunnel-shaped dry case having a web entrance and a web exit, comprising the steps of: blowing dry air toward a surface of the coated film through an outlet port which is provided with a porous distributor; and sucking the dry air through an inlet port which is disposed at a position downstream or upstream of the position where the dry air is blown out and on the same side as that on which the outlet port is disposed relative to the coated film, so that a stream of the dry air which flows in a direction parallel to the running direction of the web is formed across the entire width of the surface of the coated film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonari Ogawa, Kazuhiko Nojo, Hideaki Kominami
  • Publication number: 20070169373
    Abstract: A heat processing apparatus includes a heating plate configured to heat the substrate; a cover configured to surround a space above the heating plate; an exhaust gas flow forming mechanism configured to exhaust gas inside the cover to form exhaust gas flows within the space above the heating plate; a downflow forming mechanism configured to form downflows uniformly supplied onto an upper surface of the substrate placed on the heating plate; and a control mechanism configured to execute mode switching control between a mode arranged to heat the substrate while forming the downflows by the downflow forming mechanism and a mode arranged to heat the substrate while forming the exhaust gas flows by the exhaust gas flow forming mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shigeki Aoki, Yuichi Sakai, Mitsuo Yamashita, Hiroshi Shinya
  • Patent number: 7235109
    Abstract: A garment processing apparatus is disclosed. The garment processing apparatus may include a manifold having a plurality of arms. Each of the arms may be configured to discharge air. A cabinet may be configured to support a plurality of garments with each of the garments positioned between a different pair of adjacent arms. A closed loop air system may include a condenser to remove water from the air discharged from the manifold, and/or a steam generator to inject steam into the air discharged from the manifold. A chemical agent may also be injected into the air discharged from the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Richard G. Kleker
  • Patent number: 7143526
    Abstract: There is provided a method for drying a ceramic formed body by hot air, the formed body having a peripheral face and end faces constituting a columnar shape, and at least one through-hole extending in an axial direction and open at the end face, the formed body containing ceramics and a heat-gelling binder. The hot air is blown to the formed body in a direction at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction. The method can inhibit deformation such as a bending deformation or a torsional deformation generated in the ceramic formed body in the drying process and crack generation in the firing process after drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Katsu
  • Patent number: 7100303
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method for heat treatment of lignocellulosic material. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber and devices for circulating and recovering gases from the treatment chamber such as to provide a uniform temperature within the chamber and allow efficient drying of the material. This is achieved by injecting and recovering the gases from at least two sides of the treatment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: PCI Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bernon, Bernard Robert, Fabrice Robert, Jacky Drevet