Abstract: A process for drying or curing green wood including the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure to a predetermined temperature over about 120 F while maintaining the moisture content of the wood close to the original moisture content of the felled wood, and then immediately cooling the heated wood with a cooling fluid at a temperature and humidity substantially less than the temperature and relative humidity of the heating enclosure for a time period sufficient for the wood to reach substantially the reduced temperature of the cooling fluid for normally removing at least about 5% of moisture from the green wood. The green wood is conditioned by the cooling step for subsequent drying steps in which moisture removal rates are substantially higher than moisture removal rates under prior conventional drying steps. The green wood process as set forth is effective to minimize staining of the wood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high-pressure drying of semiconductor wafers includes the insertion of a wafer into an open vessel, the immersion of the wafer in a liquid, pressure-sealing of the vessel, pressurization of the vessel with an inert gas, and then the controlled draining of the liquid using a moveable drain that extracts water from a depth maintained just below the gas-liquid interface. Thereafter, the pressure may be reduced in the vessel and the dry and clean wafer may be removed. The high pressure suppresses the boiling point of liquids, thus allowing higher temperatures to be used to optimize reactivity. Megasonic waves are used with pressurized fluid to enhance cleaning performance. Supercritical substances are provided in a sealed vessel containing a wafer to promote cleaning and other treatment.

Abstract: A raw material feeding apparatus is provided for a film-forming apparatus in which a thin film is formed from a solid matter as a raw material during chemical vapor-phase deposition. The apparatus includes sub-containers each having an opening for introduction of a gas, an opening for discharge of a gas, a bottom, on which a solid raw material is spread between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and a wall defining a gap, in which a gas being introduced and discharged is made to contact the solid raw material spread on the bottom while the gas is moved on the surfaces of the material. The apparatus also includes a raw material container for receiving and holding the sub-containers. The apparatus also includes a heating device for heating the raw material container, and carrier gas conveying tubes for introducing a carrier gas into the raw material container and including a passage communicated to the outlet openings of the sub-containers.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling the rate of heat transfer from as-cast railroad wheels after their removal from the mold utilizing a plurality of vertically adjustable caps with a cap positioned over each wheel to control the rate of heat transfer therefrom as it is transported to a successive operation, each cap having a generally symmetrical shape to inhibit or reduce deflection of radiant energy from the wheel, and the disclosure also provides a method for controlling the rate of heat transfer including a control system to provide the requisite displacement of each cap from the associated wheel to control cooling of the wheel prior to its subsequent operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for reducing particulate contamination during the processing of a substrate. In one embodiment, the step of preheating a substrate in a preheater to a desired temperature. The preheated substrate is transferred from the preheater to a buffer region having a pressure therein that is between about two (2) Torr and about seven hundred and sixty (760) Torr. The preheated substrate is transferred from the buffer region to a reaction chamber. Thermophoretic forces help repel particles away from the substrate surface during substrate transfer.

Abstract: The method detects impermissible operating states in a hot-air clothes dryer with a laundry drum. The temperature in the incoming air flow is detected periodically downstream of an incoming air heater and upstream of the drum. A differential value (difference value or gradient) is formed from two successively detected values. The differential value is compared with a predetermined differential value, and if the newly formed differential value is absolutely greater than the predetermined differential value, then a counting value is incremented by one step. The counting value is compared with a predetermined counting value and, if the current counting value is greater than the predetermined counting value, then the heating of the dryer is turned off and/or an operating state display is activated.

Abstract: A pressure and flow rate of a gas flowing into or out of a processing chamber are controlled, so as to decrease or increase an atmosphere in the processing chamber higher or lower than a target pressure to obtain a target pressure. During a first period, an opening speed of an opening degree adjusting device provided in an inlet pipe communicating to the processing chamber is controlled to a first target value toward a first predetermined functional approximation line (for example a function of second degree) as ideal value. During the rest of periods other than the first period, the opening speed is controlled stepwise to two or more predetermined target values so that the processing chamber reaches the target pressure. During a period before the first period, the opening speed may be controlled to a second target value among the two or more target values, based on a control amount for the opening degree adjusting device.

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.

Abstract: A hybrid control for a clothes dryer which combines an electromechanical timer and a microprocessor. The electromechanical timer has a plurality of switches connected to a plurality of input ports of the microprocessor. The timer switches are driven by a plurality of cams such that the plurality of switches open and close in response to the cams at predetermined angular positions of the timer. In this manner, the switches provide control input to the electronic circuit for initiating the dry cycle and further provide control input to the electronic circuit during the dry cycle such that the electromechanical timer and the electronic circuit operate together to control the dryer operation. In addition, a sensor supplies a signal to the microprocessor corresponding to the moisture level of the clothes within the drum.

Abstract: A green wood treating process for treating wood in a green stage prior to curing for preventing or minimizing staining of the wood. The process includes the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure (30, 40) within a maximum time period after felling or cutting of the tree forming the wood while maintaining the moisture content in the wood after the tree is felled without any appreciable loss of moisture. After the logs are cut into lumber, the lumber is placed in bundles in the heating enclosure for heating preferably by steam within a predetermined time period. The wood is heated in the enclosure to a temperature over 120 F. for a predetermined time period generally over about two hours and sufficient to provide a generally uniform heating of the lumber. After heating of the wood to a predetermined temperature, a cooling fluid having a temperature substantially less than the temperature of the heating enclosure is applied to the heated wood for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for obtaining improved measurement and control of the temperature of a semiconductor wafer (W) during processing. The apparatus includes a chuck for holding a wafer during processing, a coolant gas supply (16), and a temperature sensing arrangement for measuring and controlling the temperature of the wafer during processing. A top face of the chuck (22) over which the wafer is positioned, is configured with a plurality of holes (34) into which the coolant gas, such as helium, is admitted at controlled rate and pressure. The coolant gas passes through a narrow space (36) between the top face of the chuck and the underside of the wafer and is evacuated via an exhaust line (30) after being heated to (or nearly to) the temperature of the wafer. Temperature of the now-heated coolant gas is continuously measured by a temperature sensor arrangement which generates a signal controlling the pressure and flow of coolant gas to the wafer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of drying wood in a drying chamber (1), wherein a drying medium, for instance air, is circulated through a batch of wood (10) placed in the drying chamber (1) in a wood-drying process. The drop in temperature (.DELTA.T) of the drying medium is measured in conjunction with passage of the drying medium through the wood batch (10), and the temperature drop therewith obtained is used to control or regulate the state of the circulating drying medium with regard to its moisture content and temperature, for instance. The dry temperature (T) and the wet temperature (TV) of the circulating dry medium are also measured in the proximity of the wood batch (10), and the temperature information therewith obtained is also used to control or regulate the state of the circulating drying medium with regard to its moisture content and temperature, for instance.

Abstract: A furnace is set to the floor section where wastes such as wood chips, scrapped wood, or wood pieces are put, flammable wastes such as planer chips, plane chips, bark, branches and leaves, or waste paper are arranged as an ignition material so as to cover the upper and lower sides of the wastes. Several resistant steel lids are lain one upon another on the upper side of the furnace so that heat and smoke can pass through the gap between the lids. The ignition material is ignited and inside combustion material is incompletely burned keeping the central portion of green-wood stacked on the upper side in a range of 75 to 80.degree. C. The green-wood is smoking-seasoned at a low temperature by supplying smoke and hot air to the wood and the stacked wood is seasoned at a low temperature by convection blowers arranged at various positions in the indoor temperature adjusting damper and the room.

Abstract: An automatically controlled seed dryer of the present invention is adapted to efficiently and precisely dry seed by automatically controlling the temperatures directions and air flow rate; of air flow through the seed within the bin. The invention includes an upper plenum for supplying a source of hot airs a lower plenum for supplying a source of ambient air, and a mixing plenum for mixing various proportions of hot and ambient air from the upper and lower plenums. The mixing plenum has upper and lower supply doors formed between the mixing plenum and the bin for supplying the mixed air to the bin either above or below the seed. Upper and lower exhaust doors are formed in the bin above and below the seed such that by controlling the operation of the supply and exhaust doors, the direction and air flow rate of the mixed air through the seed can be precisely controlled by an electronic controller. A plurality of linear actuators control the operation of the doors.

Abstract: A process for drying or curing green wood including the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure to a predetermined temperature over about 120.degree. F. while maintaining the moisture content of the wood close to the original moisture content of the felled wood, and then immediately cooling the heated wood with a cooling fluid at a temperature and humidity substantially less than the temperature and relative humidity of the heating enclosure for a time period sufficient for the wood to reach substantially the reduced temperature of the cooling fluid for normally removing at least about 5% of moisture from the green wood. The green wood is conditioned by the cooling step for subsequent drying steps in which moisture removal rates are substantially higher than moisture removal rates under prior conventional drying steps.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dryer device and a drying control system utilizing an infrared sensor that measures the temperature of garments or items being dried in a drying device. The invention provides significant improvement over conventional techniques using temperature sensors, or such sensors in combination with moisture or humidity sensors. Also disclosed are methods for controlling drying temperatures and methods for determining drying cycle completion.

Abstract: Resist patterns which minimize the standard deviations of critical dimensions within a plate and between the plates (namely which minimize the critical dimensions) are formed by a method for determining conditions for resist pattern formation comprising a resist film forming process, a resist film baking process, an exposing process, and a developing process, which method consists in preparing a plurality of plates each having a resist film formed thereon, baking the resist films on the plates under severally varying baking conditions, omitting to perform an exposing treatment on the resist films, and subjecting the resist films baked under their own baking conditions to a dissolving treatment to be severally performed under such prescribed conditions as induce partial dissolution of the resist films thereby determining as the temperature condition for baking a prospective resist film the baking temperature that minimizes the change in the uniformity of the remaining resist thickness in the plates relative to

Abstract: A method for improving the resistance of cellulosic products against mold and decay, as well as for enhancing the dimensionally stability of the products is disclosed. The cellulosic products are subjected to heat treatment, which is carried out at an elevated temperature. The products are obtained by drying to a moisture content of less than 15%, and keeping the resulting products in a moist atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 150.degree. C. for 2 to 10 hours until a weight loss of at least 3% has been obtained.

Abstract: A recirculating batch peanut drying apparatus including a drying station for heating the peanuts, a tempering station for cooling the peanuts after heating, and a recirculating device which transports the peanuts in a continuous flow between the drying station and the tempering station.

Abstract: A continuous-flow, slow grain cooling process including the charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air grain dryer into the top of a grain container in an even layer. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a controlled upward flow of ambient air is provided to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is provided at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone until it is cooled close to the ambient air temperature, but the upward flow is controlled such that it will not cool any grain until it has been properly steeped. Cooled dry grain from a layer near the bottom is then discharged from the bottom of the grain container.

Abstract: A continuous-flow grain steeping and slow grain cooling process and apparatus. The continuous charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air dryer into the top of a grain container in a layer of approximately uniform thickness is accomplished by use of grain spreading equipment. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated by thermostatically controlled sweep and discharge augers located in the bottom of the bin. The grain flows at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for a predetermined period of time, typically from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a continuous upward flow of ambient air is provided by a fan to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is controlled by a thermostat to provide air flow at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone for a predetermined cooling time which is dependent on the airflow rate in cfm/bu.

Abstract: A horizontal dryer for solid material is the subject of the present invention. The dryer consists of a horizontal drum rotated about its horizontal axis, containing flighting around its periphery, and coupled with a heat source, all of which is well known in the prior art. The dryer of the present invention, however, both receives and discharges material at only one end and provides an inner tubular member, centrally mounted coaxially in the drum which member presents a preheating chamber. Material to be dried is first fed into the inner tubular member at one end of the drum and is moved through the tubular member by a plurality of curved flights thus preheating the material in preparation for drying. The material is moved through the preheating chamber to the opposite closed end of the drum where it is deposited into the primary drying chamber of the drum. Flighting in the drum moves the material back toward the inlet end of the drum as it continues to be heated and dried.

Abstract: An automated yarn conditioning apparatus and process is provided. This apparatus and process allows for unconditioned yarn packages to be brought from a source to a yarn conditioning station where they are conditioned and then ejected onto a takeaway conveyor. Yarn conditioning is achieved within an airtight chamber inside of a vessel. The yarn conditioning process used first evacuates the airtight chamber and then injects steam or other conditioning vapor into the airtight chamber while partially elevating the internal chamber pressure and/or temperature. Simultaneously with the conditioning of the yarn packages inside the airtight chamber, unconditioned yarn packages are brought to the conditioning station for placement inside the vessel when the prior conditioning step has been completed.