Abstract: A hand dryer with annular air exhaust includes a casing and an air supply device located in the casing. The casing has a coupling portion and an air exhaust portion connected to the coupling portion. The air exhaust portion has two extension sections extended from the coupling portion and a connection section connected to the two extension sections to form an annular hand drying passage. The air exhaust portion includes a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles corresponding to the hand drying passage which has a first opening and a second opening at two ends. The air supply device has an airflow guiding duct to direct air to the air exhaust portion. The first and second nozzles exhaust the air towards the hand drying passage to form annular air exhaust, and thus hand drying angles are increased to dry hands faster.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chamber by determining the presence of a bulky laundry item based on image data of the laundry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence of a drying rack based on image data of the laundry located in a treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber. The laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a state of dryness of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the determined state of dryness.

Abstract: A hand dryer with visible light indicated sensing area utilizes a visible light to provide the user a visible indicating area that can be recognized by the naked eyes, so that the user can identify the invisible IR sensing area through the visible indicating area and conveniently put the hands in the sensing area for drying.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of for detecting lint are disclosed. In one embodiment, a light is directed to a plate. The light can be being emitted by a light source. A reflectometer is calibrated to a specific thermal emissivity of the plate. The thermal emission resulting from the light directed to the plate is received at the reflectometer. Lint is permitted to deposit on the plate. A change in thermal emission is detected if lint deposits on the plate. The change in thermal emission can be detected by the reflectometer. An indication that lint is present within the clothes dryer is provided if a change in thermal emission is detected by the reflectometer.

Abstract: A laundry drying machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported within the cabinet for rotation. The drum includes a wall that is circumferential relative to the rotation and a drum hatch that is a section of the wall. The drum forms an enclosure together with at least one stationary end surface centred on the axis of rotation of the drum. A motor is connected to drive rotation of the drum and a fan provides a flow of air through the interior of the drum. The drum includes an outlet opening centred on the axis of rotation and an annular filter screen extending from the periphery of the drum outlet and rotating with the drum. The annular screen is connected along one circumferential edge to the drum. There is an annular sliding seal between the other annular edge of the screen and the outlet duct and an annular sliding seal between the outlet duct and the drum external to the annular filter screen.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting lint in a clothes dryer are disclosed. A lint detector is positioned within the clothes dryer. A light source is also positioned within the clothes dryer. The lint detector has a surface that receives light emitted by the light source. Further, the lint detector has a photocell that receives light reflected from the surface if lint covers the surface. A determination is made as to whether a threshold amount of light has been received. An indication such as the activation of a warning light can be provided if the threshold amount of light is received. Another response is shutting the clothes dryer down.

Abstract: A control method and system for a belt-driven clothes dryer are disclosed. The control system includes a drum containing a load of wet clothes to be dried, a heater heating air flowing into the drum, a motor coupled to the drum by a power transmission system for rotating the drum, and a power supply supplying power to the motor and the heater during a dry operation of the dryer. The control system further includes a moisture sensor outputting a sensor signal during the dry operation, or a photo coupler outputting voltage pulses when the motor is in operation during the dry operation. Then, a microprocessor included in the control system detects a breakage of the power transmission system upon analyzing the sensor signal of the moisture sensor or the voltage pulses generated by the photo coupler. If the microprocessor detects such breakage, it interrupts the dry operation of the clothes dryer.

Abstract: An air ionizing drying includes an elongated housing that has an interior, an inlet opening, and an elongated outlet opening. A microcontroller is positioned in the interior of the housing. A control panel is coupled to the housing and operationally coupled to the microcontroller. An intake conduit is positioned in the housing and extends from the intake opening. A heating assembly is positioned in the interior of the housing for receiving air passing through the intake conduit. The heating assembly is operationally coupled to the microcontroller. A manifold is environmentally coupled to the heating assembly for receiving air passing through the heating assembly. A fan assembly has a plurality of fans and is coupled to the manifold for drawing air through the manifold. An outlet conduit extends between the fan assembly and the outlet opening. An ionizing assembly is coupled to the outlet conduit for ionizing air passing through the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A thermal solar dehydrator (16) comprising en enclosure (18) having a plurality of drying chambers (20) therein. A plurality of perforated trays (22) are provided. A plurality of runners (24) support the perforated trays (22) in vertically spaced apart relationships within the drying chambers (20) of the enclosure (18), so that food can be placed upon the perforated trays (22). A structure (26) is for forcing air into and out of the drying chambers (20). An assembly (28) is for allowing sunlight (30) to penetrate the enclosure (18) and heat up the air passing through the drying chambers (20), so that the food placed upon the perforated trays (22) will dehydrate.

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.