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: 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 dryer and weigher comprising an upper housing for containing a sole dryer structure and a lower housing for containing a weigher structure, the upper housing and the lower housing weighing the weight of a user, the sole dryer structure having a heater and a fan turned on and off either simultaneously with a common switch or with separate switches for each of two air chambers provided in the upper housing.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a weighing and foot drying machine comprising a weighing machine for measuring one's weight; and a pair of foot dryers for drying user's feet standing on the weighing and foot drying machine; wherein the weighing machine is integrally assembled with the foot dryers in order to have a simplified structure and to be available with lower cost for providing usage of increased ease and popularity. In response to a user stepping onto a upper casing 1 of the weighing and foot drying machine, a supporting member 12 pushes a bar member correspondingly to the weight of the user, thereby a supporting member 32moves downward against the biasing force of a spring 34 and rotates a turning member 36, whereby a movable pole 37 moves linearly which causes a limit switch 40 to turn on and a pinion 42 to rotate for driving a scale plate 44.

Abstract: System for kiln-drying hardwood wherein the weight of a representative sample positioned remote from the batch of wood to be dried is monitored. The moisture content of the representative sample is calculated from the measured weight continuously and operational parameters with the kiln are automatically adjusted in response to the moisture content of the sample to provide desired drying conditions.