Abstract: Provided is a method for producing high density nickel powder particularly having a median diameter of 100 to 160 ?m by controlling a particle size of nickel powder. The method includes: performing an initial operation by charging a pressure vessel equipped with a stirrer with a nickel ammine complex solution containing nickel in the concentration of 5 to 75 g/L together with seed crystals in the amount of 5 to 200 g per liter of the solution, increasing the temperature of the solution, and performing a reduction reaction with hydrogen by blowing hydrogen gas into the pressure vessel, thereby obtaining the nickel contained in the nickel ammine complex solution as nickel powder; and thereafter, performing a specified operation A repeatedly at least once to obtain the nickel powder having the median diameter of 100 to 160 ?m and a bulk density of 1 to 4.5 g/cm3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clothes dryer including a heat exchanger for condensing air discharged from a drum to remove moisture from the air, a collector for collecting condensed water produced in the heat exchanger, a first pump for pumping the condensed water from the collector to a water tank, and a discharge unit for selectively discharging the condensed water from the water tank, to wash the heat exchanger using the condensed water.

Abstract: A laundry dryer is provided which is capable of removing and/or preventing wrinkles of laundry. The laundry dryer includes a drum in which laundry is held, a hot air heater that heats air to supply hot air to the drum, and a water heating part that heats water by using the heats generated at the hot air heater to generate steam.

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.

Abstract: A thermally actuated lock for an appliance incorporates a fusible material that holds a spring-loaded bolt in retraction. Temperatures that would indicate an appliance fire allow the bolt to extend between the housing and appliance door to lock the appliance door in a closed position.

Abstract: An enclosure for storing of moisture sensitive devices (MSD's). The enclosure includes a plurality of compartments, each continuously purged with dry air supplied by a commercially available de-humidifier. MSD's housed in said compartments are thus protected from absorbing moisture which could cause cracking of the devices after being mounted on printed circuit boards and subjected to the high temperatures associated with wave solder and solder reflow processes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.

Abstract: A domestic appliance for the care of washed articles having with a container for receiving washed articles; a process air supply which is operationally connected to the container in fluid communication therewith whereby process air flows through the container during appliance operation; and a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the process air supply for dehumidifying the process air exiting the container, the domestic appliance comprising a supplementary heat exchanger for lint filtering operationally disposed in the process air supply in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the container.

Abstract: An application for a hearing aid drying/disinfecting system includes a closable container with an internally mounted ultra-violet lamp for disinfecting the hearing aid. A heating element creates an internal temperature that is higher than ambient temperature and a fan circulates air through shielded vents from the outside of the container through the container and back out, thereby drying the hearing aid contained within the drying/disinfecting system.

Abstract: An application for a hearing aid drying/disinfecting system includes a closable container with an internally mounted ultra-violet lamp for disinfecting the hearing aid. A heating element creates an internal temperature that is higher than ambient temperature and a fan circulates air through shielded vents from the outside of the container through the container and back out, thereby drying the hearing aid contained within the drying/disinfecting system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing fast and efficient data compression using a combination of content independent data compression and content dependent data compression. In one aspect, a method for compressing data comprises the steps of: analyzing a data block of an input data stream to identify a data type of the data block, the input data stream comprising a plurality of disparate data types; performing content dependent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is identified; performing content independent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is not identified.

Abstract: A dryer is disclosed. The dryer includes dryer includes a door opening sensing unit sensing an opening of a door, a heater heating air provided in a drum, and a microcomputer determining an error in the heater based on an internal temperature condition of the drum, which changes in accordance with a driving time of the heater, and setting a new driving time of the heater, when the door is open before the driving time of the heater being counted reaches a predetermined driving time.

Abstract: A low pressure dryer for granular or powdery material includes a plurality of canisters rotatable about a common vertical axis serially among material heating, vacuum drying and material inventory discharge positions; pneumatic piston-cylinder means for rotating the canisters about said axis among said heating, vacuum drying and inventory discharge positions; means for heating contents of a canister at said heating position; means for sealing and drawing vacuum within a canister at said vacuum drying position and means for selectably permitting downward flow of dried granular or powdery material out of a canister at said discharge position where said canisters move collectively and unitarily one with another.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for removing moisture from electronic devices such as hearing aids, using a desiccant material. The desiccant material is regenerated in place with heat from an embedded heater when the apparatus is open to the atmosphere. Drying of the hearing aids takes place when the hearing aids are placed in the apparatus and it is closed. Heat is not applied during drying to avoid potential damage to the hearing aids or other electronic device.

Abstract: A moisture absorption apparatus comprises a desiccant container with a side wall and optionally a bottom and a desiccant solution container with a side wall and a bottom. The desiccant container receives particulate desiccant which forms a desiccant solution on contact with moist air. The desiccant container side wall has at least one air access opening and a passage permitting desiccant solution to flow into the desiccant solution container. The desiccant solution container has a top opening and is slidingly displaceable on the desiccant container so as to allow the desiccant container to be displaced in the desiccant solution container to a depth sufficient for the desiccant solution container side wall to fully cover the air access opening of the desiccant container.

Abstract: Trays are provided with identical vertical spacers which enable the trays to be stacked on top of each other in a centered way, with a suitable or appropriate spacing between them, and enable the various adjacent stacks of trays to be raised and lowered in steps, by an elevating and lowering system which acts only on the bottom tray of each stack. The sides of the stacks of trays of the kiln are thus free and can be engaged by conveyors for the translation of the trays between the stacks, both in a normal operating cycle and in a short operating cycle. However, the lower translation conveyors, which transfer the trays from the stack with an unloading station to that with a loading station, are positioned in the conventional way, i.e., under the stacks of trays and transversely with respect to the trays.

Abstract: A metal plate (52) is connected to a wall (10). Plate (42) includes a vent opening (48) that communicates with vent ducting (18) with the wall (10). A magnetic sheet body (52) is connected to a vent tube (60) located at the back of a clothes dryer (64). The clothes dryer (64) is moved towards the wall (10) and the magnetic sheet body (52) is moved against the metal plate (42). A vent opening (54) in the magnetic sheet body (52) is put into alignment with the vent opening (48) in the metal plate (42). The magnetic sheet body (52) provides a seal between the two vent openings (54, 48).

Abstract: A transport enclosure arranged between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, all located in a clean room, is shielded from the clean room and maintained a degree of cleanliness which is cleaner than that of the clean room. Accordingly, the volume of space within the clean room requiring the highest degree of cleanliness is minimized, thereby reducing overall costs.

Abstract: A transport enclosure arranged between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, all located in a clean room, is shielded from the clean room and maintained a degree of cleanliness which is cleaner than that of the clean room. Accordingly, the volume of space within the clean room requiring the highest degree of cleanliness is minimized, thereby reducing overall costs.

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: The invention relates to a method and to a device for carrying out the method for drying crockery in a dishwasher with a rinse container closeable by means of a door. By means of two or three successive different method steps, the drying is improved. The method steps include a drainage phase, a drying phase with blower or condenser and an automatic, partial opening of the door.

Abstract: An apparatus including both an ultraviolet curing unit and a hot air dryer, either one of which may be operated at a given time. A wall of the dryer has an opening through which the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the curing unit passes when the curing unit is activated. A moveable slide plate covers the opening when the dryer is activated, creating the proper hot air dryer chamber volume for effective dryer operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably detecting the occurrence of a web break in a web processing system is disclosed employing a non-contacting, non-optical sensor to detect the presence of the web. Cushion pressure in a cushion pressure zone adjacent the web is sensed to determine a web break condition. A sensor block is mounted within an enclosure through which the web passes. The sensor block is configured to sense the cushion pressure in the region between an air bar and the web. The cushion pressure is communicated outside the enclosure to a transducer which compares the cushion pressure to either the internal ambient pressure of the enclosure or to atmospheric pressure. The resulting differential pressure is compared to a threshold differential; if the measured differential pressure drops below the predetermined threshold pressure, a web break is indicated and web processing is terminated.

Abstract: A frame plate is movably mounted on a guide shaft erected from a base for movement upward and downward, a space formed between the base and the frame plate being served as the insertion passage for the typing sheet. The frame plate is provided thereon with a printer adapted to print such data as time and serial numbers on the inserted typing sheet, a cam shaft adapted to move the printer forward and backward, and a motor for rotating the cam shaft. A spring is disposed between the frame plate and the base in order to normally pull the frame plate toward the base side, a rubber stopper being disposed to a bottom surface of the frame plate in order to normally maintain the distance between a printer head and the surface of the typing sheet constant.

Abstract: A radiant energy ink drying device for drying ink on paper exiting a printer includes a lightbox, cooling fans for cooling the light box, and a processing unit. The processing unit controls the operation of the cooling fans based on signals received from a temperature sensor located in the drying area of the lightbox. The processing unit also deactivates the printer based on signals from a paper sensor located on the light box. In addition, an overtemperature sensor deactivates the printer when the light box housing exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled clothes dryer wherein the posture of a switch in the lint filter system is monitored and a signal to CHECK FILTER is displayed if the switch posture has not changed. The switched is a reed switch mounted stationary on the lint filter assembly and a magnet operator is attached to the removable filter screen. Movement of the filter screen into and out of filtering position in the lint filter assembly of the exhaust duct changes the posture of the magnet operated reed switch. Change of posture of the switch through its cycle impresses a change of voltage on the microprocessor. The microprocessor effects control over the CHECK FILTER signal that is visually illuminated on a VFD tube; such that, if the microprocessor sees the cycling of the switch the CHECK FILTER signal is extinguished.

Abstract: A control device and system for controlling the opening of a loading and unloading door of a dry washing machine when internal thereof the machine reaches a predetermined maximum gas concentration including a probe having two electrodes spaced from each other for measuring ohmic resistance of air interposed therebetween the ohmic resistance being changeable and responsive to a concentration of the gas contained within the washing machine, the probe measures the solvent concentration degree which is present at the time of measurement in the machine, the probe is coupled with an electronic circuit for controlling the air circulation in the washing machine, and the probe is responsive to a value prefixed and when the value is reached, the probe activates the electronic circuit for breaking the circuit and cuts off air circulation inside the washing machine, and another electronic circuit is coupled with the one electronic circuit for controlling an electrovalve which drives a linear variator with a pneumatic pis

Abstract: A shoe drier has a base, a cap and a U-shaped hanging element. A motor is mounted on the base for driving an impeller to rotate. A heating chamber is disposed on the base for encasing a heater which emits thermal gas for drying a pair of wet shoes. The impeller transmits thermal gas to an upwardly semicircular channel which is complemented by matching a semicircular channel disposed on the cap. The cap has a downwardly semicircular. The U-shaped hanging element has an upper housing, and a first and a second lower housing. The U-shaped hanging element pivotally engages with the circular channels. A plurality of evenly spaced slots are provided on both upper parts of the both wings of the upper housing for guiding thermal gas to flow laterally out of the upper housing.

Abstract: A modular housing assembly for housing a vehicle warning light system and intended for mounting across the roof of a police car or other vehicle on which warning lights are required. The housing comprises a plurality of transparent plastic panels of modular construction, there being provided a plurality of front modular panel sections interconnected in side-by-side relation and a plurality of rear modular panel sections interconnected in side-by-side relation, the front and rear panel sections being connected to one another and to a common base member.