Apparatus for drying articles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
- a cylindrical drum having a wall;
a baffle on the wall comprising an anode element;
at least two cathode elements about the wall circumferentially spaced from the anode element along the circumference of the wall and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element;
a capacitive coupling between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements; and
a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the at least two cathode elements and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum;
wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the apparatus via the capacitive coupling to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within articles disposed within the e-field.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laundry treating applicator for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a baffle on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in the baffle and a cathode element spaced from the anode element, wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the anode element and cathode element to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within laundry disposed within the e-field.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
-
a cylindrical drum having a wall; a baffle on the wall comprising an anode element; at least two cathode elements about the wall circumferentially spaced from the anode element along the circumference of the wall and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element; a capacitive coupling between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements; and a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the at least two cathode elements and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum; wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the apparatus via the capacitive coupling to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within articles disposed within the e-field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
-
a rotatable cylindrical drum having an inner surface and an outer surface; a baffle supported by the inner surface and including an anode element; at least two cathode elements, wherein the anode element and the at least two cathode element are angularly spaced relative to a rotational axis of the drum and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element; and a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the at least two cathode elements and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum; wherein at least one of the anode element and the at least two cathode elements rotate with the drum. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) generator connected to an applicator and a rotatable cylindrical drum having a fixed anode element within a baffle and at least two fixed cathode elements, and wherein the anode element and the at least two cathode elements are spaced relative to the drum and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element, the method comprising:
-
rotationally positioning the drum such that laundry is positioned between the anode element within the baffle and the at least two cathode elements; energizing the RF applicator for a time period to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within the radio frequency spectrum between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements such that liquid in laundry residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the laundry during the time period; rotating the drum to redistribute laundry; and repeating the positioning the drum and energizing the RF applicator.
-
Specification