Method for drying articles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A laundry drying applicator to dry an article, comprising:
- a support element;
a first anode element and a first cathode element;
a second anode element capacitively coupled with the first anode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element, and having a first base from which extends a first plurality of teeth; and
a first plurality of tabs on at least some of the first plurality of teeth;
a second cathode element capacitively coupled with the first cathode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element and having a second base from which extends a second plurality of teeth and a second plurality of tabs on at least some of the second plurality of teeth wherein the first and second plurality of teeth are interdigitally arranged; and
a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled with the first anode element and the first cathode element and operable to energize the first anode element and the first cathode element;
wherein upon energization of the first anode element and the first cathode element by the RF generator, the capacitive coupling of the second anode element and the second cathode element generates a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum, operable to dielectrically heat liquid within an article on the support element.
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Abstract
A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capactively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A laundry drying applicator to dry an article, comprising:
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a support element; a first anode element and a first cathode element; a second anode element capacitively coupled with the first anode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element, and having a first base from which extends a first plurality of teeth; and
a first plurality of tabs on at least some of the first plurality of teeth;a second cathode element capacitively coupled with the first cathode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element and having a second base from which extends a second plurality of teeth and a second plurality of tabs on at least some of the second plurality of teeth wherein the first and second plurality of teeth are interdigitally arranged; and a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled with the first anode element and the first cathode element and operable to energize the first anode element and the first cathode element; wherein upon energization of the first anode element and the first cathode element by the RF generator, the capacitive coupling of the second anode element and the second cathode element generates a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum, operable to dielectrically heat liquid within an article on the support element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to dry an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a first anode element, a second anode element having a first base from which extends a first plurality of teeth and a first plurality of tabs on at least some of the first plurality of teeth, a first cathode element, a second cathode element having a second base from which extends a second plurality of teeth and a second plurality of tabs on at least some of the second plurality of teeth, each second anode and second cathode elements supported on a support element, the method comprising:
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capacitively coupling, through the support element, the first anode element to the second anode element and the first cathode element to the second cathode element; capacitively coupling the second anode element to the second cathode element; and energizing the RF applicator to energize the first anode element and the first cathode element, to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within a radio frequency spectrum between the second anode and second cathode elements; wherein liquid in the article residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the article. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification