DRYING APPARATUS AND METHODS AND ACCESSORIES FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20100115785A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bora Appliances Limited, Joliet 2010 Limited
• Original Assignee: Bora Appliances Limited
• Inventors: Bilchinsky, Alexander, Ben-Shmuel, Eran, Shaham, Ginadi, Atzmony, Daniella
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/260
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/52 related to electric heating means, e.g. temperature or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/64 Radiation, e.g. microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/266 Microwave heating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/28 by radiation, e.g. from the sun
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/347 Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2206/045 Microwave disinfection, sterilization, destruction of waste...
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2206/046 Microwave drying of wood, ink, food, ceramic, sintering of ceramic, clothes, hair
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/645 using temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6458 using humidity or vapor sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6464 using weight sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6479 using steam
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/705 using microwave tuning
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/72 Radiators or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02

Abstract

A method of drying an object comprising, providing an object into an RF cavity; applying broadband RF energy to the object in controlled manner which keeps the object within a desired temporal temperature schedule and within a desired spatial profile; and terminating the drying when it is at least estimated that a desired drying level is achieved.

Claims

1. A method of drying an object comprising:

providing an object into an RF cavity;

applying broadband RF energy to the object in controlled manner which keeps the object within a desired temporal temperature schedule and within a desired spatial profile; and

terminating the drying when it is at least estimated that a desired drying level is achieved.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said broadband RF energy comprises energy at a plurality of frequency bands.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said controlled manner comprises varying the intensity of at least one frequency band in said RF energy.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said broadband RF energy is radiated to the object through a plurality of RF feeds.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a temperature of said object by one or more of controlling air temperature in said cavity, controlling air pressure in said cavity and agitating said object.

7. A method according to claim 6, comprises agitating said object in a manner sufficient to ensure suitable air contact between said object and ambient air.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising varying an air flow about said object to control said temperature.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising cooling an air flow provided to said object.

11. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a drying rate of said object by varying said air flow while maintaining a temperature of said object.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein applying said RF radiation comprises utilizing a passive source in said cavity.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said object comprises at least one item of textile.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said object comprises a plurality of clothing items, each with different drying instructions.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said temporal temperature schedule comprises at least one temporal phase of avoiding heating said object or part thereof, above a predetermined upper temperature.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined upper temperature is a temperature below 50 degrees Celsius.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said temporal temperature schedule comprises at least one temporal phase of ensuring the heating said object to at least a predetermined reached temperature.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said temporal temperature schedule contains at least one sterilization phase.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein said spatial profile is in accordance with a composition of said object and configured to avoid overheating or overly high energy depositing in at least one portion thereof.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein said object spatial profile comprising of depositing energy only in wet fabrics parts contained in said object.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said spatial profile comprises minimizing the deposition of energy in non fabric parts contained in said object.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein said spatial profile comprises heating of at least most of said object in a uniform manner.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least estimating comprises measuring said drying.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein said drying level is determined by measuring an RF energy absorption by said object.

30. A method according to claim 1, comprising reading a machine-readable label in association with said object and applying said profile and said schedule accordingly.

31. A method according to claim 1, comprising directing RF energy to a chemical agent, which contacts said object after said direction.

35. A method according to claim 1, wherein said desired dryness level is selectable over a range of 70%-10% humidity.

36. A method according to claim 1, wherein said desired dryness level is between 20% and 30%.

37. A method according to claim 1, wherein less energy is used for drying a fabric with a given content of water to be evaporated, than needed to heat said water to be evaporated by 20 degrees Celsius.

38. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a rate of drying of said object.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein controlling a rate of drying comprises modifying a rate of drying while maintaining a temperature of the object at within 10% Celsius.

2. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

32-34. -34. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. A dryer, comprising:

a cavity adapted to receive at least one object to dry;

at least one broadband RF source configured to radiate RF energy into the cavity;

a memory storing thereon a desired temporal temperature schedule and a desired spatial energy deposition profile; and

a controller configured to control said RF source to dry said object in accordance with said schedule and said profile.

42. A dryer according to claim 41, comprising a frequency sweeper which sweeps said RF source.

43. A dryer according to claim 41, comprising a plurality of RF feeds located in said cavity.

44. A dryer according to claim 41, comprising at least one cavity behavior modifier element, in said cavity.

45. A dryer according to claim 41, further comprising a forced air intake having a path configured to contact said object with intaken air.

47. A dryer according to claim 41, further comprising one or more agitators adapted to move the object within the cavity.

48. A dryer according to claim 41, configured as a clothes drying and including a control panel with settings for drying clothes of various fabrics, said settings being fed to said controller.

50. A dryer according to claim 41, including at least two settings, a room temperature fabric drying setting and a fabric sterilization setting.

51. A dryer according to claim 41, wherein said controller controls said dryer to maintain a temperature of said object at below 50 degrees Celsius.

52. A dryer according to claim 41, further comprising a circuit for determining humidity of said object based on RF absorption thereof.

53. A dryer according to claim 41, comprising desiccant material located in said cavity.

54. A dryer according to claim 41, comprising at least one clothes treating material located in said cavity.

46. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

55-71. -71. (canceled)