Absorbent Drying Apparatus with Centrifugal Moisture Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for drying food and other items with excessive moisture are inefficient, often requiring manual effort, bulky equipment, or allowing residual moisture to reintroduce water, making them unsuitable for time-sensitive applications and storage.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus comprising a first absorbent layer and a waterproof layer attached to form a drying body with elongated handles that can be folded around items, allowing centrifugal force to be applied during spinning, effectively transferring moisture into the absorbent layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual drying with a cloth is used, then moisture can be removed from food surface, but the process is tedious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent material is designed to automatically absorb moisture from food items through capillary action and adhesion forces, eliminating the need for manual wiping. The material self-regulates moisture transfer from the food surface to the absorbent layers without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical wiping action with passive physical absorption mechanisms including capillary action, adhesion, and wick effect. The absorbent material structure itself performs the drying function through its physical properties rather than requiring external mechanical force.
2Productivity
If salad spinners are used, then drying efficiency can be improved, but the device becomes large and bulky requiring large storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The drying material consists of flexible, thin absorbent layers that can conform to various food item shapes and sizes. This flexible film structure provides effective drying contact area while maintaining a compact, space-efficient form factor that does not require bulky housing or mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying system is divided into multiple independent absorbent layers (first absorbent layer, second absorbent layer, third absorbent layer) that can be stacked or arranged in different configurations. This segmentation allows the material to adapt to different food items while maintaining a compact overall structure.
3Productivity
If net or mesh carrier is used, then water can pass through to be captured, but residual water drips or splatters from the carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent material utilizes porous structures with controlled pore sizes and distributions that capillary forces to draw water away from food items. The porous architecture allows water to be drawn into and held within the material matrix, preventing residual water from remaining on the surface or dripping off.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying system employs composite material structures combining different absorbent layers with varying properties (hydrophilic layers, hydrophobic layers, different pore structures) to optimize water absorption and retention. This composite approach ensures water is effectively captured and held within the material rather than allowing it to drip or splatter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus efficiently removes moisture from items without manual contact, reducing drying time and storage space requirements, while preventing water from splashing or reintroducing moisture, making it suitable for various applications, including food preparation and clothing drying.
Implementation Method 1
The elongated handles can be brought, folded, gathered, or converged together to wrap the drying apparatus around the items. The elongated handles can be grasped by a user's hand and the drying apparatus can be swirled or slung by the elongated handles to force water and moisture from the items and into the absorbent layer of the drying apparatus to dry the items.
Implementation Method 2
force water and moisture from the items and into the absorbent layer of the drying apparatus to dry the items
Implementation Method 3
The elongated handles can be grasped by a user's hand and the drying apparatus can be swirled or slung by the elongated handles to force water and moisture from the items and into the absorbent layer of the drying apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A drying apparatus is disclosed that includes at least a first absorbent layer and a waterproof layer attached to the first absorbent layer to form a drying body. At least three elongated handles can extend from radially from the drying body. Wet items such as food can be placed on the drying body and the elongated handles can be brought together to wrap the drying apparatus around the items. The elongated handles can be grasped by a user's hand and the drying apparatus can be swirled or slung by the elongated handles to force water and moisture from the items and into the absorbent layer of the drying apparatus to dry the items.