Drying Device

Abstract

Drying apparatus includes a housing defining an air inlet and a tortuous airflow passage leading to at least one air outlet. The outlet comprises two upright sets of louvres. An impeller is arranged to draw air into the inlet, through the airflow passage and to expel it via the outlet. A set of infrared emitting heating elements is located in the airflow passage behind a screen or glass panel and arranged both to radiate heat directly outwardly from the housing and to heat air in the airflow passage. Additional resistance heating elements are located in the airflow passage. The apparatus has a control system including a user interface, and is arranged to control the operation of the impeller and the two different kinds of heating elements in response to user input. The apparatus includes a heatsink associated with the infrared heating elements, which is located so that air passing through the airflow passage contacts the heatsink. The control system is arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to pre-heat the heatsink by operating the infrared heating elements prior to operating the impeller.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . Drying apparatus including a housing, the housing defining an air inlet, at least one airflow passage, and at least one air outlet; an impeller arranged to draw air into the inlet, through the airflow passage and to expel it via the outlet; at least one first heating element located in or adjacent to the airflow passage and arranged both to radiate heat directly outwardly from the housing and to heat air in the airflow passage; and a control system including a user interface and arranged to control the operation of the impeller and said at least one first heating element in response to a user input, the apparatus including a heatsink associated with said at least one first heating element and located so that air passing through the airflow passage contacts the heatsink, the control system being arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to pre-heat the heatsink by operating said at least one first heating element prior to operating the impeller. 
   
   
       13 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one first heating element comprises an infrared emitting element operable to generate an infrared output with a wavelength in a predetermined range. 
   
   
       14 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined range is 7 to 14 microns. 
   
   
       15 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 12 , including a plurality of infrared emitting elements located one above the other and arranged to emit infrared radiation toward a user of the apparatus. 
   
   
       16 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of infrared emitting elements are located behind a cover defining a part of the airflow passage, the cover being substantially transparent to infrared radiation. 
   
   
       17 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 12 , including at least one second heating element located in or adjacent to the airflow passage and arranged to be operated selectively to heat air in the airflow passage. 
   
   
       18 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one second heating element comprises a resistance heating element. 
   
   
       19 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the control system is arranged to operate said at least one first heating element, said at least one second heating element and said impeller selectively so as to limit the maximum power consumption of the drying apparatus to below a predetermined value. 
   
   
       20 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the control system is arranged to receive a user input selecting one of a plurality of pre-programmed operating modes, each operating mode being defined by a different combination of operating conditions for the first and second heating elements and the impeller. 
   
   
       21 . Drying apparatus according to  claim 12 , including an ultraviolet light source in or adjacent to the airflow passage and arranged to sterilize air passing through the airflow passage.