Drying apparatus and method

1. An apparatus for use in the drying of substrates using a solid particulate material, said apparatus comprising:

(a) housing means having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum;

(b) access means; and

(c) at least one collection means,

wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum additionally comprises capturing and transferring means, adapted to facilitate collection of said solid particulate material and transfer of said solid particle material to said collection means, wherein said capturing and transferring means comprises one or a plurality of compartments, wherein said collection means is physically detachable from the apparatus.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum comprises solid side walls including no perforations.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum comprises perforated side walls, wherein said perforations comprise holes having a diameter of no greater than 3.0 mm.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capturing and transferring means comprises at least one receptacle comprising a first flow path facilitating ingress of solid particulate material from said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum and a second flow path facilitating transfer of said solid particulate material to said collection means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second flow path comprises at least one orifice in the side wall of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, said at least one orifice having a diameter which allows said solid particulate material to transfer to said collection means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said capturing and transferring means comprises regulating means, located in said second flow path and adapted to control the transfer of said solid particulate material to said collection means.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said regulating means comprises an openable door or flap.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said regulating means comprises a revolving door or a repository wherein said solid particulate material may collect.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said regulating means is caused to open and close by actuating means comprising at least one of mechanical means, electrical means and magnetic means.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compartment or plurality of compartments is located on at least one inner surface of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of compartments is located at equidistant intervals on the inner circumferential surface of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capturing and transferring means is adapted such that ingress of solid particulate material and transfer of said solid particulate material to said collection means is controlled by the direction of rotation of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capturing and transferring means is comprised in spaced apart lifters affixed to the inner surface of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capturing and transferring means comprises routing means, adapted to direct the transference of said solid particulate material to said collection means.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said routing means comprises a directionally inclined member which causes said solid particulate material to be moved in a particular direction.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said capturing and transferring means is comprised in lifters and said routing means comprises a plurality of compartments each of which comprises a plurality of opposed offset chambers, arranged along each side of the inner walls of the lifters.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said routing means comprises an Archimedean screw.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collection means comprises a container.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said container is located adjacent an end surface of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said collection means is located adjacent the front end surface of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum and is comprised in said access means.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which comprises at least one recirculation means which facilitates recirculation of said solid particulate material from said collection means to said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum for re-use in drying operations.

22. A method for the drying of a wet substrate, said method comprising treating the wet substrate with a solid particulate material at ambient or elevated temperature, said treatment being carried out in an apparatus according to claim 1 and optionally wherein said wet substrate comprises at least one textile fibre garment.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 which comprises the steps of:

(a) introducing at least one wet substrate into said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum via the access means;

(b) closing the access means so as to provide a substantially sealed system;

(c) introducing the solid particulate material into said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum;

(d) operating the apparatus for a drying cycle, wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum is caused to rotate and said solid particulate material is optionally recirculated through the apparatus until drying is completed;

(e) causing said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum to rotate so as to cause the solid particulate material to be captured by said capturing and transferring means and thereby transferred to said collection means; and

(f) ceasing rotation of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatably mounted drum comprises perforated side walls wherein said perforations comprise holes having a diameter less than that of the solid particulate material.