Tray assemblies and methods of their use to dry products with sunlight. Such a tray assembly includes at least a first base having four side walls, a bottom wall, legs configured to support the bottom wall above the surface when resting thereon, side wall holes in the side walls, and bottom wall holes in the bottom wall. A cover is releasably coupled to the base to define an enclosure between the cover, the side walls, and the bottom wall. At least one window is provided in the cover to allow infrared radiation to pass therethrough that is absorbed by interior surfaces of the base to cause an increase in a temperature within the enclosure sufficient to increase a rate of drying products located within the enclosure.

Tray assemblies and methods of their use to dry products with sunlight. Such a tray assembly includes at least a first base having four side walls, a bottom wall, legs configured to support the bottom wall above the surface when resting thereon, side wall holes in the side walls, and bottom wall holes in the bottom wall. A cover is releasably coupled to the base to define an enclosure between the cover, the side walls, and the bottom wall. At least one window is provided in the cover to allow infrared radiation to pass therethrough that is absorbed by interior surfaces of the base to cause an increase in a temperature within the enclosure sufficient to increase a rate of drying products located within the enclosure.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted drying of materials, in particular, but not exclusively, for the low temperature drying of materials that are heat sensitive. In particular, there is provided an apparatus for dehydration of water containing material comprising: an ultrasound emitter; an ultrasound transmission platform that directly or indirectly supports said material; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material. There is also provided a method of dehydration of water containing material comprising locating the material either directly or indirectly on an ultrasound transmission platform of a dehydration apparatus that comprises: an ultrasound emitter; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material; and exposing said material to ultrasound energy and drying gas flow for a time and under conditions suitable to achieve desired extent of dehydration of said material. In another aspect there is provided a material that has been dehydrated using the method or apparatus described above.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted drying of materials, in particular, but not exclusively, for the low temperature drying of materials that are heat sensitive. In particular, there is provided an apparatus for dehydration of water containing material comprising: an ultrasound emitter; an ultrasound transmission platform that directly or indirectly supports said material; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material. There is also provided a method of dehydration of water containing material comprising locating the material either directly or indirectly on an ultrasound transmission platform of a dehydration apparatus that comprises: an ultrasound emitter; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material; and exposing said material to ultrasound energy and drying gas flow for a time and under conditions suitable to achieve desired extent of dehydration of said material. In another aspect there is provided a material that has been dehydrated using the method or apparatus described above.

Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.

Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.

The present invention is related with the treatment of vegetable and animal foods for its preservation and employment in the extraction of the active ingredients they include. More specifically it refers to the treatment of these foods with the comprehensive application of solar radiation. This comprehensive use of solar radiation in the dehydration of vegetable and animal foods is characterized fir consisting in a dehydration process that includes the following steps a) slicing of the dehydrating product into slices of 1 to 2 mm thick; b) expose the skin free surfaces of the product to the direct impact of sun beams; c) maintaining an air circulation, even if laminar in the premise to homogenize the humidity content in all of the air mass; ch) take the product to a humidity level of 5 to 10% d) pack the dehydrated product.

A food dehydrator with a heating element located beneath a fan in a chamber of the food dehydrator. The heating element includes resistors, connected in series, sandwiched between and in thermal contact with two heatsinks to heat and dry the air within a volume defined by the chamber.

A food dehydrator with a heating element located beneath a fan in a chamber of the food dehydrator. The heating element includes resistors, connected in series, sandwiched between and in thermal contact with two heatsinks to heat and dry the air within a volume defined by the chamber.

A method of preparing the instant whole wheat crisps includes: using whole wheat grains as raw materials, fully soaking the whole wheat grains to make the whole wheat grains absorb water until saturating, and then performing cooking, extruding, sheeting, and microwave vacuum drying to obtain the instant whole wheat crisps. In the present disclosure, no artificial additive is added in the processing process, and the wheat grains are extruded and dried at a low temperature, which conforms to the current trend of clean label foods. Moreover, the whole wheat grains are processed into crisps, which are unadulterated whole wheat foods and conforms to the current trend of whole grains.