A thin film forming apparatus and a thin film forming method using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the thin film forming apparatus comprises a mask that includes a blocking portion and an opening. It also includes an etching source that jets an etching gas through the opening of the mask to etch a thin film according to a pattern. The mask includes a gas blower for blowing a gas around the opening so that the etching gas does not penetrate into a thin film area corresponding to the block portion. When the thin film forming apparatus is used, a normal residual area of a thin film may be safely preserved and patterning may be accurately performed. Thus, the quality of a product manufactured by using the thin film forming apparatus may be improved.

The invention relates to a method for connecting a first tube to a second tube, the tubes being interconnected in an overlapping region by means of an adhesive that fills a gap in the overlapping region between the tubes. Said method is characterized in that: a) adhesive is applied to the overlapping region of at least one of the tubes and the adhesive is selected in such a way that it is solid at temperatures of below 30° C. after application to the overlapping region and prior to the connection of the tubes, and cannot be cured without thermal activation; b) the tube having the adhesive in the overlapping region is pushed onto or inside the other tube; c) the tubes are fixed in relation to one another in the overlapping region by a heatable clamp, said clamp being designed in such a way that it can heat the tubes in said region; d) the adhesive is thermally activated by heating the overlapping region with the aid of the heatable clamp, whereby the adhesive cures and connects the two tubes in the overlapping region; and e) the heatable clamp is removed once the adhesive has cured. The invention also relates to a method for producing a refrigerator and to a refrigerator comprising correspondingly joined tube sections.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the invention comprises an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the optical film, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a thickness (μm) standard deviation of 0.12 μm or less. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film makes it possible to reduce the problem of visible unevenness caused by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

A composition comprising at least one nutrient element, wherein the at least one nutrient element possesses a relative energy-state value greater than the relative energy-state value of the at least one nutrient element in a preexisting state, the composition being effective, perhaps because of the greater energy-state value, to improve the ability of a soil, when combined with the composition, to support plant growth better than the soil, when not combined with the composition. Also a composition comprising at least one nutrient element, wherein the composition possesses an energy spectrum more positive than the energy spectrum of the composition in a preexisting state, the composition being effective, perhaps because of the more positive energy spectrum, to improve the ability of a soil, when combined with the composition, to support plant growth better than the soil, when not combined with the composition. Methods of making and using the same for improving soil, plants, plant growth, seeds, and/or plant products, including quality of plant products, are also disclosed, as well as improved soil, seeds, including quality of seeds, plants, and/or plant products, including quality of plant product.

A method for manufacturing pelletized fertilizer includes the following steps of: mixing a biodegradable material and a water-soluble polymer material to form a first mixture; mixing a polyol, water and a nutrient salt to form a second mixture; mixing the first mixture and the second mixture to form a conglomerating gathered third mixture, and stirring the conglomerating gathered third mixture to form small lumps of the third mixture; spraying probiotic endo spores on the small lumps of the third mixture to form a plurality of fertilizer blocks; heating the fertilizer blocks, and extruding the fertilizer blocks to form a fertilizer strip; and cutting the fertilizer strip to form a plurality of pelletized fertilizer.

An esteramide compound of the following formula (I): R1OOC-A-CONR2R3 (I) is described, wherein: A is a covalent bond or a methylene group —CH2—;R1 is an optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group including from 5 to 36 carbon atoms,R2 and R3, either identical or different, are groups selected from a hydrogen atom, and optionally substituted hydrocarbon groups, preferably including from 1 to 36 carbon atoms, andR2 and R3 not being simultaneously hydrogen atoms. Also described, are applications for using the esteramide compound, notably as a solvent.

The present media is to be used with a particulate base having particles of a first maximum diameter for growing plants. The media includes granules which are of biodegradable recycled material and have a diameter relative to the first maximum diameter to penetrate further into the particulate base with each watering. The granules include plant nutrients and are of a material which coagulates after watering and adheres to the particulates of the base. The diameter of the granules may be in the range of 1/16 to ⅛ of an inch.

The invention relates to a fertilizing compound for application to plants and crops, especially fruits, intended for increasing the amount of calcium and subsequently improving the state of health of the plants and the preservation thereof after harvesting. The compound consists of a combination of components such as calcium nitrate, calcium lignosulfonate, organic acids, menadione sodium bisulphite, amino acids and water. The compound is in the form of a liquid preparation, packed in containers of between 20 and 1000 liters, is water-soluble and is applied by fertigation, spraying or in a localized form by border irrigation.

A method for producing biochar particles or pellets which use sulphur and other additives. The method includes producing a mixture with biochar and additives selected from sulphur, lignin, and gluten. The mixture is mixed with water and passed through an extruder to produce an extrudate. The extrudate is then cut into pellets. The pellets are then tumbled/spun with each other and heated to result in mostly spheroidal pellets whose mechanical characteristics allow them to be used with well-known agricultural equipment. The biochar can be produced with sulphur incorporated as an outer coating. To produce this sulphur coated biochar, the method includes feeding a biomass feedstock to a pyrolysis reactor, pyrolyzing the feedstock into biochar particles, size-sorting the biochar particles, and coating the biochar particles with the sulphur coating material.

An electromagnetic radiation activated device comprises a property changing material and at least one functionalized fullerene that upon irradiation of the functionalized fullerenes with electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies a thermally activated chemical or physical transformation occurs in the property changing material. The thermal activated transformation of the property changing material is triggered by the heating or combustion of the functionalized fullerenes upon their irradiation. The device can include a chemical agent that is embedded in the property changing material and is released when the material is heated by the functionalized fullerenes upon irradiation.

A granular agrochemical composition is disclosed including a granular core material having a water soluble portion with a first coating layer applied on the surface of the core material and a second coating layer applied on the surface of the first coating layer. The first coating layer includes a wax composition having a biologically active ingredient incorporated therein and the second coating layer includes a polymeric composition. The granular agrochemical composition exhibits a controlled rate of release of the biologically active ingredient therefrom over a period greater than about 30 days from the date of initial exposure of the granular composition to moisture whereby essentially all of the biologically active ingredient incorporated in the wax material of the first coating layer is released from the granular composition before the water soluble portion of the granular core material is released from the granular composition.

A composition of matter comprising: a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi that is placed in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root; and a method for increasing plant yield comprising: placing a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root.

A water-insoluble phosphate fertilizer, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The fertilizer may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum or selenium. The fertilizer compounds are preferably water-insoluble, dilute acid-soluble, and free-flowing powders.

The present invention is related to the field of environmental protection, more specifically, to a foliage silicon fertilizer and a method for production of the fertilizer, which is a molybdenum-silica compound sol used for reducing heavy metal and nitrates in vegetables. The fertilizer, which is a molybdenum-silica compound sol, comprises 10-25 wt % silica, 0.05-5.5 wt % molybdenum ions. More preferably, the fertilize, which is a rare earth-molybdenum-silica compound sol, comprises 10-25 wt % silica, 0.05-5.5 wt % molybdenum ions and 0.1-7.5 wt % rare earth ions. By the combination of silica with molybdenum in the present invention, it is effective for preventing the absorption/accumulation of nitrates in vegetables. In addition, by the further combination with rare earth element, the prevention ability of the fertilizer from absorbing heavy metal and nitrates into vegetables is even enhanced. With a preparation method with normal pressure and relatively, low temperature, that is, with mild condition, simple process and high operability, large scale production of the present invention may be readily executed.

An engineered topsoil for use in soil reclamation and a method of producing the same are disclosed that seek to replicate undisturbed native reference topsoil from near the site in need of land reclamation. The engineered topsoil is formed from a base amount of subsoil and amendment comprised of an effective amount of surrogate humin material sufficient to replicate the estimated humin organic carbon content of the native reference topsoil, and an effective amount of plant residue material sufficient to replicate the estimated non-humin organic carbon content of the native reference topsoil.

A composition includes a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a plurality of metal ions. In one embodiment, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent. A method for forming a composition includes mixing a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a metal salt together to form a mixture and processing the mixture to form at least one of a granulated composition and a powdered composition. In some embodiments, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent.

An improved composition comprising substantial spherical UFP particles and an active agent, such as NBPT, and optionally other components is used as an additive for liquid and solid fertilizers, typically containing urea. Methods of making the compositions and their use are also disclosed.

A method for detecting and controlling a load weight of a vehicle by means of a tire pressure of the vehicle and a device are provided. The method includes the steps of installation setting, detecting the load weight, and controlling an electric switch. The device includes tire pressure detectors installed on rear wheels of the vehicle and connected with a processor which is input with a preset tire pressure value and able to receive the tire pressure detected by the tire pressure detectors. The processor is connected with an electric switch of the vehicle. The processor compares the tire pressure detected by the tire pressure detectors with the preset tire pressure value, and controls the electric switch to turn on/off a power source of the vehicle. The device is capable of detecting and controlling the load weight of the vehicle by detecting a change of the tire pressure.

A navigation system includes at least one inertial sensor configured to detect motion of the system and generate inertial data; at least one aiding device configured to generate aiding device measurement data; at least one processing unit configured to generate an un-smoothed navigation solution inclusive of navigation state variable error resets based on the inertial data and the aiding device measurement data; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to sum the state variable error resets into a cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to high pass filter the cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; and wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to subtract the high pass filtered cumulative sum of the state variable error resets from the un-smoothed navigation solution to generate a smoothed navigation solution.

A computing system includes: a control circuit configured to: determine environment measurements representing conditions measured about a building structure located at a geographic location; generate a map based on the environment measurements for mapping a tier of the building structure along a vertical direction; and a storage circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to store the map for representing the building structure.

The present invention provides a flight control method for an aerial vehicle and a related device. The method may comprises receiving flight indication data under a current environment, the flight indication data including flight indication data detected by another aerial vehicle or provided by an external storage device; generating a flight control instruction according to the received flight indication data to control a flight of the aerial vehicle. An embodiment of the present invention may store and manage the flight indication data acquired by various aerial vehicles, so as to provide the support of related flight indication data to some requesting aerial vehicles, to enable the requesting aerial vehicles to perform operations such as obstacle avoidance, safe path planning and finding landing places based on the flight indication data.

A machine for generating mechanical energy and functioning on the principle of exploitation of centrifugal forces of masses being displaced along a closed mechanical circuit over at least a curved section of the circuit. Optionally, the machines also functions on the principle of energy gain caused by masses falling under the influence of gravity in the closed circuit that is permanently maintained in a state of dynamic unbalance with an input, continuous or not, of external energy.

A device for generating rotational movement which includes an output shaft supported for rotational movement and at least two one-way clutch mechanisms attached to the output shaft. An inflatable piston (“infton”) assembly is associated with each one-way clutch mechanism and includes a weighted member, an inflatable bladder associated with the weighted member, at least one inlet valve associated with an interior of the inflatable bladder, at least one outlet valve associated with the interior of the inflatable bladder, and a chain associated with the weighted member and extending over and drivingly engaging the respective one-way clutch mechanism. A source of filling fluid supplies each inlet valve. The filling fluid has a density less than that of a buoyancy fluid surrounding the infton assembly. A control system is configured to control the inlet and outlet valves to facilitate filling and discharging of the inflatable bladders.

The present invention provides a thermal print head and a thermal printer that can deliver improved printing quality. The thermal print head includes a main substrate with a main surface, heating elements arranged along a main scanning direction, and a protection layer that covers the heating elements. A belt-shaped heating glaze layer is between the main surface and the heating elements, extends along the main scanning direction, and bulges towards the direction where the main surface faces. The surface shape of the protection layer has an equivalent radius of curvature Re between 6200 μm and 15000 μm. The equivalent radius of curvature Re is calculated by Hq and Wq. Hq is ¼ of the maximum height Hm of the bulging portion of the protection layer including the heating glaze layer. Wq is the width of the bulging portion along a sub-scanning direction, measured at a height equal to Hm minus Hq.

A thermal print head includes a semiconductor substrate, a resistor layer and a wiring layer. The resistor layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and has a plurality of heat generating portions arranged in the main scanning direction. The wiring layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate to be included in a conduction path for energizing the plurality of heat generating portions. The conduction path includes a path or paths provided by the semiconductor substrate itself.

A thermal print head includes a semiconductor substrate, a resistor layer with heat generating portions arranged in the main scanning direction, a wiring layer included in a conduction path for energizing the heat generating portions, and a protective layer covering the resistor layer and the wiring layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a projection protruding from the obverse surface of the substrate and elongated in the main scanning direction. The projection has first and second inclined side surfaces spaced apart from each other in the sub-scanning direction. The heat generating portions are arranged to overlap with the first inclined side surface of the projection as viewed in plan view.

A thermal printer includes a thermal head; a platen roller opposed to the thermal head; a platen frame configured to support the platen roller; and a housing for receiving the thermal head, the platen roller, and the platen frame, wherein the platen frame includes: an opposing surface formed below the platen roller in a gravitational direction in an assumed carriage posture, the opposing surface being opposed to the platen roller; and a liquid absorbing sheet arranged on the opposing surface.

A printer includes a controller configured to execute a printed matter producing process including printing page images on a medium in a first position on a conveyance path while conveying the medium along the conveyance path, storing a cut target position for each page image and cutting the medium in a second position downstream of the first position in a conveyance direction when the cut target position reaches the second position, an interrupting process including interrupting the printed matter producing process and storing an uncut position as a cut target position located between the first and second positions when the printed matter producing process is interrupted, when an error occurs during the printed matter producing process, and a resuming process including resuming the printed matter producing process when the error is settled during the interruption of the printed matter producing process, and cutting the medium based on the uncut position.

A printer includes a controller configured to execute a printing process including sequentially printing a plurality of page images on a print medium based on print data while conveying the print medium in a conveyance direction, execute a first interruption process including, when a next cut distance is equal to or less than a printable distance, interrupting the printing process and stopping the print medium such that the next cut position coincides with a cutter position, and cutting the print medium, and execute a second interruption process including, when the next cut distance is more than the printable distance, interrupting the printing process and stopping the print medium such that the next cut position coincides with a position that is located an offset upstream of the cutter position in the conveyance direction.

A thermal transfer printer includes a label feeding roller driving unit, a ribbon roll-up driving unit, a ribbon feeding roller, a ribbon feeding roller driving unit, and a controller. The ribbon feeding roller has an adhesive layer on its surface and is rotated to feed the ink ribbon while holding the ink ribbon on the adhesive layer.

In accordance with an embodiment, a thermal printer comprises a first thermal head, a first sensor and a control section. The first thermal head prints a first mark on a first surface of an image receiving medium. The first sensor detects a printing density of the first mark. The control section determines whether or not the printing density of the first mark is in a predetermined range, and adjusts the printing density by the first thermal head in the predetermined range in response to determining that the printing density of the first mark is out of the predetermined range.

A piezoelectric element includes: a titanium-containing adhesion layer, a lower electrode, a PZT-based piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode, which are sequentially provided on a silicon substrate, in which the lower electrode includes a columnar structure film consisting of a large number of columnar crystals which are grown from a surface of the titanium-containing adhesion layer and have a platinum group element as a primary component, and an adhesion layer component diffused from the titanium containing adhesion layer and oxygen diffused from the piezoelectric film side, which are present in the columnar structure film, and a main column diameter of the columnar crystal of the columnar structure film is 50 nm or more and 200 nm or less.

A strap handle for a piece of luggage that has been modified to have the strap handle added thereon. The strap handle includes a strap, and apparatus for having the strap handle added onto the piece of luggage. The apparatus sits within the piece of luggage. The strap engages into the apparatus.

The instant disclosure relates to a customizable vacuum molding method for forming personalized luggage bags utilizing a customizable vacuum molding device having a main mold body (1) and a personalized pattern module (2) customized to suit a customer preference. The vacuum molding method comprising the steps of: 1) placing the personalized pattern module on a molding surface of the main mold body at a predetermined location; 2) placing a plastic luggage bag substrate onto the molding surface of the vacuum molding device and soften the substrate by heating; and 3) generating negative pressure in the vacuum molding device and stretching the plastic substrate onto the personalized pattern module on the molding surface of the main mold body while cooling the plastic substrate to form a personalized pattern. The instantly disclosed vacuuforming method provides a simple yet cost effective solution for manufacturing luggage bags having personalized patterns of a customer's choice.

A piece of luggage has a body with a surface. A weight scale has a top surface and is disposed in the body of the luggage. The top surface of the weight scale is coplanar with the surface of the body of the luggage. The weight scale determines a weight of the piece of luggage when in an operating state. When the weight scale is in a non-operating state it is stored safely within the body of the luggage. Most importantly the weight scale does not stick out from the body of the luggage so as to be susceptible to damage during transport of the luggage.

In one form, a security handbag is provided that includes an interior security panel assembly with a matrix of wires secured between a pair of material layers. The interior security panel assembly can be positioned intermediate the bag outside wall and a lining of the bag. A strap with security cable and a carbineer attachment device can be attached to the handbag. Methods for forming such security panel assemblies are also provided.

An electronic device includes a base body, a functional element that is placed on the base body, and a lid body, formed from silicon, that is placed over the base body so as to cover the functional element. A hole portion and a sealing member that closes the hole portion are disposed in the lid body, in the hole portion, the area of a second opening disposed on a side opposite to a first opening is larger than the area of the first opening disposed on the base body side, and the ratio of the volume of the sealing member to the volume of the hole portion is equal to or higher than 35% and is equal to or lower than 87%.

A method for ultrasonically inspecting components with wavy or uneven surfaces. A multi-element array ultrasonic transducer is operated with a substantial fluid layer, such as water, between the array transducer and the component surface. This fluid layer may be maintained by immersing the component in liquid or by using a captive couplant column between the probe and the component surface. The component is scanned, measuring the two dimensional surface profile using either a mechanical stylus, laser, or ultrasonic technique. Once an accurate surface profile of the component's surface has been obtained, data processing parameters are calculated for processing the ultrasonic signals reflected from the interior of the component that eliminate beam distortion effects and reflector mis-location that would otherwise occur due to the uneven surfaces.

A method, apparatus and system for testing the self-sealing properties of a concrete sample. The method may include providing an apparatus for creating a consistent and reproducible crack in a concrete sample and creating a consistent and reproducible crack in the concrete sample with the apparatus. The method may further include providing a fluidic delivery system that provides a consistent flow of fluid for testing the self-sealing properties of the concrete sample and testing the self-sealing properties of the concrete sample with the system.

The invention relates to a method for determining the fatigue capital of a cable supporting a civil engineering structure, the method including: a measuring step (S1, S2) during which the normal tensile stress in the cable and the bending stress in the cable are measured in a synchronized manner so as to obtain the compound stress in the cable; a counting step (S3) during which a count of the number of stress cycles, depending on the amplitude of the stress, is carried out from the measured compound stresses; and a step (S4) of assessing the fatigue capital of the cable during which the fatigue capital of the cable is determined by comparing the count, carried out in the counting step, with a pre-set Wohler curve for the cable.

A ratio meter includes a converter circuit, a first counter, a delay circuit, and a second counter. The converter circuit is configured to receive a temperature-independent signal, to convert the received temperature-independent signal into a first frequency signal during a first phase, to receive a temperature-dependent signal, and to convert the temperature-dependent signal into a second frequency signal during a second phase. The first counter is configured to receive the first frequency signal and to generate a control signal by counting a predetermined number of pulses of the first frequency signal count. The delay circuit is configured to delay the control signal for a predetermined time delay. The second counter is configured to receive the second frequency signal and to generate a count value by counting the second frequency signal.

The present disclosure relates to a grouting and welding combined connection joint and an offshore installation method thereof, characterized in that: it comprises a set of grouting systems disposed inside of the annular space formed by an inner shell of the central pore canal of a column with large cross section and an outer wall of a column with small cross section, as well as a group of brackets welded on a top deck of a column with small cross section and an inner shell of the central pore canal of the column with large cross section. The grouting and welding combined connection joint provided by the present disclosure has advantages of being able to adapt to the connection of different dimensions of columns, and having simple offshore installation, highly reliable structural safety and low cost.

A craft includes a rigid hull (1) that consists of a V-shaped bottom (5) and a bridge (4) on which a load can rest. The hull includes plating consisting of compartmentalized pneumatic floats (2), the rear compartments (32) of which are combined with an inflation and deflation system so as to vary the buoyancy of the craft. The craft also includes a submergible hull (1), the central cavity (9) of which is formed between the bottom (5) and the bridge (4) and is open at the rear so as to be automatically filled or emptied, the central cavity (9) containing at least one bag (10) that is combined with an inflation and deflation system enabling the buoyancy to be varied and consequently the level of immersion of the stern (7) to be changed as needed.

Energy efficiencies are achieved in a dryer or washer/dryer by selectively varying temperature ranges, time periods, heater power levels, and air flow rates. Efficiency improvements on the order of 16% were obtained over typical constant power, constant temperature, timed drying cycles by varying one or more of these parameters. Efficiencies can also be improved by drawing air from alternative warm sources such as an attic or warm external environment, or by heat recovery from dryer exhaust passages.

The invention relates to a device for the flow-through treatment of web-shaped, gas-permeable material, in particular for drying woven or non-woven fabrics, having the following characteristics: a sieving drum (5), which is rotatably supported and which is connected to a vacuum generator and which has a permeable outer circumference, wherein the material web (M) to be treated rotates around part of the outer circumference of the sieving drum (5);a treatment chamber (BH), which accommodates the sieving drum and to which the gas to be treated, preferably heated air, is supplied;inside the treatment chamber (BH), a sieving cover (SD) or corresponding flow-conducting elements, which surround the sieving drum (5) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound and by means of which the gas flowing into the treatment chamber (BH) is conducted in the direction of the sieving drum surface. According to the invention, the wall (W) of the treatment chamber (BH) facing the outer circumference of the sieving drum (S) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound has a decreasing distance (a1, a2, a3) from the surface of the sieving drum (S) in said area.

A clothes dryer has a cabinet forming a drying chamber and a drying rack slidably mounted to the cabinet and movable between a retracted position where the drying rack is within the drying chamber and an extended position where the drying rack is exteriorly of the cabinet. A removable dividing panel is retained by the drying rack and divides the drying chamber into two horizontal and vertically extending drying chambers. A control system associated with the dryer has selectable modes to operate the divided drying chambers independently or concurrently as a single large drying chamber. A recycle system associated with the dryer permits recycling of heat air to increase drying efficiency.

A clothes treatment apparatus and a method for controlling a clothes treatment apparatus are provided. The clothes treatment apparatus may include a drying duct, a first blower fan located in the drying duct that circulates interior air within the drying duct, and a filter located in the drying duct. The method may include sensing clogging of the filter, and switching a flow of air passing through the filter from a first direction to an opposite second direction if clogging of the filter is sensed. The method may further include a washing cycle for washing clothes, and a drying cycle for drying the clothes. An implementation time of the washing cycle may be less than an implementation time of the drying cycle.

An expandable and collapsible enclosure is provided for a garment refreshing appliance. The appliance has at least either a top or a bottom rigid housing structure. The enclosure comprises a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of the enclosure. The wall structure is made of a flexible material. An opening is provided in the wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from the enclosure. A zipper is attached at the opening to selectively open and close the opening. A snap attachment mechanism is located at either or both of the top and a bottom of the wall structure for securing the wall structure to the top and/or bottom rigid housing structures.

A clothing dryer capable of effectively drying a small amount of substance, and a control method thereof by changing an algorithm of a sensor-dry course, which is configured to control an operation rate, a degree of drying or a temperature of drying, to be adapted to the small load of substance in a case where the substance to be dried has a small load when compared to the entire volume of the clothing dryer, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced regardless of the load of the substance, and a separate option button is provided for a sensor-dry course, so that a small load of substance is dried adaptively to the material characteristic of the substance for a respective dry course, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.

Disclosed is a clothes dryer comprising a drum rotatably disposed in a body; and a roller disposed below the drum, and configured to support the drum. The roller is mounted to a roller shaft by a ball bearing, and a contact portion of an outer circumferential surface of the roller contacting the drum is formed to be flat.