Using the Design Structure Matrix to Estimate Product Development Time

Portable apparatus for drying wet footballs. The apparatus comprises a housing supported on wheels and including a drying chamber for receipt of a wet football therein. The drying chamber includes a pair of concave contoured moisture absorbent rollers. The rollers are disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart by sufficient distance that a football can be placed within the space between the rollers and supported thereon. A motor is coupled through pulley means to effect the rotation of the rollers in the same direction but at different speeds. The frictional engagement between one of the rollers and the ball causes the ball to rotate at a different speed than the speed of rotation of the other rollers to effect the rubbing action between the ball and the other roller thereby wiping the surface of the ball. A spring biased hold down roller is provided to hold the ball in place during the rotation thereof by the first and second rollers. Ball ejection means are provided for removing the ball from the rotating rollers. A blower is provided to blow air across the ball as it is rotated. The housing is closed and the air therein recirculated through dessicating means and back to the roller for reuse. A sealed beam lamp is disposed over the space between the rollers so as to provide gentle heat for effecting the heating of the ball as it is being rotated to thereby further effectuate drying of the ball. Power is provided to the blower and the motor by a battery mounted within the housing.