Abstract: An improved coffee roaster (10) for roasting a selected volume of coffee beans in a relatively quick and efficient manner. A roasting cavity (66) is provided for receiving and roasting a selected volume of green coffee beans. A timer (158) is provided for controlling the roasting time. A heating coil (32) is provided for generating heat to roast the coffee beans. A motor (24) drives a fan (30), which forces air through the heating coil (32) and toward the roasting cavity (66). Slots (76) defined by the roasting cavity (66) direct the heated air into the roasting cavity (66) such that the coffee beans are agitated and roasted. Chaff is evacuated with the air through the opening (74) in the top of the roasting cavity (66). A chaff collector (20) is provided for collecting the chaff evacuated while allowing the escape of air.

Abstract: A drying carrier adapted for carrying honeycomb structures includes a plurality of perforated plates spaced to each other in the longitudinal direction of the drying carrier and made of a material having a conductivity higher than that of the drying carrier. Each of said perforated plates is provided with a convex portion having an upper contacting surface to be contacted with the bottom surface of the honeycomb structure to be carried. The surface area (A) of the upper contacting surface of the convex portion is smaller than the bottom surface area of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously drying and shrinking lengths of textile material (111) comprises a plurality of chambers (21 to 44), in which the textile material (111) is sucked through an inlet by means of drying air and carried along a treatment path to an outlet. The textile material is advanced to the inlet by means of a rotating winch. The chambers (21 to 44) are interconnected in series providing a treatment path for the textile material (111). The textile material is carried in sequence from the outlet of one chamber to the inlet of the succeeding chamber. The chambers (21 to 44) are arranged in succeeding, mutually separated groups (21 to 27, 28 to 35, 36 to 43, and 44), each group comprising an air feeding device (90) feeding heated drying air substantially to all its inlets (50), said air feeding device receiving air from all the succeeding groups.

Abstract: Apparatus for wiping moisture off the sides of running webs of photosensitive material in developing machines employs one or more deformable elastic wiping elements in the form of elongated lips or rings which are maintained in contact with the respective side or sides of the running web. Each wiping element extends transversely of the path of the running web and is imparted a movement having a component in a direction transversely of the running web. This reduces the likelihood of extensive localized wear upon the wiping element or elements.

Abstract: A method of drying a developed, wet sheet carrier, especially an X-ray film after passing through a development device includes passing the sheet carrier through a dryer which has several infrared radiators arranged along the path of the sheet carrier at its both sides and reflectors provided at the side away from the sheet carrier and deflecting the infrared radiator to the facing side of the sheet carrier. The method is performed so that a main stream is supplied at both sides of the sheet carrier at the rear side of the reflectors, a partial air stream is supplied between each infrared radiator and the sheet carrier, and then each partial air stream is united with the main air stream so that the temperature and the moisture of the main air stream increases in a flow direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vapor processing apparatus in which the vapor is generated in a region adjacent to the vapor processing area. This is generally done in a batch process and a limited volume of processing vapor is generated for each batch. The separation of the vapor generation from the processing avoids the contamination of the vapor source and the inadvertent cooling of the vapor generating area. In the preferred embodiment, two vessels are disposed one inside the other such that a vapor generating region is provided in the annular space between vessels. The vapor is injected into the processing region through channels formed in the annular space. In a preferred embodiment, the vapor is isopropyl alcohol and the substrates for processing are silicon wafers.

Abstract: A process of cooling sand and rocks enables large amounts of aggregate to be cooled to a desired temperature below ambient aggregate temperature. Such temperature reduction is particularly useful for preparing concrete. Aggregate is introduced into a rotating cylinder, in which the aggregate is slowly mixed and moved. Chilled gas is also introduced into the cylinder, to contact the aggregate particles and reduce the temperature of the aggregate. Chilled gas may be provided by blowing ambient air or gas into contact with a chilled gas or liquid supply, and then directing the chilled gas into the cylinder. The gas may be recirculated in a closed system, to conserve energy and prevent aggregate fines from being lost.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying shoes, soft toys, or similar objects in a commercial dryer with a rotating drum (116) comprises a pair of strong nylon straps (20) and (22) with hook-and-loop fasteners to interconnect both straps. On their respective free ends the straps have respective suction cups (32 and 34). For securing a shoe or a pair of shoes (118 and 120) directly to the surface of the drying drum (116), the suction cups are attached to this surface, and free ends of the straps are tightened over the shoes (110 and 120) and fixed to each other. In other embodiments the suction cups are replaced by adhesive pads (56 and 58), permanent magnets (86 and 88), metal hooks (102 and 104), and a pair of rings (37 and 39) attached to one suction cup (33) and a smooth strap (35) attached to the other suction cup (31).

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling, heating, wiping, or drying a strip such as a metal strip has either a first cooling unit employed alone or first and second cooling units disposed in relative spaced relationship with a path therebetween for movement of the strip. Each air handling unit has a hollow body portion and a plurality of elongated projecting gas discharge nozzles. The first and second air handling units respectively discharge gas on the surfaces of opposite sides of the strip and also serve to define a spent gas exhaust region. The system may also be employed to resist undesired strip instability. An associated method is provided.

Abstract: A venting assembly preferably for a clothes dryer to provide a universal dryer venting assembly directed to a dryer vent and flexible vent tube assembly, has an elbow with swivel fittings at the inlet and outlet. The inlet and outlet connections include snap or collar connections for attachment to the appliance or vent tubing assembly.

Abstract: A process for removing moisture from coal comprises transforming the coal to coal fines, polarizing the coal fines to produce an electrical charge differential between the relatively non-conductive water and the relatively conductive coal particles, and removing the water by admixing the coal fines in a drying chamber with a dry gaseous mixture having a different electrical state from the moisture, such that the moisture is selectively attracted to the gaseous media, and then separating the moisture laden gaseous media from the coal fines and collecting the fines. The admixture is accomplished with a vertically oriented cylindrical drying chamber wherein the fines are introduced at the top of the chamber and settle downwardly and the dry, gaseous media is directed upwardly through the chamber in a swirling helical path.

Abstract: The continuous dryer of the invention is essentially characterized in that in addition to blades, said rotor is provided with at least one centrifuging element extending along the entire axis of the rotor advantageously in a helical pattern in the product discharge direction, said centrifuging element being shaped in the form of a rib with a height less than the height of said blades and so calculated as to act as a device for limiting the product layer present on the heated surface of said cylinder.

Abstract: An electronic device for devolatilizing agricultural and other products. The device utilizes an electrode (100) enclosed in a helium filled insulating sheath (110) suspended above a vessel (150) containing the product to be devolatilized. A high voltage power supply (140) is connected to electrode (100) by a high voltage cable (130). High voltage power supply (140) is switched on while a fan (70) blows air over the product.

Abstract: A kiln and method for drying material. The kiln includes a drying chamber, a heating system for heating air to be delivered to the drying chamber, and a ducting system for delivering heated air to the drying chamber. Fans are provided for establishing a low air pressure region and a high air pressure region adjacent the ducting system in order to generate a circulation flow of air throughout the drying chamber. The ducting system is arranged to deliver heated air only into the low air pressure region of the fan to ensure proper mixing of the heated air from the ducting and recirculated air. In a second embodiment, the fans are reversible to permit air flow through the drying chamber to be reversed.

Abstract: The portable soil remediation unit includes, on a wheeled flatbed truck, a rotary drum having a burner at one end and an inlet at its opposite end for flowing contaminated soil in counterflow relation to the hot gases of combustion for volatilizing the contaminants. Also mounted on the vehicle is a baghouse. The hot remediated soil is discharged into the baghouse for screw conveyance along the bottom of the baghouse to a baghouse discharge. The particulate-laden gases from the drum enter the baghouse at the opposite end and are separated into particles and clean exhaust gas. The hot remediated soil is in heat transfer contact with the particles and the particles release residual contaminants. The particles flow to the bottom of the baghouse for combination with the remediated soil in the screw conveyor. The hot remediated soil is additionally screened in the baghouse for large and small gradations, the large gradations being discharged from the baghouse for reprocessing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of yarns in motion during various operations such as drawing or texturing includes an insulating enclosure which surrounds a heating block, the combination defining a lengthwise channel through which runs the yarn to be treated. Means for guiding the yarn through the channel is provided to ensure the desired positioning of the yarn inside the channel. The heating block consists of a unit comprising at least two cylindrical sections having different diameters and arranged in the extension of one another. The means for guiding the yarn is positioned along the length of the cylindrical sections so that the yarn may be kept at a constant distance from the surface of the cylinder of smaller diameter, with the result that the yarn passing above the smaller cylinder is heated by radiation.

Abstract: An adjustable temperature gas feed is available that feeds firstly the grinder and secondly pre-drying means. At the outlet from the grinder, the gas that has passed through the grinder is combined with the gas that has passed through the pre-drying means to convey the ground material. The total gas flow rate Q.sub.A at the oulet lies between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate, and the flow rate Q.sub.1 of the gas passing through the grinder (1) is proportional to the quantity Q.sub.c of material placed in the grinder. According to the invention, a temperature T to be reached by the gas outlet temperature is set (optionally as a function of the moisture content of the material), and the gas feed is adjusted in such a manner that the feed gas is as hot as possible with the quantity of gas passing through the pre-drying means being limited to as little as possible. The method adapts to the material having different moisture contents and improves efficiency while leading to combustion with low NO.sub.x.

Abstract: An improved arrangement and method of drying fire hoses is disclosed which reduces the time and energy required to dry fire hoses. According to one aspect of the invention, a plug is forced through the hoses prior to drying to strip water from the interior of the hose. According to a different aspect of the invention, a closed loop drying arrangement is used where moist warm air which has passed over the hoses being dried is reconditioned to remove the water at a dehumidifying station, followed by reheating for further drying of the hoses. This closed loop system has improved the efficiency in drying hoses and produced a system which is not seriously affected by changing ambient conditions.

Abstract: An improved fluid bed furnace is disclosed which is useful in heat treating products or particles which are to undergo a change due to exposure to high temperatures. The bed is heated by lamps effectively buried in the bed radiating energy to the fluidized particles. In one embodiment, the lamps are protected by a ceramic tube with the lamps heating the tubes which in turn heat the fluid bed.

Abstract: Carpet yarns which have been previously mechanically compressed, are heat set in a yarn heat treating chamber by superheated steam. The yarn treating chamber operates under atmospheric pressure. Several yarns are passed through the yarn treating chamber on respective perforated conveyor belts. The steam is conducted so that it is forced to flow downwardly through the yarns and through the permeable conveyor belts. To avoid the formation of condensate water on the conveyor belts, the belts are in the form of nonmetallic nets, upon which the yarns are deposited in the form of loops.