Abstract: An apparatus and a method, for drying ceramic molded articles, are disclosed. A drying apparatus (1) comprises a drying chamber (10) for accommodating ceramic molded articles (8), a plurality of microwave generators (20) for supplying microwave energy into the drying chamber, and a conveyor (30) for charging the ceramic molded articles (8) continuously into the drying chamber (10), conveying the ceramic molded articles through the drying chamber, and delivering the ceramic molded articles from the drying chamber. The drying chamber (10) has arranged therein a plurality of the microwave generators (20) and at least a sensor (40) for detecting the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) in the drying chamber (10). Each microwave generator (20) is adapted to change the output thereof in accordance with the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) detected by the sensor (40).

Abstract: A microwave continuous heating apparatus is provided with a heating compartment having openings at its front and rear portions and a transfer device which carries a to-be-heated object held thereon through the heating compartment, and microwave electric power is irradiated onto the to-be-heated object that passes through the heating compartment to heat the same. Two microwave absorbing compartments, through which the to-be-heated object passes, are connected to the front and the rear portions of the heating compartment, respectively. A plurality of reflecting plates of metal which are spaced from each other in a forward-and-backward direction are transferred by the transfer device. The object to be heated is placed between two adjacent reflecting plates. The reflecting plates are placed on the transfer device so that at least one reflecting plate is positioned in each microwave absorbing compartment, at least during irradiation of microwaves into the heating compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method, for drying ceramic molded articles, are disclosed. A drying apparatus (1) comprises a drying chamber (10) for accommodating ceramic molded articles (8), a plurality of microwave generators (20) for supplying microwave energy into the drying chamber, and a conveyor (30) for charging the ceramic molded articles (8) continuously into the drying chamber (10), conveying the ceramic molded articles through the drying chamber, and delivering the ceramic molded articles from the drying chamber. The drying chamber (10) has arranged therein a plurality of the microwave generators (20) and at least a sensor (40) for detecting the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) in the drying chamber (10). Each microwave generator (20) is adapted to change the output thereof in accordance with the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) detected by the sensor (40).

Abstract: A microwave continuous heating apparatus is provided with a heating compartment having openings at its front and rear portions and a transfer device which carries a to-be-heated object held thereon through the heating compartment, and microwave electric power is irradiated onto the to-be-heated object that passes through the heating compartment to heat the same. Two microwave absorbing compartments, through which the to-be-heated object passes, are connected to the front and the rear portions of the heating compartment, respectively. A plurality of reflecting plates of metal which are spaced from each other in a forward-and-backward direction are transferred by the transfer device. The object to be heated is placed between two adjacent reflecting plates. The reflecting plates are placed on the transfer device so that at least one reflecting plate is positioned in each microwave absorbing compartment, at least during irradiation of microwaves into the heating compartment.

Abstract: The invention provides microwave continuous heating equipment that does not need redesigning even when workpiece size or length is changed, and that can perform efficient heat treatment by continuously radiating microwave power while preventing leakage of the microwave power. The microwave continuous heating equipment comprises a heating chamber 11, microwave absorbing chambers 13 and 14 connected to the front and rear ends, respectively, of the heating chamber, and transport equipment 15 for transporting workpieces thereon through the front-end microwave absorbing chamber 13, the heating chamber 11, and the rear-end microwave absorbing chamber 14 in the order state. Each of the microwave absorbing chambers 13 and 14 includes a workpiece transport path 13a, 14a having a meandering shape to prevent the microwave power from passing straight through an opening 13b, 14b at one end and an opening 13c, 14c, at the other end.

Abstract: A method of fabricating at least a honeycomb body and a drying system are disclosed. A honeycomb mold having a cell wall thickness of not larger than 0.125 mm can be dried without developing any cracking or wrinkles in the outer peripheral skin portion. In a method of fabricating a honeycomb mold (1) of ceramics having a multiplicity of cells (10) defined by the cell walls (11) having a thickness of not more than 0.125 mm arranged in the shape of honeycomb, each extrusion-molded argillaceous honeycomb body (1) is dried by being exposed to a high-humidity ambience of 70% or more while at the same time being irradiated with microwaves in the frequency range of 1,000 to 10,000 MHz.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a fried food has a dry chamber being provided with separated chambers in which the food is transported in order, a microwave oscillator for supplying a microwave energy to the respective separated chambers, and hot blast generator for supplying heated air to the respective separated chambers. The length in the food forward direction of each of the separated chamber is equal to or longer than that of just before chamber. The microwave energy supplied to each of the separated chamber corresponds to the water content of the fried food passing through the chamber.

Abstract: A method of heating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using microwaves which is suitable for application in a process for producing PVC film or sheet. The microwave energy is applied to the PVC after the temperature of the PVC has been raised to the point that its intermolecular bonding force has weakened and molecular vibration occurs readily. As a result, uniform heating is obtained throughout the PVC with high energy utilization efficiency.

Abstract: Reclamation of vulcanized rubber is effected by a method which comprises heating powdered vulcanized rubber to a temperature for desulfurization of the rubber and, on completion of the desulfurization, quickly cooling the desulfurized rubber to a temperature at which substantially no oxidation of desulfurized rubber proceeds. This method obviates otherwise indispensable incorporation of process oil or other similar additive to the powdered vulcanized rubber for the purpose of retarding the oxidation of rubber molecules. When the reclaimed rubber obtained by this method is blended with newly supplied rubber, the resultant vulcanized rubber shows sparing degradation of physical properties.