Abstract: A grain drier comprising a plurality of horizontal conveyor belts arranged one above another in staggered relationship so that grain delivered to one end of the upper conveyor belt will drop onto the lower conveyor belt when it gets to the other end of the upper conveyor belt and will then travel along the lower conveyor belt in opposite direction before being discharged. Hot air is supplied by a hot air generator through conduits to a position below and along each of the conveyor belts, passes upwardly through the conveyor belts which are formed of wire mesh and through the grain thereon and is extracted through discharge conduits from above the conveyor belts. The flow rate and temperature of the hot air may be varied. Heat from the extracted air may be recovered and recycled into the hot air generator. Also heat from the dried grain may be recovered and reconducted by means of a blower fan through a conduit onto the incoming fresh grain.

Abstract: Apparatus wherein tobacco is dried in several successive units each of which contacts a continuous stream of tobacco with hot air. The moisture content of tobacco is measured between a preceding unit and the next-following unit, and the temperature of hot air which is supplied by the next-following unit is respectively increased and reduced when the monitored moisture content of tobacco respectively rises and decreases. The temperature of air which is admitted by the preceding unit is maintained at a constant value. The temperature of air which is supplied by the next-following unit is further influenced, when necessary, in dependency on measurement of such temperature and in dependency on differences between the final moisture content of tobacco and a preselected optimum moisture content. The detector which monitors the moisture content between the preceding and next-following units is built directly into the conveyor which transports the tobacco stream through the drying units.

Abstract: This installation for drying, by controlled evaporation, humidified and agglomerated caster sugar comprises an oven with a plurality of sections. Conveying means are provided for passing the products to be dried successively through these sections, between the entrance and exit of the oven. Means are provided for extracting the air, said means being connected to the median part of the oven, in order permanently to suck in the ambient air through the entrance and exit of the oven, which are left free. In each section of the oven means are also provided for producing an auxiliary air stream oriented perpendicularly to the direction of displacement of the products to be dried.

Abstract: A thermo-pneumatic unit for thermal treatment of moving flat materials such as a drying process for cowhides includes a blower which is located on one side of the travelling path of the materials and adapted for generation of thermally adjusted air flow having specified initial direction and mass velocity distribution so that larger mass velocity is focussed upon the portion of each material requiring higher rate of thermal treatment. Ideally, an even thermal effect is obtained over the entire parts of each material and thermal energy loss is effectively avoided even when the material has initial local variance in moisture content or temperature. A collector for blown air on the other side of the travelling path collects the blown air, which assures higher evenness in thermal effect with less thermal energy loss.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for processing products aligned on a tape. In the present embodiment, the products are shown to be heat recoverable sleeves which are conveyed to a control station for insertion of a terminal. The work is then released from the control station and allowed to pass across a heater which recovers the sleeve about the terminal. To accomplish the above, a drive having a friction coupling and a positive coupling are employed to convey the work through the apparatus. A conditioned atmosphere process apparatus is employed for the heating of the sleeves and a controlled product feed apparatus controls the feeding of the work to the control station.

Abstract: A housing having propeller type fans in the housing adjacent to an object or objects to be dried. Shafts, carried by sleeves projecting through the side walls or top wall, rotate the fans. Motors externally of the housing drive the shafts.In one form of the invention, the air circulated by the fans is heated by steam coils adjacent to the periphery of the blades of the fans. In another embodiment, an open flame gas or oil burner, disposed in a combustion chamber, heats air, which is subsequently directed by ducts to the fans. Exhaust blowers and exhaust ducts exhaust the fume laden air from the chamber. Still another embodiment shows pairs of juxtaposed oppositely blowing fans carried by shafts protruding through the walls of the oven and spaced heaters between the fans. Still another embodiment shows opposed fans for drying a cylindrical member passed through the chamber.

Abstract: A process for heat-treating and, in particular, for drying and/or fixing a continuously moved fabric web in a treatment unit comprising at least two treatment zones through which the fabric web successively passes, using a hot gas stream recirculated in the treatment unit, a certain quantity of waste gas being continuously removed from the treatment unit and freed from constituents present in it and some of the waste gas thus treated being returned to the treatment unit after reheating, the rest of the waste gas being released into the atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates to heat treatment of textile products.The apparatus comprises vertical furnaces (5) each having two furnace ducts (29, 30) carrying blowing nozzles (36) and suction nozzles (37), respectively. In the ducts of the last furnace, there are arranged movable horizontal partitions formed by the selective closure of baffles (81-1, 81-2, ... 81-5, 91-1, 91-2, ... 91-4) arranged at fixed levels and preferably constituted by butterfly-valves (82) pivotally mounted on horizontal parallel axes (83).The invention is applicable to the heat treatment of continuous textile products, such as threads, ribbon or strip material. (FIG. 4).

Abstract: The system for drying wood products includes a heat source for providing heated gases at a constant temperature. The heated gases are supplied to individual dryers through a common supply plenum connected to individual dryer inlet plenums. The system includes means for adding ambient air at the dryer inlet plenum to temper the heated gases so as to maintain a constant temperature at the dryer outlet while varying the dryer inlet temperature as a function of the amount of moisture to be removed.

Abstract: In a method of treating lumpy and granular materials with gaseous media, the materials to be treated are introduced into open containers having at least two adjacent chambers communicating or connected with each other in their bottom regions. The materials to be treated lie on and contact the bottom and walls of the chamber as a packed bed where the at least two chambers communicate. A plurality of the open containers are arranged one behind the other so as to form a closed circuit or chain and are closeable by stationary lids or hoods arranged in the conveying direction. Each hood has a supply conduit for one container chamber and a drain conduit for the other container chamber. The container chain is moved in phases below the lids or hoods, the lids or hoods closing the containers during each standing phase while the treatment gas is transmitted through the container chambers.

Abstract: A heat treating apparatus particularly useful for the drying/heat-setting and cooling of synthetic tow comprises first and second elongated housings with separate conveyors longitudinally positioned in said housings, the housings being at different temperatures. Means are provided to deposit a continuous length of tow on the conveyor of the first housing in an undulating pattern to define a substantially straight bed of tow having substantially uniform maximum thickness and width dimensions. A transfer device is provided between the first and second housings including a flat plate adapted to pick up the tow from the conveyor of the first housing, and integral therewith, an enclosed chute adapted to deposit the tow on the conveyor of the second housing, the chute having height and width dimensions substantially the same as the maximum thickness and width dimensions of the bed of tow. The transfer chute is adapted to air seal the first housing from the second housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for drying a product to a controlled moisture content. The apparatus comprising a first drying zone for receiving the product, a first regulating means for regulating the temperature within said first zone, a second drying zone for receiving the product from the first zone, a second regulating means for regulating the temperature within the second zone, means for measuring the moisture of the product after the product leaves the second zone, means for measuring the temperature in said first and second zones, means for controlling the second regulating means in response to the measured product moisture and the temperature of the second zone and means for cooperatively controlling the first regulating means in response to the measured product moisture and the temperature of the first zone.

Abstract: A heat exchanger heats fresh air moving to a product dryer by running the fresh air around hot exhaust tubes which are discharging from the dryer. Detergent sprays may be positioned to direct cleaning fluid into the tubes. The fresh air is introduced into a pre-dryer through pipes having nozzles which are at 30.degree. angles to the product path.

Abstract: An apparatus for the drying of lengths of textile material impregnated with a disperse dye or synthetic resin dispersion, which includes a preparatory drying section wherein the length of textile material is conducted in a contact-free manner and is subjected to a first drying operation and a sieve drum means for effecting a final drying treatment. The preparatory drying section includes a transverse tentering frame having a traveling transverse tentering means and is arranged upstream of the sieve drum means. This transverse tentering means is guided through a drying unit for effecting the preparatory drying operation.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of grain drying wherein grain is dried in a first drying bin and removed to a holding bin, the improvement comprising withdrawing hot air from the holding bin and circulating the hot air to the drying bin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying photographic strip material utilizes a multiple chamber dryer having individual temperature and humidity control apparatus with a ducting system for delivering heated air from one chamber to another chamber as determined by the humidity control system.

Abstract: A heat exchanger heats fresh air moving to a product dryer by running the fresh air around hot exhaust tubes which are discharging from the dryer. Detergent sprays may be positioned to direct cleaning fluid into the tubes. The fresh air is introduced into a pre-dryer through pipes having nozzles which are at 30.degree. angles to the product path.

Abstract: Object of the invention is a process for drying polychloroprene wherein hot air is blown onto both sides of the moist polychloroprene sheet. Optionally the moist sheet is exposed to infrared rays also. A further object of the invention is the dryer consisting of a warm air section and an air cooling section and optionally an infrared section.

Abstract: A process for drying grain in which the grain is first heated to drive off a portion of the moisture as it passes along a conveyor, and the heated and partially dried grain is then discharged into a holding or steeping bin where the moisture in the center of the kernels migrates to near the surface and the temperature becomes substantially uniform throughout. The grain is then discharged onto a second belt where the grain is first heated to drive off a substantial part of the moisture remaining in the grain and then is cooled before it is discharged from the apparatus. Air is used to cool the grain before it is discharged and this partially heated air is utilized in both grain heating operations.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus is disclosed for drying sheet materials by contact with a drying fluid which is deflected towards the opposite surfaces of the sheet by deflector members spaced longitudinally along such sheet. A major portion of the drying fluid consists of internally generated superheated drying steam above 212.degree. F, to vaporize the water in the sheet material and remove it to produce the steam used for drying. A minor portion of steam is removed from the drying fluid and discarded to maintain pressure equilibrium. The drying steam is produced within the drying chamber from water evaporating from the material being dryed and is either heated to form the superheated steam within the drying zone where it is in contact with the sheet material or is removed from the drying zone, heated to form superheated steam and returned to the drying zone for contact with the sheet material during drying.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention substantially reduce the incidence of cracking, flaking, bulging and other mold defects which originate during the drying step of the investment mold formation process. Drying is conducted under conditions which enhance uniformity of drying and which preclude harmful increases in pattern temperature resulting from changes in the moisture removal kinetics of the slurry layer. In particular, during the drying process, drying air of different quality is provided during the different stages of moisture removal from the slurry layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for subjecting commodities to treatment through contact with fluid media including a plurality of movable conveyances having walls and being arranged so as to form a conveyance train which forms a part of a single endless fluid conveying duct.

Abstract: In a dry kiln, a plurality of in-tandem air control compartments and a fan between each pair of adjacent compartments. The fans are rotated in one direction only. The compartments have lateral air flow ports in which air valves are mounted. The fans are of opposite pitch and the valves are so alternately operated that although the fans blow the air unidirectionally, the air can be controlled to flow in one direction through the drying chamber of the kiln, or optionally in the opposite direction, for uniform drying purposes.

Abstract: Cup-shaped articles made of thermoplastic material which have their outer surfaces printed or coated with a heat-sensitive material are dried in apparatus wherein a feeding device conveys the printed or coated articles to the lower end of a vertical run of an endless belt in a drying device, so that the articles are placed in inverted position on the belt to be held on the belt by suction exerted through the belt, the articles being so handled in the feeding device that they enter the drying device in proper orientation and in alignment with and at the same speed as the belt. The feeding device may be an arcuate channel with pneumatic pressure advance of the articles, or may be a porous belt running over a suction chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer particularly suitable for particulate matter having an endless conveyor in the form of a polyester fabric screen wherein the endless conveyor is normally flat but is given a trough-shape as it passes within the dryer to contain the particulate matter. Means are provided for moving the fabric screen through the dryer including an open support disposed beneath the fabric screen. Stationary, elongated trough-forming means within the dryer pick up the sides of the fabric to form and maintain the trough-shape, and stationary baffle plates within the dryer engage the trough-forming means to direct the flow of drying air through or against the matter being conveyed.

Abstract: An apparatus for shrinking heat-shrinkable sleeves around containers or the like includes at least two diffuser housings mounted respectively adjacent side edges of a conveyor on which containers or other objects having a sleeve thereon are to pass. A cap which defines a tunnel is positioned between the two diffuser housings over the conveyor. Each diffuser housing is provided with a longitudinally extending slot presenting directional discontinuity at its two end portions. The two end portions of each slot may be horizontal, while the control portion of each slot is sloped in a vertical direction and extends from one end portion of the slot to the other. Provision is made to feed hot air through the slots into a tunnel so as to contact the films on the containers or objects moved by the conveyor.

Abstract: A drying installation for the drying of molded blanks, such as plank bricks, large surface structural members of ceramic material and the like, having a substantially closed drying chamber separated into a plurality of adjacently arranged parallel drying channels, an air supply coupled to each of the parallel drying channels for supplying dry air having a different temperature, humidity and flow rate, and a conveyor for moving the molded blanks through the drying chamber, the conveyor being guided perpendicularly with respect to the flow of the dry air through the adjacently arranged drying channels.

Abstract: A method for improved operation of a cross-flow device for heating and/or cooling a moving bed of solids by reducing residence time and eliminating gas leakage between adjacent heating and cooling zones. A bed of solid particles is formed on a grate for movement through heating and cooling zones or chambers. As the bed of particles is moved through the heating and cooling zones, cross flows of hot or cool gas are passed through the bed normal to the direction of bed movement. The use of downdraft gas flow in each zone of the cross-flow device permits the same pressure profile to be produced in each zone, and a zero pressure differential between zones from top to bottom of the bed. Thus active grate space between adjacent zones is reduced, and greater efficiency obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for simultaneously subjecting the inside and outside surfaces of a procession of containers to a gaseous treatment, such as the hardening by heating of a previously applied liquid coating. The containers each provide a closed end and another open end by which it rests on a conveyor which carries a procession of the cans through a treatment region. Structure is provided for the creation of a difference in air pressure as applied to different portions of the open ends of the containers to induce air currents interiorly of thereof.

Abstract: An improved method for batch drying grain and the like utilizes a plurality of separate batch bins having hot, drying air inlets, transfer air outlets and inlets, and return air outlets. The hot, drying air inlets are connected by a common duct as are the transfer air outlets and inlets. The return air outlets are also connected with a common duct or ducts. The common return duct or ducts connect the outlets to a fan chamber. Air in the fan chamber is dehydrated and heated by a heat pump before being directed into the common hot, drying air supply duct. Air is circulated among the batch bins by arranging various combinations and permutations of supply, transfer and return inlet and outlet openings before it is recycled through the fan chamber and heat pump coils.

Abstract: The furnace comprises a hearth for the longitudinal displacement of pellet containers, means for injecting gas at both ends of the furnace, for sucking gas between preheating and sintering zones and for condensing the binder, means for displacing the containers from an introduction lock-chamber to an extraction lock-chamber, a conveyor belt which passes through a glove box and provides a leak-tight connection between the lock-chambers. A station for loading containers with pellet sub-containers prior to sintering and a station for unloading the pellet sub-containers after sintering are juxtaposed within the glove box.

Abstract: An appartus and process for drying grain in which the grain is first heated to drive off a portion of the moisture as it passes along a conveyor, and the heated and partially dried grain is then discharged into a holding or steeping bin where the moisture in the center of the kernels migrates to near the surface and the temperature becomes substantially uniform throughout. The grain is then discharged onto a second belt where the grain is first heated to drive off a substantial part of the moisture remaining in the grain and then is cooled before it is discharged from the apparatus. Air is used to cool the grain before it is discharged and this partially heated air is utilized in both grain heating operations. The apparatus includes upper and lowersections with porous conveyor belts for moving the grain between a receiving hopper to the bin and from the bin into a discharge recepacle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the destructive distillation of organic waste materials. An insulated sealed distillator compartment is provided having a plurality of conveyor stages for transporting the waste material through the sealed compartment while subjecting the material to a plurality of increased zones of temperature in order to completely pyrolyze the material and evolve pyrolysis gases. An auger feed apparatus supplys a continuous supply of material to the sealed distillator, while an auger discharge apparatus removes a continuous supply of solid carbonaceous residue from the distillator. The residue can be classified and separated into usable products. The evolved gases may be converted into crude oil and natural gas. A process for destructive distillation of the waste materials is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method comprised of a plurality of doctoring units, each of which is a pivotally supported combination doctor blade and V-shaped member, is described. In each unit the leading edge of the doctor blade is parallel to the plane of the surface of a processing belt conveying the material to be dried and the leading edge formed by the two plane faces of the V-shaped member is generally perpendicular to the plane of the belt when the unit is in doctoring position. In addition to doctoring, the apparatus and method imparts a tumbling action to the material being dried by the plowshare action of the V-shaped member. Comestibles dried with this method and apparatus can be transferred directly from the method to a puffing operation, thereby eliminating the usual time consuming equilibration period.

Abstract: A curing oven for impregnated mineral wool in the shape of mats comprises a pair of endless cooperating conveyors facing each other and being arranged in a housing, and on either side of the cooperating parts of conveyors several pressure -- and evacuation chambers are located for feeding hot air through the mat. The pressure -- and evacuation chambers are arranged in such a way that the air can be brought in mutually reverse directions through the mat, and they are designed with a decreasing cross sectional area in the direction away from the induction -- and evacuation ports. The interior spaces of the housing located outside the pressure -- and evacuation chambers are kept at a lower pressure than the ambient pressure by a pump unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for drying materials by contact with a drying gas consisting essentially of internally generated superheated drying steam above 212.degree. F., to vaporize the water in the material and remove it to produce the steam used for drying. A minor portion of steam is removed from the drying gas and discarded to maintain pressure equilibrium. The drying steam is produced within the drying chamber from water evaporated from the material being dryed and is either heated to form the superheated steam within the drying zone where it is in contact with the material or removed from the drying zone, heated to form superheated steam, and returned to the drying zone for contact with the material during drying. A wood veneer dryer employing the invention is described as well as an apparatus for drying particulate material.

Abstract: A drying kiln for lumber. The kiln comprises a drying chamber having two spaced drying sections each to receive a stack of lumber. There is a second chamber above the drying chamber and drivable, reversible, circulating means in the second chamber. The kiln also has heating means for air circulated by the circulating means. A first passageway permits the circulating means to force heated air across the drying sections, across the space between them and back to the circulating means. A second passageway extends downwardly into the space between the dryer section. There is a first and a second closable inlet for the second passageway. Each inlet is positioned on a side of the circulating means to receive a proportion of air forced towards it by the circulating means. A plurality of outlets to said space are in said second passageway. Means control the first and second inlets whereby if one is open the other is closed.

Abstract: A tobacco handling and curing system is provided for in-the-field loading of tobacco leaves into a rectangular curing box and for securing the tobacco leaves within the box by means of a plurality of spikes. The curing box is transferred to a tobacco barn where it is lifted and rotated 90.degree. by a hoist and loaded into the tobacco barn by means of a roller and track arrangement. The tobacco barn is provided with a downward air flow system having uniform temperature and flow rates.

Abstract: An oven for drying an applied coating material having volatile properties characterized by an arrangement of components which minimize the effects of air pollution and, at the same time, satisfies governmental regulations in this regard.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing moisture from textile products which are sufficiently porous to permit a substantial flow of heated fluid through the product. Two separate drying regions are provided through which a web of textile product is serially moved. The textile product divides each drying region into a pair of drying zones, and a differential pressure of heated air is maintained on opposite sides of the textile product in each of the heating regions to maintain a flow of heated air through the textile product. The wet textile product first passes through an initial heating region for flowthrough exposure to air heated to a temperature exceeding the temperature at which the dry textile product is damaged, for evaporation of unbound moisture without damaging the textile product. The textile product then passes through a subsequent heating region for flow-through exposure to recirculating air at a temperature which is nondamaging to the textile product.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing moisture from textile products which are sufficiently porous to permit a substantial flow of heated fluid through the product. Two separate drying regions are provided through which a web of textile product is serially moved. The textile product divides each drying region into a pair of drying zones, and a differential pressure of heated air is maintained on opposite sides of the textile product in each of the heating regions to maintain a flow of heated air through the textile product. The wet textile product first passes through an initial heating region for flowthrough exposure to air heated to a temperature exceeding the temperature at which the dry textile product is damaged, for evaporation of unbound moisture without damaging the textile product. The textile product then passes through a subsequent heating region for flow-through exposure to recirculating air at a temperature which is nondamaging to the textile product.

Abstract: An air jet drying machine having a plenum chamber including a wall in which one or more apertures are formed. Heated air is supplied to the plenum chamber and passes out through the aperture or apertures to impinge on a web or sheet on a conveyor beneath the plenum chamber. The velocity at which air impinges upon the web or sheet may be adjusted by adjusting the mass rate of air flow into or out of the plenum chamber or, preferably, by varying the distance between the conveyor supporting the articles and the plenum chamber.

Abstract: This dryer unit includes a housing having an inclined belt conveyor assembly mounted therein for transporting a previously washed printing plate through a drying system. The continuous belt is formed from an open mesh material to facilitate the circulation of drying air through the belt and over and above the plate.