Abstract: A dryer for drying product includes a housing and a drying chamber formed in the housing. A series of doors are moveably mounted on the dryer for providing access to the drying chamber. A latch assembly is associated with each door for latching the door to the dryer. The latch assembly includes a bracket mounted to the door and a shaft rotatively mounted adjacent a portion of the bracket. The shaft includes a latch for engaging a latching catch and securing the door in the closed position. A locking member is pivotally mounted to the bracket and moveable between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking member extends into a locking cavity formed in the shaft.

Abstract: A dryer for drying product includes a housing and a drying chamber formed in the housing. A series of doors are moveably mounted on the dryer for providing access to the drying chamber. A latch assembly is associated with each door for latching the door to the dryer. The latch assembly includes a bracket mounted to the door and a shaft rotatively mounted adjacent a portion of the bracket. The shaft includes a latch for engaging a latching catch and securing the door in the closed position. A locking member is pivotally mounted to the bracket and moveable between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking member extends into a locking cavity formed in the shaft.

Abstract: A dryer includes a housing and a woven wire belt conveyor assembly that extends through a drying chamber of the dryer. The woven wire belt is trained around a drive drum and a tensioning drum. To support the woven wire belt, there is provided a plurality of removable rollers or supports that engage the woven wire belt and support the same as the woven wire belt is driven through the drying chamber.

Abstract: A dryer for drying various types of products such as food products and pet food. The dryer includes a frame structure, a conveyor disposed in the dryer, and a heating unit for supplying heat to the dryer. A plurality of relatively lightweight hygienic panels, including doors, is secured to the frame structure and form a part of the exterior of the dryer. The hygienic panels provide access to the interior of the dryer for cleaning and maintenance. Each hygienic panel is sealed so that moisture and air cannot enter the interior of the panel. Disposed inside each hygienic panel is a honeycomb panel and an insulating structure. The hygienic panel provides rigidity and strength to the hygienic panel and at the same time enables the panel to be of a relatively light weight construction.

Abstract: A dryer is provided with a direct drive fan assembly for circulating air through a drying chamber formed in the dryer. The direct drive fan assembly includes a fan plug mounted to the dryer and a fan rotatively mounted adjacent an interior side of the fan plug. A load adapter is secured to the fan plug and projects outwardly therefrom. A motor is mounted to the load adapter via a motor adapter. There is provided a continuous drive shaft assembly from the motor, through the motor adapter, through the load adapter, and through the fan plug. The drive assembly connects to the fan disposed adjacent the interior side of the fan plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the VOC and CO content of dryer offgas that is discharged into the atmosphere from a moist organic product drying process using thermal oxidizing apparatus that includes a furnace, mixing chamber, thermal oxidizer, tempering chamber, and an indirect gas-to-gas heat exchanger. The dryer offgas is separated into two portions, with a larger portion being preheated by indirect heat exchange with the hot gaseous output from the thermal oxidizer. The non-preheated portion is directed to a rotary waste heat evaporator in which moisture is removed therefrom. The preheated portion is recycled to the hot gas inlet of the dryer and serves the function of dryer heat transfer media. By removing moisture from the non-preheated portion of the offgas that is directed to the thermal oxidizing apparatus, simultaneous achievement of thermal oxidizer temperatures of 1600° F.

Abstract: A method of using a conveyor dryer having a drying chamber and a conveyor disposed within the chamber for conveying a selected material through the chamber. A stationary conveyor support is disposed on each side of the conveyor for supporting the conveyor. A material guide is disposed adjacent each side of the conveyor for generally retaining material on the conveyor and wherein the conveyor support and material guide are disposed adjacent to each other such that they cooperate to form a generally air tight seal that minimizes the flow of air between the conveyor support and the material guide.

Abstract: A conveyor dryer having a drying chamber and a conveyor disposed within the chamber for conveying a selected material through the chamber is detected. A stationary conveyor support is disposed on each side of the conveyor for supporting the conveyor. A material guide is disposed adjacent each side of the conveyor for generally retaining material on the conveyor and wherein the conveyor support and material guide are disposed adjacent to each other such that they cooperate to form a generally air tight seal that minimizes the flow of air between the conveyor support and the material guide.

Abstract: The bulk material cooler/dryer apparatus of the present invention utilizes an oscillating spreader assembly in conjunction with a reciprocating discharge grate structure to achieve uniform distribution of in-flowing bulk material within a main processing chamber and also to achieve uniform and efficient discharge of the material from the chamber once processing is complete. This uniform distribution of bulk material within the processing chamber is accomplished via a spreader assembly which is mounted to the top of the chamber and which moves along two orthogonal axes. Motion with respect to each of the axes is facilitated by a pair of linear actuators, the actions of which are controlled so as to cause the stream of in-flowing material that is issued therefrom to oscillate in a sinusoidal type pattern when observed from a point above the spreader assembly.

Abstract: The bulk material cooler/dryer apparatus of the present invention utilizes an oscillating spreader assembly in conjunction with a reciprocating discharge grate structure to achieve uniform distribution of in-flowing bulk material within a main processing chamber and also to achieve uniform and efficient discharge of the material from the chamber once processing is complete. This uniform distribution of bulk material within the processing chamber is accomplished via a spreader assembly which is mounted to the top of the chamber and which moves along two orthogonal axes. Motion with respect to each of the axes is facilitated by a pair of linear actuators, the actions of which are controlled so as to cause the stream of in-flowing material that is issued therefrom to oscillate in a sinusoidal type pattern when observed from a point above the spreader assembly.

Abstract: A system for treating oilseeds prior to solvent extraction in which the oilseeds are treated in a microwave dryer to raise their temperature to 140.degree. F., passed hot through two-high rolls to crack the hulls and beans, the hulls are removed in an air sorter while at 140.degree. F., and while still heated, the beans are sent to a flaking roll. The stream from the process to the solvent extractor has less than 5% fines.

Abstract: A system for treating oilseeds prior to solvent extraction in which the oilseeds are treated in a microwave dryer to raise their temperature to 140.degree. F., passed hot through two-high rolls to crack the hulls and beans, the hulls are removed in an air sorter while at 140.degree. F., and while still heated, the beans are sent to a flaking roll. The stream from the process to the solvent extractor has less than 5% fines.

Abstract: This invention is a cooling device for cans and similar containers and is specifically designed for installation where floor space is either limited or at a premium. Additionally, there is a unique liquid circulation system which is extremely effective in cooling and yet low in energy consumption.