Abstract: The temperature and/or moisture profile over time of gypsum boards is monitored as the boards harden, to facilitate effective curing of the boards prior to removing excess water therein in an industrial dryer. A substrate is moved by a curing conveyor beneath a gypsum slurry mixer, and the mixer pours slurry onto the substrate. Just prior to the substrate passing under the mixer, an operator places a monitor onto the substrate. The monitor can include a temperature sensor, a conductivity sensor, and a microprocessor that receives and stores the signals from the sensors. The monitor is configured such that the height of the sensor or sensors is equal to one-half the height of the hardening boards. The slurry that has poured onto the monitor hardens into a test board, and when the test board arrives at the end of the curing conveyor, an operator breaks open the test board, removes the monitor, and connects the microprocessor in the monitor to a computer via a serial port cable.

Abstract: The temperature profile over time of gypsum boards is monitored as the boards harden, to facilitate effective curing of the boards prior to removing excess water therein in an industrial dryer. A substrate is moved by a curing conveyor beneath a gypsum slurry mixer, and the mixer pours slurry onto the substrate. Just prior to the substrate passing under the mixer, an operator places a temperature monitor onto the substrate. The temperature monitor includes a temperature sensor and a microprocessor that receives and stores the signal from the temperature sensor. The temperature monitor is configured such that the height of the sensor is equal to one-half the height of the hardening boards. The slurry that has poured onto the monitor hardens into a test board, and when the test board arrives at the end of the curing conveyor, an operator breaks open the test board, removes the monitor, and connects the microprocessor in the monitor to a computer via a serial port cable.

Abstract: A dryer for removing excess water from veneer panels or from gypsum boards includes a plurality of hollow subassemblies positioned end to end. Each subassembly includes opposed vertical walls, and an access opening is formed in each wall. Along the vertical edges of each access opening, a respective frame is attached to the subassembly. A door is slidably engaged with each frame, and each door can be raised above the subassembly by a counterweighted lifting system to expose the access opening and, hence, the interior of the subassembly. A door seal is positioned between each door and its frame, and when the door is lowered to cover the access opening, a latch mechanism can be operated to urge the door against the door seal and thereby sealingly block the access opening.

Abstract: An end wall of a multi-conveyor wood veneer dryer includes a plurality of sight glasses that are vertically aligned with each other. Each sight glass is elevated just above a respective roller conveyor, with the conveyors being located in the dryer. A laser generator portion of a laser apparatus is positioned adjacent each sight glass outside the dryer, such that a laser beam is directed through each sight glass. Each laser apparatus includes a light detector for detecting reflected laser light. The preferred laser apparatus generates a distance signal representative of the distance between the generator and an object in the path of the laser beam, based on the period from when the beam was generated to when the reflected beam was received.