Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising: a disc receiving portion configured to receive a disc which can record data; and a camera provided to oppose to a label surface of the disc when the disc is received in the disc receiving portion and configured to photograph the label surface of the disc.

Abstract: The invention provides a dryer for drying particulate material, comprising at least one substantially vertical elongate container having: an upper inlet for receiving a charge of moisture containing particulate material; a lower outlet for discharging dried particulate material, whereby the particulate material travels under the influence of gravity from the inlet to the outlet; at least one substantially vertical gas permeable wall through which a drying gas can pass to contact the particulate material; the dryer also comprising at least one plenum on an exterior surface of the at least one gas permeable wall, covering ingress and egress openings within the at least one gas permeable wall.

Abstract: A screenless reactor design is presented. The reactor includes a series of overlapping vanes where solid catalyst can cascade down the vanes. Gas flows across the catalyst by flowing through the vanes contacting the catalyst and then disengaging from contact with the solid catalyst particles.

Abstract: A continuous gravity flow apparatus for heating and/or drying of particulate material is vertically disposed and is provided with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom. The apparatus includes a flow passage for the particulate material which is defined between an outer housing and an inner housing. Each of the outer and inner housing defines perforated wall sections allowing for the flow of hot gas through the wall of one housing, into contact with the particulate material, and then out through the wall of the other housing. Manifolds are associated with the outer and inner housings to provide for uniform flow of the gas through the material. The perforated wall sections are positioned and designed to enhance particle-to-particle movement of the material to thereby avoid particle sticking and bridging problems.

Abstract: Conditioning apparatus for handling particulate material comprises a central frame and a plurality of spaced, annular troughs mounted to the central frame to support the particulate material. The troughs are arranged in a stacked configuration having successive pairs of upper and lower troughs with an uppermost trough for receiving the particulate material and a lowermost trough for discharging particulate material. Hydraulic cylinders or other suitable means are used to impart vibratory movement to the plurality of troughs to fluidize and advance the particulate material in a first direction on each of the plurality of troughs. A passage is formed through each trough for particulate material to fall from the upper trough of a pair to the lower trough.

Abstract: An vertical dryer (10) is provided having a plurality of individual dryer decks (12-18) including alternating fan and heater decks (14, 16), an air circulation assembly (11), and an upright, common plenum chamber (26) in communication with the decks (12-18). The assembly (11) is operable to create a continuous drying air stream which passes upwardly in countercurrent flow relationship to product on the decks (12-18). Also, the assembly (11) serves to pass the drying air stream into, through and out of the plenum (26) at the level of each heater deck (16); in the plenum (26), the air stream velocity is decreased, causing particulate fines to fall out of the stream for collection. The use of the common plenum (26) also allows independent control of the decks (12-18) in terms of air flows therethrough and recirculation characteristics.

Abstract: An improved stripper section design is provided for use in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units. The stripper section contains means for imparting rotational movement to the FCC cracking catalyst as it traverses the stripping section. In one embodiment the stripper section contains at least one rotation vane that is preferably disposed on the surface of a stripper section tray. The rotation vane provides angular, rotational movement to the cracking catalyst as it traverses the stripper section. Vertical movement is imparted to the cracking catalyst due to gravity and radial movement is imparted to the catalyst due to the slanted nature of the tray. Through the use of the rotation vanes the contact between the catalyst particles and the stripping steam is increased, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the FCC operation.

Abstract: A grain dryer has three levels of modulated air chambers; a multi-perforated chamber holding grains which surround all three levels of the modulated air chambers; an intermediate air passage; partition walls and a set of central fans to direct airflow cross-upwardly in an S-shape inside the grain dryer; and an external chamber to exhaust air out to the ambient, minimizing heat loss, and thereby increasing the effiency of moisture exhange between grains and air.

Abstract: A system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks, the system including a copy unit, a host computer and computer software, the software being installed in the host computer to provide a user interface and to direct the transfer of data from the host computer to the copy unit, the copy unit including a set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives, a microprocessor electronically connected to the activating mechanism of a pivotal transport tower and to the set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives. A robotic disk pickup head on the pivotal transport tower is encompassed by a set of disk spindle members arranged in a symmetric semi-circular pattern around the central tower, the disk pickup head being connected to the pivotal transport tower with an elevator mechanism for lifting and transporting compact disks among the disk spindle members and any selected one of the stacked recordable disk drive members.

Abstract: The apparatus has a plurality of conveying elements (20) that are connected in series, and have two parallel toothed belts and steel carrier sheets connected thereto. The belts are respectively guided over deflecting wheels (15), where the conveying elements (20) are deflected by about 180.degree.. The products to be drained are continuously and sequentially placed onto the conveying elements (20), with the water that is still clinging to the products being spun off at the deflecting wheels (15). The apparatus can be used to achieve gentle drainage in a continuous process.

Abstract: A raining bed heat exchanger includes: a hollow stack; a feed inlet located near the top of the stack for introducing particulate material into the stack so that the material falls through the stack; a gas inlet located near the bottom of the stack for introducing rising gases into the stack so that the gases flow counter to the falling material; a plurality of baffles supported within the stack between the feed and gas inlets for retarding the falling material and prolonging its exposure to the gases; and a disengagement section located near the top of the stack for separating from the gases particulates entrained by the rising gases. The disengagement section includes a screen positioned within the stack and having a plurality of gaps through which the rising gases pass in order to sufficiently separate the entrained particulates. Alternatively, the disengagement section can include a filter media to separate the entrained particulates.

Abstract: A device for pre-treating electronic circuit scraps has a conduit placed at a slope to the vertical direction. Also, some counter-rotating disk wheels are arranged in a cascade and bear grid-like vanes. These wheels begin at an upper end where the scraps are introduced through an inlet and extend down to a lower end where a scrap outlet is located. The inlet and the outlet for the scraps are made up of rotatable doors. The inlet has a loading opening and the outlet has a discharge conveyor. Air barriers may be interposed at the inlet and the outlet. The conduit includes an element that causes the heat-exchange fluid to circulate inside from the lower end to the upper end.

Abstract: A device for heating or cooling of bulk material including two pairs of vibrating chutes, with each pair being formed of two oppositely inclined chutes mounted one above the other and with each pair being equipped with a unidirectional vibrator, and with vibrating chutes of each pair being connected with a plurality of pairs of oppositely inclined articulated bars, and with vibrating chutes being equipped with flow ducts connected with each other in such a way that heating or cooling medium flows in the flow ducts of the vibrating chutes of each pair in the same direction so that in one chute the directions of flow of the heating or cooling material coincide with the flow of bulk material, and in the other chute they flow in opposite directions.

Abstract: A bulk material processor includes a tray assembly with a panel subassembly having an upper panel section and a lower panel section. The upper panel section is adapted to receive bulk material and pass it to the lower panel section for discharge. A heater panel is mounted over the tray assembly for radiantly heating the bulk material passing thereunder. A vibrator is coupled to the tray assembly for vibrating the bulk material whereby it advances along the tray assembly. A control system is provided for controlling the operation of the vibrator and for controlling the output of the heater panel. A method of bulk material processing includes cascading the bulk material from an upper panel section to a lower panel section by vibration and subjecting it to infrared radiation.

Abstract: A cooling device (1) in the form of a vertically arranged hollow chamber is located between a heat treatment furnace (9) and a quenching bath (11d). The device controls the cooling of small hardware items dropping downwardly through it from the furnace (9) to the bath (11d). Spaced baffles (3) are arranged in the hollow chamber and are adjustably inclinable relative to the vertical. A heat transfer member is connected to the baffles so that heat can be removed from or stabilized in the small hardware items flowing over the baffles.

Abstract: In a bulk material reactor comprising a reactor housing in which is arranged a travelling bed of 6,6' formed of bulk material 7,7', and a feed device 14-16-17 located on the top side, and a removal device 10 located on the underside of travelling bed 6,6,' as well as a gas inlet opening 2, and a gas outlet opening 3 located on various sides of travelling bed 6,6', the narrowing of gas-flow pathways through transfer device 10 is avoided and uniform flow-through pathways of equal length are provided for the gas flowing through the reactor whereby furthermore, travelling bed 6,6' is bounded along its lower side through staggered transfer plates 10 arranged in a cascade formation between which plates bulk material 7,7' collects to form an angle of repose 11 by means of which the trickling away of bulk material 7,7' is prevented while the system is stopped, whereby such transfer plates 10 can be moved backward and forward in such a way that motion in the transfer plates 10 permits bulk material 7,7' to fall theref

Abstract: A vertical dryer for granular materials the dryer having a substantially vertical chute into which granular material is deposited, the chute having walls that are at least in part air pervious for passing heated air through the chute, the chute having incline baffles for intercepting and redirecting the granular material during its descent in the chute.

Abstract: Bulk material containing vaporizable ingredients, such as lignite, hard coal, peat, waste wood, clarifier sludge, waste sludge, contaminated earth, catalysts, zeolites and filter cake, is conditioned by means of a vibrating plate conveyor divided into a heating section and a drying section, using an indirect heat exchange method. The bulk material is heated in an enclosed heating section while withdrawing the vapor from this section. In the downstream enclosed drying section, the vaporizable fractions contained in the bulk material are further reduced with the aid of heat supplied indirectly, the vapor being withdrawn. The bulk material is separated several times into coarse and fine fractions utilizing at least one slotted grid, the fines being immediately recycled and remixed with the coarse fractions which have a higher water content. The bulk material is mixed several times while being heated in the drying section before discharge.

Abstract: An anaerobic, pasteurizing conditioning system for treating matter such as whole and ground grain, minerals and other ingredients to increase the rate of their conversion and absorption during digestion and thus the nutritional value thereof. The system comprises a direct fired steam generator adapted for producing an effluent stream comprising steam and non-condensible gases, a vapor homogenizer for producing a substantially water-free treatment fluid from the effluent stream, and the treatment fluid containing insufficient oxygen for aerobic bacterial life. The treatment fluid, comprising steam and oxygen deficient non-condensible gases is discharged into the vessel for counter-current flow relative to grain passing therethrough.

Abstract: Bulk material containing vaporizable ingredients, such as lignite, hard coal, peat, waste wood, clarifier sludge, waste sludge, contaminated earth, catalysts, zeolites and filter cake, is conditioned by means of a vibrating plate conveyor divided into a heating section and a drying section, using an indirect heat exchange method. The bulk material is heated in an enclosed heating section while withdrawing the vapor from this section. In the downstream enclosed drying section, the vaporizable fractions contained in the bulk material are further reduced with the aid of heat supplied indirectly, the vapor being withdrawn. The bulk material is separated several times into coarse and fine fractions utilizing at least one slotted grid, the fines being immediately recycled and remixed with the coarse fractions which have a higher water content. The bulk material is mixed several times while being heated in the drying section before discharge.

Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace is constructed from a plurality of cylindrical heating chamber modules, connected in a vertical configuration. Each module contains a hollow hearth, which forms a floor in the chamber, the hearth having an open portion approximately centered in the chamber floor. A rotating central shaft is disposed vertically through open portions in the hearths and is provided with projections for distributing material to be heated across the hearths. Heating of the modules is accomplished by passing heated gases through the hollow hearths. Material to be heated is introduced into the uppermost module, is distributed across the hearth, and is discharged into successively lower modules, after which material exits the furnace. Gases which form during the heating can be removed separately from gases used to heat the furnace.

Abstract: A discharge device for granules from vertical reactors having a plane blower plate with scraper edges has at least one discharge slot with corresponding collecting device fixedly connected to the discharge slot so as to be rotatable with the latter. A static scraping device is arranged between the discharge slot and the collecting device.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention relates to apparatus for cooling or drying coarse-grained bulk material, comprising a plurality of trays mounted one above the other for rotation about a common axis, each tray being divided into a plurality of segments adapted to be tilted about a tilt axis extending in a radial direction of said common axis, means supporting said segments in the plane of the respective tray and permitting said segments to be tilted only within a determined angular range of rotation, and means for forcibly tilting each segment within said angular range. In prior art constructions, different means for forcibly tilting each segment in the said angular range have been required, depending on the time required by the feed material to pass through the cooling apparatus and on the number of trays employed in the cooling apparatus.

Abstract: In a cooling column the feed material to be dried or cooled is intermittently transferred from any one sieve bottom to a subjacent sieve bottom as by tilting individual sectors of the respective sieve bottoms. As a result, the feed material comes to rest on the sieve bottoms with a non-uniform bed thickness, resulting in non-uniform drying or cooling, respectively, of the feed material. A substantially uniform bed thickness of the feed material on the sieve bottoms is therefore desirable. This is achieved by the invention by providing a levelling rod mounted in support means for oscillating movement about a stationary pivot axis and extending substantially transversely of the direction of movement of the feed material.

Abstract: A quantity of water deposited on sand particles is adjusted to a predetermined value by utilizing a method and apparatus disclosed having a hopper through which the sand particles to be treated are supplied. A velocity energy is imparted to the particles to project them in a predetermined direction, thereby causing the particles to collide against rotating drums. As a result of the collision, a portion of a quantity of water initially deposited on the particles is removed therefrom and transferred to the drums, which is thereafter separated from the drums by a centrifugal force created by rotation of the drums. A plurality of notches or slits may be formed to axially extend along the periphery of the drums so that the deposited water moving along the periphery will tend into contact with be separated therefrom when it comes to one of the notches or slits. An air jet stream passing through the respective slits to the outside will function to facilitate the water removal from the periphery of the drums.

Abstract: Transfer apparatus comprising a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for particulate solid material and a inlet and outlet for fluid to flow in countercurrent or cocurrent to the solid material, and a packing within the vessel, the packing including a plurality of layers of bars (60 to 68) extending generally horizontally across the vessel, the bars of each layer being substantially parallel to one another and having a spacing between adjacent bars which is substantially the same for the bars of said layer. The parallel bars of each layer extend transversely, preferably perpendicular, to the parallel bars of the adjacent layer of layers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying welding flux in which flux to be dried is fed downwardly by gravity onto the uppermost of a vertically staggered, interleaved array of shelf plate support members within a drying chamber; and the drying chamber is swung about an axis generally parallel to the members while flux feeds downwardly by gravity from one to another of the members and while the flux is heated and dried.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for degassing fine powders of metals are disclosed. A vertical shell having a series of baffle plates inclined at an angle of repose is used to induce a serpentine path for the powder. The shell is subjected to suitable conditions of vibration temperature and pressure to maintain the desired flow rate and gas separation. Conditions of mesh size, pressure temperature, angle of repose as well as equipment configuration are discussed.

Abstract: A vertical container holds and treats particulate material, such as comminuted cellulosic fibrous material like wood chips. The container includes a vertical interior wall, an open top, and a discharge outlet at the bottom. A top interior wall structure directs particulate material to a first false bottom concentric with it. The first false bottom is mounted for oscillation with respect to the vertical container and discharges particulate material through a discharge opening in the generally conical bottom thereof into a second false bottom structure. The second false bottom structure also includes a generally conical bottom with a discharge opening, and is also mounted for oscillation with respect to the container. Steam is preferably introduced into the second false bottom to effect steaming of the particulate material within it, and the container is held at super-atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A plate-type dryer or like heat-treatment apparatus has a plurality of annular horizontal plates upon which material is treated while a shaft surrounded by these plates carries a plurality of generally radial arms from which scraper blades are suspended. According to the invention, each blade is carried by a hanger which is pivotally mounted on the arm and reaches rearwardly to support the blade, another pivot providing a further degree of freedom ensuring full line contact of the lower edge of the blade with the plate.

Abstract: In a rotary apparatus for the production of layered glass batch pellets there is provided a dryer for final drying of the pellets prior to their being fed to a melting furnace.

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: 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.