Abstract: A system for packaging tea in a sealed casing. the system includes a machine for breaking dried tea leaves, said machine comprising an inlet for supplying dried tea leaves, an outlet for releasing the broken tea leaves, and at least one breaker device including a first breaker member and a second breaker member that can be removed relative to the first breaker member, said first and second breaker member being configured to bend the dried tea leaves until they break.

Abstract: A method and a fiber-treatment system dry wet or damp fibers. A fiber mat (13) including wet or damp fibers is formed on a treatment band (31) which is moved in a conveying direction (x). An air flow (36, 36a) composed of heated drying air is generated in the fiber dryer (30). The heated drying air is guided in an upward direction through the treatment band and the fibers contained in the fibre mat (13, 14) are loosened and dried. Linters (16) possibly produced by any moving fibers are captured by a filter band (32) arranged above the treatment band, which is also moved in the conveying direction (x). At the outlet of the fiber dryer, the fibers are detached from a support (17) formed on the filter band, in particular when guiding the detached fibers back towards the dried fibers guided to the treatment band (31, 31c).

Abstract: A system and method for drying and utilizing spent grain includes an agitation device having an elongated semi-cylindrical mixing chamber with a motor-driven shaft and a plurality of agitators. A lid is hingedly positioned along the top end of the chamber and is connected to the dehumidification system by a pair of air ducts. An air filtration device is interposed between the air output of the agitation device and the air input of the dehumidification system. A method of drying spent grain includes the steps of pouring spent grain into the interior space of the chamber, securing the lid in the closed position, agitating the grain inside the chamber via the agitators, removing damp air from the interior space of the chamber, and introducing dry warm air to the interior space of the chamber until a moisture content of the spent grain achieves a user specified level.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing pet food including a granulating process of granulating a raw ingredient mixture to obtain food granules; an oil and fat coating process of charging the food granules into a coating pot and coating the food granules with oils and fats; and a food granule heating process of heating the food granules until the temperature thereof becomes 40° C. to 70° C. and charging the food granules into the coating pot.

Abstract: A device for drying work pieces, in particular vehicle wheels, having a dryer housing which borders a dryer chamber and has at least one access to the dryer chamber. Work piece carriers loaded with work pieces can be conveyed through the dryer chamber by a conveyance system. There is a transfer device which transfers work pieces to be dried to a work piece carrier located in the dryer chamber, and removes dried work pieces by a work piece carrier located in the dryer chamber. The work piece carriers can be conveyed in circulation through the dryer chamber without leaving same. A method for drying work pieces, wherein the work piece carriers are correspondingly conveyed through the dryer chamber without leaving same, wherein work pieces to be dried are transferred to a work piece carrier located in the dryer chamber and dried work pieces are removed by a work piece carrier located in the dryer chamber.

Abstract: A bulkiness recovery apparatus for nonwoven fabric, the apparatus being for recovering bulkiness of the nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air to heat the nonwoven fabric, the apparatus including: a heating mechanism including case units, jet inlets and an evacuation opening, the case unit having a conveyor space in which the nonwoven fabric is conveyed, the jet inlet blasting hot air into the conveyor space from a one side toward another side of the conveyor space in a conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric, the evacuation opening evacuating hot air from the conveyor space, the hot air flowing along the conveying direction while being in contact with either one of two surfaces of the nonwoven fabric; and deformation mechanisms that deform the nonwoven fabric discharged from the case unit so that the one surface of the nonwoven fabric is convex.

Abstract: A belt conveyor including a conveyor belt that has hollow injectors for injecting a process fluid into a conveyed layer of bulk products and a method for injecting a process fluid into a layer of bulk products conveyed on a conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific water and solvent-free nitrile rubbers having specific functional groups and/or end groups, a process for the production thereof and the use thereof. This process involves removing volatile compounds from a fluid (F) containing (1) at least one nitrile rubber and (2) at least one volatile compound, wherein the process comprises at least the steps of a.) treating the fluid (F) in at least one conversation unit, b.) retreating the concentrated fluid from step a.) in at least one retreating unit and c.) feeding the retreated concentrated fluid from step b.) into at least one retreating unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact device (that may be installed onto a mobile or stationary platform) for conversion of waste to sources of energy or fertilizer. The device includes multiple stages for efficient conversation and processing of waste into energy or fertilizer, including a first stage for reducing a size of received waste, a second stage for compressing the reduced sized waste into partially dehydrated waste, a third stage for grinding and further compression of received waste from second stage to pulverize the constituent parts into highly dense substantially dehydrated pellets or fertilizers, with a fourth stage for further drying of the received pellets or fertilizers and a final fifth stage for cooling the received pellets or fertilizers into highly dense pellets. The device of the present invention further includes a controller for controlling each operational stage.

Abstract: One aspect is a material drying system with a conductive bin at least partially filled with harvested material. A frequency generator is configured to generate radio frequency energy and a controller is coupled to the frequency generator for controlling the radio frequency energy. At least one conductive shape located within the harvested material and coupled to the frequency generator and controller. The frequency generator and controller provide the radio frequency energy to the at least one conductive shape such that a system capacitor is formed by the combination of the at least one conductive shape and the conductive bin and with harvested material forming a dielectric therebetween such that friction of water molecules in the harvested material is induced quickening drying thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of water and solvent-free hydrogenated nitrile rubber polymers, to the hydrogenated nitrile rubbers and the use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for treating elongate food products in a process space using a conditioned airflow, comprising: a housing bounding the process space, with a feed opening arranged in the housing and a discharge opening arranged in the housing for respectively carrying elongate food products into the process space and discharging thereof from the process space, transport means for displacing the elongate food products through the process space, blowing means for generating an airflow in the process space, and conditioning means for conditioning the airflow.

Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibres, which, comprises a process chamber arranged inside a housing, a blowing device arranged in the centre of the process chamber, a suction device arranged in the two opposite end regions of the process chamber, at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the process chamber and the suction devices, and at least one heating device arranged in the flow path of the hot circulated air. The blowing device comprises a plurality of vertically interspaced blowing boxes comprising an inlet, and, on opposite sides, outlets for the hot air. Two stacks of vertically interspaced blowing boxes may be provided, said blowing boxes being interspaced one behind the other in the direction of movement of the fibres, and/or the built-in boxes in a stack comprise at least one additional outlet in the upper side and the lower side, for hot air.

Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibres, especially for producing carbon fibres, which, comprises a process chamber arranged inside a housing, a blowing device for hot air, at least one suction device arranged in an end region of the process chamber, at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the process chamber and the suction device, and at least one heating device arranged in the flow path of the hot circulated air. The suction device is formed from a plurality of vertically interspaced suction boxes. Said boxes have at least one outlet for the hot air, and at least one inlet for hot air, communicating with the process chamber and arranged in the outward-facing side of the suction boxes, that is the side that is at a distance from the centre of the process chamber.

Abstract: A soil remediation apparatus for treating contaminated soil comprises an air deck unit and a remediation unit. The air deck unit comprises an enclosure with a contaminated soil inlet and a remediated soil outlet; at least one conveyor located inside the enclosure and operable to convey soil from the enclosure inlet to the enclosure outlet; and contaminated air extraction means having an inlet in fluid communication with the enclosure and an outlet, and operable to extract air from the air deck unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for drying bulk material, especially bark, sawdust, pretreated sludge or a mixture of these. Also provided are a method and apparatus for cooling waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process. Certain embodiments include a pulp mill, paper mill and a novel way of using a wire. Other embodiments provide for cooling in one and the same heat exchanger the waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process while simultaneously heating the gas that cools the waste water. Heated gas extracted from the heat exchanger is conducted through one or several drying conveyers and through the material to be dried that is conveyed on the drying conveyer so as to dry the material with the heated gas.

Abstract: A system for curing a binders applied to glass fibers is disclosed. The curing of the binder is accomplished by passing the binder coated glass fibers through a curing oven having one or more temperature zones. The temperature of the binder coated glass fibers is monitored and the temperature in the curing oven is adjusted to ensure proper heating of the glass fibers thereby ensuring uniform curing of the binder composition. Temperature measurements are made either as the product traverses the oven or as the cured product exits the curing oven. The invention is particularly useful for curing acrylic thermoset binders and formaldehyde-free binders.

Abstract: In application of a green-house effect, under such a concept as to collect solar energy passively into the house and to exhaust moist air passively from the house, an all weather passive-type solar Ogako drying house which is available for all day through a year was made up improving an agricultural vinyl-house in which Ogako is dried continuously during carriage on the belt conveyors due to solar energy and auxiliary heat, and then moist air yielded when drying Ogako is exhausted through an insulated cylinder. In this case, Ogako means sawdust or tipped small particles of wood which is raw material in order to produce a woody pellet fuel.

Abstract: A closed-type drying system a drying chamber with glass windows to allow light entering, an condensation and heating system connected between two distal ends of the drying chamber and controlled by an automatic control system, the condensation and heating system including an air blower for blowing air through the drying chamber, a heater for heating air passing through the drying chamber, two evaporators for condensing moisture from output air of the drying chamber, a heat energy reclamation chamber connected between the air blower and the evaporator, a condenser mounted inside the heat energy reclamation chamber for preheating air passing through the heat energy reclamation chamber, a first compressor mounted in the heat energy reclamation chamber for heat exchange with the flow of air passing through reclamation chamber, and a second compressor adapted to provide low temperature conditions (if needed) in the drying chamber.

Abstract: A cooling grate for bulk material, having a carrying plate for accommodating a layer of the material for cooling, and having conveying elements by means of which the material for cooling is conveyed in a conveying direction on the resting carrying plate and which comprise pushers, which are arranged in a movable manner on that side of the carrying plate which is subjected to the action of material for cooling, and a drive, which is arranged on the other side of the carrying plate and is intended for executing a lifting movement, each pusher being assigned an opening in the carrying plate and a transmission member, which is guided thereby and connects the pusher to the drive. The carrying plate is provided, at the openings, with in each case one collar, which at least at the front and rear, as seen in the conveying direction, has a seal acting between the transmission member and collar.

Abstract: On drying pasty materials, particularly sewage sludge, the material is compacted in an intermediate drying stage with a dry fraction of 60 to 80%, so that relatively low energy costs are required. The conveying of the material takes place both during pre-drying and after leaving the compactor on one or two air-permeable conveyor belts (3, 4) succeeding one another in the conveying direction and which are enclosed in a common housing (2). Thus, drying before and after compacting is performed under identical method conditions, so that it is possible to produce a simple and therefore inexpensive installation for performing the method. The finished product has advantageous characteristics with regards to density and abrasion resistance, so that dust production is avoided during subsequent handling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating plastic material, especially polyethylene terephthalate, wherein the relatively low temperature material is initially crystallized by heating before subjecting said material to heating or condensation in the solid phase. The material is then exposed to a hot treatment gas for at least 10 minutes in at least two chambers (2) of an apparatus and crystallized at a temperature above 135° C., e.g. 140-180° C. The is subsequently heated in a preheating chamber (3) having at least one to eight stages at a temperature of at least 185° C., preferably at least 200° C. and more preferably around 220° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller belt drier. The drying of panel-shaped products often requires the drier to have considerable construction lengths in order to achieve a high capacity. Long roller belt dryers, which are usually equipped with chain drives and a motor for each chain, present the problem that very strong chains are required to transmit the necessary driving forces. When the drier reaches a certain length, it is no longer possible to provide chains that are able to accommodate these forces. According to known solutions, a chain is divided and the drives are located in the centre of the drier. This causes problem s in terms of sealing the drier, as well as extra expense for the driving and tension station. The aim of the invention is to create a drier which has a driving and tension system that is structurally simple and economical even for considerable construction lengths. A chain is equipped with two drives (15, 23), the second drive (23) being integrated in a tension device (24).

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus, supporting racks and heating arrangement for heating and cooling work pieces such as magnet assemblies for rotating electric machines. Because of the closed oval path through which the work pieces are transported on the racks by means of a conveyor mechanism that does not have to support the weight of the work pieces, very high efficiencies can be obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying and stacking treated workpieces includes a housing defining a drying chamber; a workpiece carrying assembly mounted to the housing for moving the workpieces along a travel path through the drying chamber, including an endless strand trained around a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of pins spaced along and projecting outwardly from the strand for supporting and carrying workpieces; a workpiece removal assembly for removing workpieces from the pins including a ramp formed with an abutment surface and a slot formed therein through which the pins can pass to engage workpieces being carried on the pins wherein each workpiece is forced off its respective pin as the respective pin advances through the slot; a workpiece collection arrangement for receiving workpieces removed from the pins, with the travel path being generally vertically oriented and the pins being generally horizontally oriented wherein workpieces fall into the workpiece collection arrangement; and a workpiece ejector assemb

Abstract: The object of the Patent is a drying tunnel for fruit and vegetables which is prismatic rectangular in shape and is internally divided by spacing walls (1) with a bucket conveyor travelling successively up and down. The buckets are elongate, parallel to the walls (1) and closed at their ends by irregular hexagonal plates (2) which may swivel about top half-shafts (3), their concave bottom allowing an airflow through it and consisting of longitudinal spaced rods (4). Shafts (5) are arranged at the top of the end walls (2) with bearing means (6) at their free end which, upon abutting on a flat inclined guide (7), cause the bucket to be tipped and emptied, allowing the fruit to exit.

Abstract: A dehydration plant for dehydrating food products, including a microwave kiln (2), conveyor means (3) for conveying food products through the kiln (2), circulation means (21, 6) for circulating air through the kiln (2), refrigerated dehumidification means (7, 11) for dehumidifying the air to be circulated through the kiln (2), and heating means (12, 13, 14) for heating the air to be circulated through the kiln (2) such that food products conveyed through the kiln (2) are exposed to both microwave emissions and the flow of dehumidified heated air to thereby dehydrate the food products.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method control within acceptable limits, of less than two percent (2%), residual shrinkage in garments to be made from a knitted fabric web or other fabrics subject to high shrinkage. The knitted fabric web is passed continuously in a moist condition through a first shrinkage compactor. Then the web is carried on an endless belt through a special dryer in a relaxed condition to allow loops of knits to shorten. The web is caused to wave in the dryer. The web is then conveyed through a second shrinkage range for final shrinking to a desired weight per surface area with less than two percent (2%) residual shrinkage. Thus the garments are safe from further shrinking in home tumble dryers.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a channel having an inlet end for receiving particulate material to be dehydrated and an outlet end for discharging the particulate material in a dehydrated condition. A screw conveyor rotatably mounted in the channel advances the particulate material while stirring the particulate material to enhance the release of water and noxious vapors. A fan creates an air current in the channel to entrain water and noxious vapors released by the particulate material. The vapors are directed toward a heating chamber which incinerates dangerous and odoriferous compounds as much as possible. The resulting gaseous media is directed through a passage in a heat-exchange relationship with the channel to elevate the temperature of the particulate material that is being processed and to cause same to release water and noxious vapors.

Abstract: A method and a facility for dehydrating plants, particularly for dehydrating forage. The method consists in introducing the forage to be dehydrated in a drier with a retention time and a temperature that are suitable to achieve the at least partial drying of the leaves of the forage. The forage, when it leaves the drier, is subjected to an operation for separating the leaves from the stalks, and the leaves and stalks thus separated are then subjected, separately from each other, to additional treatments that include at least one additional drying for at least one of the two components constituted by the leaves and the stalks.

Abstract: An article separating and drying system which receives container ends from an infeed station, separates and dries the container ends and the compound applied thereto in a separating and drying station, and passes the articles to an outfeed station. The article separating and drying system includes a magnetic separating assembly which imposes a magnetic field on the container ends passing thereby for similarly magnetizing the container ends causing neighboring ends to repel one another. The magnetic repulsion of neighboring ends produces gaps between the neighboring ends as they move through the separating and drying station. A conveying device is provided to controllably move the container ends through the separating and drying station. An air distribution assembly is provided to deliver air to said separating and drying station and drive the air through the gap between neighboring container ends thereby contacting the liner compound applied to the container ends and removing moisture therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic substrate processing system comprising a processing equipment for processing electronic substrates including semiconductor wafers and liquid crystal substrates; a cleaning equipment for cleaning said electronic substrate in a predetermined processing step; a portable closed container for accommodating a cassette containing said electronic substrate; a purging station for gas-purging said portable closed containers; and a storage member for storing said portable closed containers, wherein said cassette accommodates said electronic substrates which have been cleaned by said cleaning equipment being set in said portable closed container and purged with an inert gas in said purging station, and said portable closed container or containers is stored in said storing section when necessary.

Abstract: The invention provides a transportable reaction chamber for continuous biological and chemical decontamination of articles by means of a mixture of hot air and steam. The reaction chamber has a tunnel shaped reaction section through which the contaminated articles are transported on a conveyor and through which a mixture of decontaminant gases is circulated. An exhaust blower situated at an end of the reaction section, and transverse flow units along its length, provide both transverse and longitudinal gas flow in the reaction section.

Abstract: An infrared wood product dryer apparatus (10) constructed in accordance with the invention broadly includes enclosure structure (12) defining an interior (20), a conveyor assembly (14) configured for conveying a particulate material along a material flow path through the interior (20) substantially between an inlet (22) and an outlet (24), an array of infrared radiant energy sources (22) configured for exposing the material to infrared radiant energy while it is conveyed along the path (38), and a series of agitators (18) configured for agitating the material in order to increase the exposure of the material to the infrared radiant energy. A gas recirculation assembly (52) is provided to direct a heated interior gas onto the material in order to convection-dry the material. An exhaust assembly (62) reduces the moisture content of the interior gas by drawing a quantity of the gas from the dryer (10) so that fresh gas having a lower moisture content may be drawn into the dryer (10).

Abstract: High volume manufacturing process for flexographic printing plates comprises wash out, drying and post-exposure. During drying the printing plates are transported with a plurality of endless conveyors. The transport speed during drying/post-exposure is lower than the transport speed during wash out such that a storage of flexographic plates can be achieved in the drying and post exposure portion of the process.

Abstract: An automated yarn conditioning apparatus is provided. This device allows for unconditioned yarn packages to be brought from a source to a yarn conditioning station where they are conditioned and then ejected onto a takeaway conveyor. Yarn conditioning is achieved within an airtight chamber inside of a vessel. The yarn conditioning process used first evacuates the airtight chamber and then injects steam into the airtight chamber. Simultaneously with the conditioning of the yarn packages inside the airtight chamber, unconditioned yarn packages are brought to the conditioning station for placement inside the vessel when the prior conditioning step has been completed.

Abstract: A foliage coating and treating apparatus is provided for treating plants with a coating in a manner which advantageously removes excess coating from plants passing through the apparatus. The apparatus includes a coating stage wherein the plants are coated with a coating and a hanging stage wherein the plants are hung on a conveyor. The apparatus further includes a blowing stage wherein the plants are blown with air to promote drying and removal of excess coating and/or preserving liquid. To remove excess coating from the plants, the apparatus includes a coating removal stage which employs a booth having first and second opposed side surfaces between which the plants pass on the conveyor. The booth also includes a plurality of first air vents situated on the first side surface and a plurality of second air vents situated on the second side surface, each of the first air vents being laterally staggered with respect to the second air vents.

Abstract: A temperature controlled conveyor system where a non contact sensor detects the presents of a product to be treated and then supplies a signal to a control device to regulate a radiant heating device. Also the conveyor has an adjustment device to set the optimal distance between the radiant heater and the article being treated.

Abstract: A harvester apparatus is provided for drying and baling forage crops in the field. The harvester apparatus includes an inlet for conveying forage crops to a dryer arrangement of the harvester where the forage crops are substantially evenly dried as they are conveyed through the dryer arrangement. The harvester apparatus includes compacting structure for compacting the forage crops before the drying process in completed. The harvester apparatus produces a layer of dried and compacted forage crops which are exited from the harvester apparatus at an exit which is adjacent a baling mechanism for securing the forage crops into bales. The layer of forage crops is converted by the baling mechanism into a column of stacked blocks secured together to form a bale.

Abstract: A bulk material dryer includes a cabinet with material inlet and outlet openings and air inlet and outlet openings. A conveying system is located in the cabinet for conveying the bulk material therethrough from the material inlet opening to the material outlet opening. An air handling system includes a supply duct subsystem communicating with the air inlet and a return duct subsystem communicating with the air outlet. A blower provides an airstream through the supply duct subsystem and draws air from the return duct subsystem for recirculation through a separator and a heater.

Abstract: A vessel for thermally processing bulk material includes a housing system with a cabinet forming an interior. A conveying system is provided for conveying the bulk material through the housing cabinet interior. The cabinet includes composite panels with heating elements located therein. The housing input may include a flow control assembly with a hinged flap depending from a vertical panel.

Abstract: A device for drying pieces of food comprising a series of blowers, an absorbent multi-layered conveyor belt, and a aereation bed. Two blowers providing a blast of air and a suction, respectively, that pulls the water from the outer layers of the food through the absorbent conveyor belt and out of the machine. Another blower being positioned to blow the food pieces off the end of the conveyor belt on to the aereation bed for further processing and packaging. Another nozzle being positioned to blow the food pieces off the end of the conveyor belt on to the aereated (aereation) bed for further processing.

Abstract: Used drilling muds containing substantial quantities of organic liquids and water-soluble salts are treated to render them environmentally acceptable for disposal purposes, by drying the muds to evaporate all liquids, aqueous and non-aqueous, preferably in a shell-and-tube type heat exchanger through which they are conveyed and held in suspension by screw conveyors, and preferably with the vapors thus generated flowing in a direction counter-current to the mud. Water-soluble salts are removed from the dried mud components by dissolving with water, and the vapors are condensed and phase separated for further purification and re-use if desired.

Abstract: A wood veneer drier in which the veneers are fed between two belts one above the other along a path, which is generally sinusoidal, formed by a plurality of guide rollers around which the said belts partially wind, the said guide rollers being disposed along the generally sinusoidal path followed by the pair of belts. In consequence, the path comprises a plurality of rectilinear sections connected one to the next by very short arcuate sections proximal to the pitch points between the said pair of belts and each guide roller, where each arcuate section preferably subtends an angle of proximately 40.degree.-50.degree..

Abstract: A dryer for photosensitive material has a main housing. A blower housing with a blower is mounted inside the main housing. A container defining a drying compartment is also mounted inside the main housing on top of the blower housing. An inlet opening in the bottom of the container establishes communication between the blower and the drying compartment. A transporting unit consisting of a support which carries a series of transporting rollers, a series of guides and drive means for at least some of the rollers is removably mounted in the container. The main housing is provided with an aperture, and the transporting unit functions to draw photosensitive material into and to discharge photosensitive material from the drying compartment via the aperture. The main housing is further provided with an air admitting opening for the admission of fresh air to the blower.

Abstract: A steam dryer for pressed fibrous material, such as sugar beet cossettes, has a pressurized, horizontally arranged pipe or drum (1) closed at both ends and provided with a diametrically opposed supply manifold and exhaust manifold piping (5, 6) for the steam. At least one heat exchanger (7) is arranged in a lengthwise half of the pressurized pipe and extends across the entire steam flow-through cross-section. Endless loop screen or mesh belts (8, 8', 8") are arranged one above the other in the other lengthwise half of the pressurized pipe. These belts are driveable in opposite directions for conveying the material to be dried, and to transfer the material from an upper belt to a lower belt. The mesh belts (8) define separation planes between pressure and exhaust chambers (24, 25) which are alternatingly arranged above and below each respective mesh belt.

Abstract: In a drying oven having plural superposed endless belts on which material to be dried, such as fruit, moves in a circuitous path from top to bottom, excessive drying of the material on the lower belts is prevented, by directing hot air toward the upper belts but a mixture of hot air and relatively cool outside air toward the lower belts. Adjustable shutters for the inlet air, and for the division between the two portions of the hot air, are provided, there being separate fans for the two air streams.

Abstract: A balloon dryer comprises facing inner and outer belts which hold the neck of the balloon closed between them. The inner belt is driven, while the outer belt is an idler being driven by the inner belt, in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A continuously operating multistage drying installation is provided for drying a workpiece. The drying installation includes a conveyor belt for transporting along a predetermined path a workpiece having two opposite longitudinally extending surfaces and containing excess moisture. A first stage drier is located at an upstream portion of the path. This drier includes guide rollers for turning the workpiece over at least once so as to expose both of its surfaces to heat within the drier to thereby preliminarily dry the workpiece. A second stage drier is provided at the path downstream of the first stage drier for finishing the drying of the workpiece to a desired moisture level while maintaining the workpiece free from being turned over to thereby avoid cracking the surfaces of the workpiece due to pressure applied to the demoisturized and consequently relatively brittle surfaces thereof.

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.