Abstract: An apparatus for drying an electrode plate includes a drying furnace configure to dry an electrode plate having a slurry coated thereon, an over-heated steam supplier configured to supply the drying furnace with over-heated steam as a drying heat source, a circulation fan configured to inhale at least some of the over-heated steam discharged from the drying furnace and to introduce the inhaled over-heated steam back into the drying furnace, an exhaust fan configured to inhale at least some of the gas exhausted from the drying furnace, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat of the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust fan.

Abstract: Process and device for heating a material constituted at least in part by worn road coatings to be recycled, particularly from milled materials or crushed agglomerates, characterized in that: heating worn road coatings to a first temperature with the help of first radiant heating elements disposed adjacent the worn road coatings to be recycled, mechanically moving these worn road coatings to be recycled during this heating step, and heating the worn road coatings to a second temperature with the help of second radiant heating elements, disposed adjacent the worn road coatings to be recycled, so as to bring the coatings to a working temperature, between 160 to 220° C.

Abstract: An oven configured for drying a container. The oven includes a housing defining an interior space including a supply chamber and a return chamber. A conveyor is configured for movement within a portion of the interior space of the housing defined by a plurality of semi-circular shaped duct sections connected at each end of the semi-circular shaped duct sections to a straight duct section. Each duct section includes two side walls coupled to a back wall defining a continuous U-shaped duct path through which the conveyor moves. The oven is further configured to provide a temperature difference between any two points within the interior space of the oven housing controlled to plus or minus two degrees Fahrenheit, by a uniform air flow throughout the oven. The uniform air flow is facilitated by the sizing and spacing of various circular orifices and slotted orifices in the continuous duct path.

Abstract: An oven configured for drying a container. The oven includes a housing defining an interior space including a supply chamber and a return chamber. A conveyor is configured for movement within a portion of the interior space of the housing defined by a plurality of semi-circular shaped duct sections connected at each end of the semi-circular shaped duct sections to a straight duct section. Each duct section includes two side walls coupled to a back wall defining a continuous U-shaped duct path through which the conveyor moves. The oven is further configured to provide a temperature difference between any two points within the interior space of the oven housing controlled to plus or minus two degrees Fahrenheit, by a uniform air flow throughout the oven. The uniform air flow is facilitated by the sizing and spacing of various circular orifices and slotted orifices in the continuous duct path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer for drying fuel materials such as wood bark, wood chips, sludge, garbage, peat moss or the like. In a preferred embodiment the dryer comprises a conveyor, consisting of twin endless belts, which carries the material to be dried along a vertical path defined between parallel runs of the endless belts, and ductwork which serves to direct heated air (received from any appropriate source) across the vertical path to remove moisture from the material as it is being conveyed. The ductwork includes at least one feed duct for use in delivering the heated air to one side of the vertical path, and at least one exhaust duct for use in withdrawing moisture-laden air on another side of the vertical path. Suction is applied at the exhaust ducts to draw drying air through the ductwork, and the feed and exhaust ducts are made to seal against the conveyor to reduce the introduction of ambient air into the dryer ductwork under the suction applied.

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: 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: 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 method and apparatus for reducing fuel consumption in conveyor ovens by creating a barrier to the infiltration of heated air from a heating section of the oven into a cooling section of the oven thereby reducing the loss of heated air and reducing consumption of fuel otherwise required to maintain the selected oven temperature. The barrier is formed by directing a stream of pressurized air into a transition section between the heating and cooling sections of the oven.

Abstract: A pasta dryer comprising a conveyer belt for conveying and delivering dried pasta, the conveyor belt being configured as a continuous conveyor. To operate more efficiently, the conveyor belt has a delivery table in the vicinity of an idler, the table comprising an attached fixed or sliding product collection tray. The reinforcement elements of the conveyor belt are preferably S-shaped.

Abstract: A web converting process and apparatus employing a dry converting station and substrate-handling equipment for conveying the substrate through the dry converting station. The substrate is enveloped in the dry converting station by a close enclosure supplied with one or more streams of conditioned gas flowing at a rate sufficient to reduce materially the particle count in the close enclosure.

Abstract: Gas and/or air distribution systems and methods for distributing thermally and/or otherwise treated gas in a food processor by moving at least one food item over a predetermined travel path in a food processor having a food travel path comprising a moving floor and upwardly extending first and second sidewalls located on opposing sides thereof, the travel path having a corresponding first and second side portions.

Abstract: Mass production food processing methods, systems, and apparatus with increased capacity over conventional design are configured to direct food to travel serially over side-by-side travel paths so as to travel a plurality of revolutions about a tier or level in a vertically stacked food processing unit before moving to the next tier.

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: 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: Containers are conveyed through an oven on a conveyor to cause a foamable material on each container to foam and become a heat insulative layer. The containers are supported on respective holders of the conveyor, which prevent the containers from contacting one another. Preferably, the holders support the containers loosely, to enable the containers to wobble relative to the holders under the influence of oven air currents and conveyor vibration. The holders thus do not make contact with any given point on their respective containers for a time period that is sufficient to enable the holders to draw enough heat away from the container to adversely affect the foaming operation. The containers are conveyed in single file, along a serpentine path through the oven.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the drying of electronic components. The invention provides multiple holes through which air is passed before striking the components. This provides the apparatus of the invention with multiple air knives, thereby breaking major air flow into multiple eddy currents whereby these eddy currents have a low enough air pressure gradient such that the electronic components are not damaged or lifted from the conveyer belt on which they are transported.

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: A method and apparatus for drying material, especially wood particles, having moisture therein, comprising depositing the material to a selected depth onto a transport conveyor at the first end of a drying chamber. Heat is applied to the material as it is transported toward the opposite second end of the drying chamber so that, adjacent the second end, the material forms essentially two layers, a first layer having a first level of moisture therein and a second layer having a second level of moisture therein which is different from the moisture content of the first layer. Means are provided adjacent the second end for removing the second layer, which has the desired moisture, from the conveyor and directing that layer exteriorly of the chamber. The first layer, which has a remaining moisture content greater than the first layer, may be further dried to achieve the desired moisture content.

Abstract: The cooler/dryer includes a product inlet having an inlet discharge chute oscillatable about a horizontal axis corresponding to the direction of conveyance of the product within the dryer/cooler. The chute is at an opposite angle to the direction of conveyance and drops product onto a seal plate angled in the direction of conveyance. Through the combined oscillating motion of the chute and the opposed feed angles of the chute and seal plates in relation to the conveyor, an air seal between the conveyor and the seal plate and level distribution of product across the conveyor are provided. A secondary pivoting seal downstream from the inlet prevents air drawn in through the inlet along with the product from passing directly into the cooling/drying chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling, drying and granulating plastic strands emerging from a nozzle in molten form includes a discharge channel washed with cooling water through which the plastic strands are conducted. A draining and drying device forms a separate unit following the lower end of the discharge channel and has a device subjecting the plastic strands to an air stream and a water collecting apparatus disposed under the plastic strands. A granulator follows the draining and drying device.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying moist solid or semi-solid materials, such as sewerage sludge, municipal waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, and the like, includes a dryer unit having a plurality of stacked heating chambers, each of the heating chambers above the lowest heating chamber having a conveyor belt for transporting the material through the associated heating chamber and depositing it on a lower heating chamber, the lowest of the stacked heating chambers including a conveyor belt for transporting the material therethrough and discharging the material from the dryer unit. The apparatus utilizes a combination of convective heat transfer, in the form of a heated gas which rises upwardly through the dryer unit through successive heating chambers, and radiative heat transfer, provided by radiative heating units disposed above the conveyor belt in each heating chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a crop growing in a field by continuously cutting the crop with a transportable cutter and forming a layer of the cut crop on a moving conveyor. A stream of solar heated air is continuously forced onto the moving crop to reduce its moisture content. Thereafter the crop is continuously formed into bales and the bales accumulated. The crop is processed by continuously cutting, solar drying, baling and accumulating it directly in the field in a one pass operation within a contained, transportable chamber. A dessicant material aids in removing moisture from air used for drying so that dried air can be recirculated.

Abstract: A rotary oven conveyor apparatus is provided for receiving a continuous flow of articles such as can ends and for conveying the articles in an on-edge, spaced apart condition for a selectable predetermined period of time, to facilitate a treatment such as oven curing of a coating previously applied to the articles. The rotary oven conveyor comprises an enlarged wheel structure defining an axis and having a diameter many times the cross-sectional dimensions of the articles and mounted for rotation about its axis. A drive rotates the wheel structure about its axis. An article-receiving area is defined about an outer periphery of the wheel structure and is configured for partially surroundingly recieving the articles.

Abstract: A conveying system for food processing such as cooling pouches of food discharged in a single line from a pouch filler including apparatus for rearranging the pouches in order to shorten the line. One apparatus is a right angle transfer device in which the pouches are discharged in a single line onto a belt array which is then dropped to allow an array of rollers to support the pouch and transfer its direction of motion. Another apparatus includes an array of rollers which move the pouch into a position forming a row of pouches which is then picked up by rollers and moved in a direction as a line of rows of pouches. Another apparatus is a belt system for supporting the row of pouches as it is being transferred from a downstream end of an upper conveyor to an upstream end of a lower conveyor thereby reversing the direction of motion of the pouches and allowing them to pass back through the treatment chamber.

Abstract: An air treatment plant for food is closed with the exception of an inlet and an outlet opening (3). In the plant, a pressure increase needed for circulating the treatment air tends to produce an air flow in one direction (29) through an inlet or outlet tunnel (20) communicating with the inlet or the outlet opening. The tunnel (20) has an upper wall (21) in which are arranged nozzles (22) directed substantially opposite to said direction (29), and a lower wall (23) formed with openings (24) for evacuating the excess air in the tunnel (20) produced by air jets (30) generated by a fan (27) and emanating from nozzles (22). A method for reducing the air flow in the inlet or outlet tunnel thus comprises the steps of directing a plurality of air jets (30) from the upper boundary surface (21) of the tunnel (20) substantially opposite to said direction (29), and evacuating from the tunnel the excess air produced by the air jets through openings (24) in the lower boundary surface (23) of the tunnel.

Abstract: A drier comprises a plurality of structurally independent drying chambers in each of which a respective climate, which does not interfere with that of the other chambers, is created and controlled. The chambers, each of which is equipped with its own conveyor for pasta-holders, are connected by tunnels in which devices transfer the holders from one chamber to another.

Abstract: A bakery oven of the type employing a continuous conveyor therein for carrying goods to be baked through an oven enclosure includes an air distribution system adapted to direct heated air from near the top wall of the oven enclosure to the bottom and sides thereof. The air distribution means includes a fan mounted on the top wall of the oven which includes at least one fan blade located within the oven enclosure, a fan shaft secured to the fan blade and extending through the enclosure top. The fan shaft is mounted on the top of the oven for rotation and is driven by a separate motor also mounted on the top of the enclosure in spaced relation to the shaft. A drive belt is provided to transmit rotary power from the motor to the shaft. As a result, the shaft is fully exposed for air cooling and heat from the interior of the oven is not transmitted to the motor.

Abstract: A bakery oven is disclosed which includes an oven enclosure having opposed end and side portions, with conveyor inlet and outlet openings formed therein. An endless center drive chain conveyor is provided which includes a first section located outside of the enclosure with portions thereof passing through the inlet and outlet openings. The conveyor includes a second main portion located within the enclosure which follows a generally spiral path of travel including a first sequential set of spiral flights having a generally continuously increasing elevation rising in the enclosure to a predetermined elevation, a second set of spiral flights having a generally continuously decreasing elevation in the enclosure, with the flights of said second set being located between the flights of the first set.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus is disclosed which includes a food conditioning enclosure having opposed end and side portions, with conveyor inlet and outlet openings formed therein. An endless conveyor is provided which includes a first section located outside of the enclosure with portions thereof passing through the inlet and outlet openings. The conveyor includes a second main portion located within the enclosure which follows a generally spiral path of travel including a first sequential set of spiral flights having a generally continuously increasing elevation rising in the enclosure to a predetermined elevation, a second set of spiral flights having a generally continuously decreasing elevation in the enclosure, with the flights of said second set being located between the flights of the first set.

Abstract: A bakery oven, of the type employing a continuous spiral conveyor for carrying goods to be baked through an oven enclosure, employs an air distribution system to direct heated air from near the top wall of the oven enclosure to a plenum chamber, and from there through an air distribution network to at least certain ones of the tiers of the spiral conveyor. Preferably, heater elements are disposed beneath alternate ones of the tiers of the conveyor system within the oven enclosure, while the air distribution pipes are disposed beneath the remaining tiers. This arrangement serves to decrease fuel consumption for the burners, thereby increasing productivity, and further serves to decrease the stratification of heat layers within the oven enclosure, thereby providing uniform baking conditions throughout the oven enclosure.

Abstract: Such a drying plant has drying surfaces (4) superposed in a chamber (1) and extending over the depth of the chamber (1). The drying surfaces (4) are provided with heating plates (3). The upper run of an endless conveyor belt running on rollers (6,7) is guided over the drying surfaces. The material to be dried is applied by a dosing device via a pipe (9) having branches (10) to the moving belts (5) uniformly over the width until the entire drying surface (4) is covered. The belts (5) are then stopped and the dosing operation is completed. The drying operation is then carried out on the drying surface (4) while the belts (5) are stationary. The belts (5) are then moved in the opposite direction, so that the dried material is thrown off via the rollers (7) and discharged through a discharge opening (13) and a charging valve (14). Thus, the drying operation is carried out under optimum conditions known for drying cabinets.

Abstract: An oven and method for cooking food products. The oven comprises an elongated housing having an inlet for food products to be cooked in the oven and an outlet for emitting cooked food product from the oven, together with means for heating a gaseous cooking medium in the housing for cooking the food products therein, and a plurality of vertically tiered endless conveyors for passing the food product back and forth through the housing during the cooking process, whereby an oven taking less floor space for a predetermined flow path extent of cooking various food products, is provided.

Abstract: A bakery oven, of the type employing a continuous spiral conveyor for carrying the goods to be baked through the oven enclosure, employs an air distribution system to direct heated air from near the top wall of the oven enclosure to a plenum chamber, and from there through a pipe distribution network to at least certain ones of the tiers of the spiral conveyor. Preferably, heater elements are disposed beneath alternate ones of the tiers of the conveyor system within the oven enclosure, while the air distribution pipes are disposed parallel to and beneath the remaining tiers. This arrangement serves to decrease fuel consumption for the burners, thereby increasing productivity, and further serves to decrease the stratification of heat layers within the oven enclosure, thereby providing uniform baking conditions throughout the oven enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for curing fibrous mineral insulation material comprises an oven, upper and lower conveyor belts for carrying the insulation through the oven, support means for supporting the belts, a supply plenum for directing curing gases through the belts and the insulation material, an exhaust plenum for receiving the curing gases, and a baffle positioned within the oven to define a curing gas flow path from the supply plenum through the belts and the insulation material to the exhaust plenum, the flow path being spaced apart from the support means to prevent contact between the curing gases and the support means.

Abstract: Device for the continuous dehydration of products of the type comprising a stack of endless belts, travelling in alternate directions, characterized in that, on the one hand, only one (33) of the ducts (33, 34) is provided with a heating means (14) and with a fresh air intake (32), and in that, on the other hand, at each belt level (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) there is distributed a mixture of a portion of air coming from the circuit with reheating through a first opening (20, 21, 22, 23 or 24) and another portion of air coming from the circuit without reheating through a second opening (27, 28, 29, 30 or 31), the ratio of cross-sections between the first and the second opening being progressively variable and constantly diminishing from the top level (1) down to the bottom level (5).

Abstract: A simulator for simulating on a test sheet the actions of a dryer section of a paper making machine. The simulator includes a closed chamber to which there is connected a temperature and humidity control system to maintain the chamber in constant temperature and humidity during a test. A dryer fabric web is mounted within the chamber and is so guided as to have two parallel runs thereof in closely spaced relation. A holder is provided for mounting a test sheet between the two runs. Dryers are mounted above and below the two runs. The dryer fabric has openings therein which are selectively positioned in centered relation along the two runs so that the upper dryer may pass through an upper opening, pick up a test sheet and press the same against the dryer fabric of the lower run.

Abstract: An arrangement for drying plate-shaped wood products, such as veneers and plywood plies, includes a roller conveyor which advances the products in the leading portion of their drying path, and a belt conveyor which advances the products in the trailing portion of such path. The two conveyors are accommodated in separate housings. The roller conveyor includes a plurality of pairs of rollers which confine the wood products therebetween and thus smoothen the same, while the belt conveyor includes at least two conveyor belts which confine the wood products between themselves but do not interfere with the shrinking of the material of the products as the same are being dried. A transition or transfer device, such as a roller table, is arranged between and aligned with the roller and belt conveyors to let the material of the plate-shaped wood product get rid of the stresses which have built up therein during its passage through the roller conveyor section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a means for isolating a fan drive means within a chamber from the fan driven fluid. An enclosure is provided which isolates the fan drive means from the driven fluid. The enclosure having multiple opening to the exterior of the chamber and allowing naturally occurring convection to help maintain ambient conditions around the fan drive means.

Abstract: There is provided an endless conveyor characterized by a plurality of invertable material carrying pans. The invention is particularly concerned with simplified means for effecting inversion of the pans whereby both the upper and lower reaches of the endless conveyor may be utilized to carry material as for example in a dryer. Each of the material carrying pans is provided with a cam for coaction with stationary cam followers to effect inversion of the pan as it approaches the end of the conveyor for reversal of direction, and stabilizing cam followers for controlling the position the pan as it courses around the direction changing apparatus and enters another reach.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for removing the fines that fall through the load run and accumulate on the return run of a foraminous, endless conveyor. In accordance with the invention, the fines are collected on the return run, conveyed on the load run to the discharge end of the conveyor and then passed through the conveyor at its discharge end.

Abstract: A drying oven comprises a plurality of superposed endless belt conveyers that feed each to the next lower conveyer. The upper two conveyers are separately fed from individual hoopers; and the third conveyer receives all the material from the upper two. In this way, fruits and vegetables of different sizes can be given different drying times, by running the two upper conveyers at different speeds. A plurality of superposed blowers with selectively adjustable louvers is provided, for regulating the flow of hot air to various of the superposed conveyers; and a fan can blow cooling air horizontally across certain of the conveyers.

Abstract: In ovens which are divided by baffles to form zones, and through which conveyor belts pass, seals are positioned to prevent the flow of gases between zones. The seals are positioned between the baffle and the belt, and comprise a plurality of brushes extending from the baffle across the width of the belt and positioned so that at all times at least one of the brushes is in contact relationship with a non-foraminous portion of the belt.