Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing scorched rice, the apparatus includes an ingredient supply unit for supplying a scorched rice ingredient; a rotatable scorched rice formation unit which forms scorched rice and to which the scorched rice ingredient supplied from the ingredient supply unit is adhered; a heat supply unit for supplying heat to the scorched rice formation unit so that the scorched rice is formed; and a scorched rice separation unit for separating the scorched rice formed by the scorched rice formation unit.

Abstract: A low profile design air tunnel system and method for providing uniform air flow in a refractance window dryer are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a conditioned air supply manifold that provides air into a drying chamber. The system has a drying belt directed through the drying chamber. A feed application tray at a first end of the drying belt applies a liquid to the drying belt. The system has an exhaust manifold located at the first end of the drying belt.

Abstract: A method for producing a plastic tank having one or more reinforcements. The method includes forming at least one part of the tank wall with a semi-finished panel made of plastic having at least one outer layer composed of a first thermoplastic, forming a reinforcement for the tank wall with at least one fibre-reinforced structural component comprising a matrix composed of a second thermoplastic that is weldable to the first thermoplastic. The fibre-reinforced structural component is then applied to a predefined region of the at least one outer layer of the semi-finished panel. The fibre-reinforced structural component is then fused with the outer layer of the semi-finished panel by applying heat to the semi-finished panel and the applied fibre-reinforced structural component. The fused fibre-reinforced structural component and semi-finished panel is then formed into a final shape. Optionally, the formed component is then connected to at least one other part of the tank wall to form the complete tank wall.

Abstract: A method for air conditioning including installing an air conditioning unit at a desired location. The air conditioning unit includes a housing that has air supply inlets and exhaust air outlets. The housing encloses a mode control unit that switches a zone coil associated with a zone from a cooling mode to a heating mode by switching from a cooling medium to a heating medium flowing through the zone coil. The zone coil receives the heating or cooling medium and conditions incoming air from a supply fan to be exhausted in a zone associated with the zone coil. A variable refrigerant flow cooling/heating unit provides a cooling medium or a heating medium at varying rates to control a temperature of a zone.

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: A method and an apparatus for reducing the moisture content bound by capillary action in fiber cells. To include fine material economically and easily in the process, coarse material is sandwiched on top of fine material and then pressed and dried. The material prepared by grinding and screening is transferred as coarse material to a first spreader hopper, and the screened fine material is transferred over a chute and conveyor belt to a second spreader hopper. The fine material is spread in a thin layer through a vertically adjustable gate from the second spreader hopper onto a spreading, loading and filtering belt, and the coarse material is withdrawn on a transfer conveyor belt running below the first spreader hopper and then is spread through a vertically adjustable gate onto the fine layer, to form a sandwich-like mat.

Abstract: A dryer for curing articles with printings thereon is disclosed. The system includes an exterior housing, an interior lining defining a drying chamber within the exterior housing, means for heating an article within the drying chamber, and a surface for supporting the article within the drying chamber. The dryer housing preferably includes an entrance opening and an exit opening to allow articles to pass through the drying chamber. The dryer may include a conveyor system for automatically moving the articles from the entrance to the exit. The means for heating the articles or directing heated air onto the articles is preferably adjustable in a vertical direction, while the interior lining is made from a non-conductive material, such as fiberglass or a fiberglass cloth. An air duct carrying air into the drying chamber is connected at the one end of the lining, preferably on the dryer's top wall, while a return air duct is preferably connected to a separate bottom wall panel of the drying chamber.

Abstract: A drying apparatus for processing a surface of a substrate wherein, when a nitrogen gas is fed to a nozzle, a jet of the nitrogen gas spouted through a jet hole is generated. The jet becomes film-shaped and is projected upwardly along an inner surface of a side wall of a processing vessel. Then, the jet is collected into an outside through a suction port formed in an upper portion of the processing vessel. The inner surface of the side wall of the processing vessel is covered with the jet. Therefore, an IPA vapor can be prevented from condensing uselessly on the inner surface. As a result, the IPA vapor is effectively utilized for condensation on a surface of the object to be processed which is mounted on a pan. Thus, defective dryness of the object can be prevented.

Abstract: An aerated belt conveyor system for conveying hot expanded minerals including a longitudinal power driven belt conveyor surrounded by an envelope is described herein. An exhauster creates an air flow in the envelope to aerate expanded mineral material conveyed by the power driven belt conveyor and cool the mineral material to an adequate bagging temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high yield apparatus for drying rigid or flexible printed circuit boards. The apparatus comprises a box-like structure which defines a drying tunnel, having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The apparatus comprises moreover heated air circulating means for circulating heated air inside the tunnel as well as driving means for driving the printed circuit boards along the tunnel. The driving means comprise at least a pair of chains which are arranged parallel to one another and are entrained about a first pinion and a second pinion, having parallel axes, and respectively located near the inlet opening and near the outlet opening. The chains are provided with gripping means for supporting the printed circuit boards along the tunnel. The gripping means are suitable to automatically engage the printed circuit boards near the inlet opening and to automatically release the printed circuit boards near the outlet opening.

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: A meat product pasteurizer (20) includes a first conveyor (21) transporting an already-cooked and packaged meat product (22) to a loading station (24), a pasteurizing processing chamber (26) including a fluid media heating zone (28), a void zone (30), and a fluid media chilling zone (32), a second conveyor (60) transporting the meat product (22) from the loading station (24) through the heating zone (28), then through the void zone (30), then through the chilling zone (32) to an unloading station (62), a third conveyor (64) transporting the meat product (22) from the unloading station (62) to a blow-off station (66) for removing surface fluid from the packaged meat product (22).

Abstract: Seed cotton on a wire mesh belt is dryed and cleaned by a downflow of heated air. The natural separation and falling of trash from the belt is increased by shaking the mass of seed cotton upon the wire mesh belt. The belt is flexed to shake the seed cotton upon it. The belt is flexed by running the belt over "V" shaped intermittent supports. The belt is also shaken by being bumped by gussets on rollers beneath the belt. The air is exhausted from beneath the belt by ducts extending across the chamber. The tops of the ducts are inclined planes so that the trash slides from the top of the duct and does not accumulate on the top.

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: An arrangement for transporting printed circuit boards along a path through a dryer operative for drying wet ink applied to at least one of the surfaces of each board, includes an endless conveyor for successively conveying the boards along a vertical ascent portion of the path, a horizontal portion of the path, and a vertical descent portion of the path. A plurality of supports for holding respective boards are mounted for joint movement on, and are successively arranged along, the conveyor. Each support includes a plurality of arms which only engage side edges of a respective board to prevent smearing of the ink during conveyance, and particularly between the ascent and horizontal path portions, as well as between the horizontal and descent path portions.

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: Initially moist metal hydroxide sludge is formed into a suitable mass, such as sludge cakes (2) which are fed downwardly in a hopper (1) and pressed into the cells (7) of a multi-cellular moving metal belt (5) in a two-stage process. The first stage deposits the sludge roughly into the cells, while the second stage compresses and compacts the deposited sludge tightly into the cells so that the sludge is in intimate contact with the cell walls throughout each cell. The sludge-filled belt is passed through a dryer (3) whereby the belt is subject to indirect, rather than direct, heating. More particularly, the belt passes through an enclosed muffle (21) and is caused to be in direct heat-exchanging contact with the bottom muffle wall (23). The latter wall is heated from beneath and outside the muffle chamber, as by heated air jets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating fibers reinforced thermoplastic sheets is disclosed. The apparatus involves use of gas heating ovens adapted to allow several layers of material to be heated continuously, with the conveyors stacked are above the other. Stacking of the heated product can be provided at the oven exit. Provisions for cleaning and diffusing the gases over the work piece are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for the heat treatment of cylindrical bodies, in particular pipes, of ceramic material. During the treatment, the pipes are dried, heated and sintered, and subsequently cooled, in successively arranged chambers.During transportation through the drying zone, the heating zone and the cooling zone, as well as in heat treatment during sintering, the objects are turned about their own axis independently of the transportation rate, so that they are not only evenly heated, but a possible deformation is also prevented. This type of transportation and heating with possible heat exchange between the individual zones makes possible a rapid heating-up without detriment to the cylindrical bodies, and thus a short design length of the installation. Above all, the sintering zone, which must consist of high-value, ceramic material due to the high temperatures, can be kept very small.

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: This invention relates to a dryer particularly suitable for particulate matter having an endless conveyor in the form of a polyester fabric screen wherein the endless conveyor is normally flat but is given a trough-shape as it passes within the dryer to contain the particulate matter. Means are provided for moving the fabric screen through the dryer including an open support disposed beneath the fabric screen. Stationary, elongated trough-forming means within the dryer pick up the sides of the fabric to form and maintain the trough-shape, and stationary baffle plates within the dryer engage the trough-forming means to direct the flow of drying air through or against the matter being conveyed.