With Conveyor And/or Movable Treated Material Support Patents (Class 34/217)
  • Patent number: 11268759
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a furnace 1 and plates 7A to 7D arranged in the furnace 1 and used for placement of articles 5. Each of the plates 7A to 7D is movable vertically in the furnace 1. The enclosure further includes guide members 60A and 60B, each of which is disposed adjacent to a side of one plate of the plates 7A to 7D that is disposed at a loading/unloading position where the articles 5 are allowed to be loaded into or unloaded from the furnace 1. The guide members 60A and 60B guide the articles 5 and are rotatable with vertical movement of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Tanaka, Hisashi Beppu
  • Patent number: 9546818
    Abstract: A device to introduce bottles into a lyophilization chamber of a lyophilization machine provided at least with an arrival plane of the bottles and with a deposit plane inside the lyophilization chamber comprises at least limited feed means cooperating with a thruster bar to move it along an approach travel in the direction from the arrival plane to said deposit plane. The introduction device also comprises pantograph means connected to the limited feed means and to the thruster bar and configured to extend with respect to the limited feed means and toward the deposit plane, at least by the defined amount necessary to introduce the bottles completely into the lyophilization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIAL MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Trebbi
  • Patent number: 9015960
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for temporary location within a damp or waterlogged room is disclosed. The apparatus includes sensors to sense the level of temperature and humidity within the room, a heater to provide heat for the room, an air circulation fan for selectively circulating heated air within the room or selectively exhausting warm and humid air from the room and for allowing outside ambient air into the room. The apparatus being adapted to cyclically continue until the sensed humidity reaches a required level, the apparatus thereafter indicating, directly or indirectly, the completion of the drying process. A method of drying a room using such apparatus is also disclosed which employs a technique whereby the rate of change of the temperature increase is used to determine when humid air should be exhausted from the room. A time limit can also be use to determine when said exhausting takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: DBK David+Baader GmbH
    Inventors: Ian David Hopkin, Jonathan Robert Jayne
  • Patent number: 8898926
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substrate dryer, a substrate treating apparatus including the substrate dryer, and a substrate treating method. The substrate dryer includes a chamber, a process chamber constituting one part of the chamber and provided for supplying supercritical fluid to a substrate to dry the substrate, and a high-pressure chamber constituting the other part of the chamber and provided for boosting the process chamber above a critical pressure. According to the present invention, the substrate drying chamber is boosted fast by the high-pressure chamber to change to a supercritical state and thus a substrate dry treatment is performed using supercritical fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Semes Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Keun Cho, Kyo-Woog Koo
  • Publication number: 20140109431
    Abstract: The present invention provides a preheat module, which comprises a heating chamber, a blower and a platform; the heating chamber comprises a heating device and a first inlet; the blower comprises a second inlet and a first outlet, and the second inlet is connected to the heating chamber; the platform comprises a third inlet and a second outlet, and the third inlet is connected to the first outlet; the first inlet and the second outlet are set in a same plane. An advantage of the present invention is that it can reduce the energy consumption also can satisfy the requirement of conserving electrical power and protecting the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Wen-fu LEE, Yu-shan LEE
  • Patent number: 8661703
    Abstract: The machine for drying field crops includes lower and upper conveyors, the space between the two serving as a drying chamber. The upper conveyor is powered and drives the lower conveyor through a plurality of lateral flights that engage one another to keep the two conveyors in registry. A heating system is provided beneath the lower conveyor. Heat is delivered to a plenum between the two runs of the lower conveyor. The two conveyors are porous to allow heated air and light to pass therethrough. Heated air from the lower plenum passes through the lower belt and the drying chamber between the two conveyors, and into a collector plenum between the two runs of the upper conveyor, where it is exhausted to the atmosphere. Infrared or other lighting may also be provided in the two plenums. Alternatively, the machine embodiments may have multiple laterally situated conveyor runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Salah Jomaan Hamdan Bensalma
  • Patent number: 8474373
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Stork Townsend B.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Bernhard Hubert Bontjer, Sigebertus Johannes Jacobus Jozef Meggelaars, Paulus Johanus Maria Thoonsen, Willem Kasper Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 8424219
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of a drying apparatus for drying pellets from a process fluid are provided. The drying apparatus can include at least one screen device. The at least one screen device can have a screen area with screen openings. The drying apparatus can also have an oscillating device that sets at least the screen area of the screen device into oscillation. The oscillations can move the pellets relative to the screen openings, and the process fluid can drain off through the screen openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Michinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 8196310
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20120124856
    Abstract: In a method and equipment for continuous sintering of pelletized mineral material, a partition wall (7, 8) arranged between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5, 6) is in the height direction placed at a distance from the pellet bed (2), so that in between the partition wall (7, 8) and pellet bed (2), there is left a gap (s) that allows gas to flow between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5; 6) through the gap (s) in order to equalize the pressure between the cooling chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Marko Palander
  • Patent number: 8132336
    Abstract: Resin molding work is efficiently carried out in accordance with a consumption amount of resin pellets of a resin molding machine by sequentially supplying small amounts of dried resin pellets in short period of time. When changeover of a molded product is carried out, attached remaining resin pellets can be removed by simple work in a short period of time, thereby carrying out efficient changeover work. An interval of taking out dried resin pellets that are heated and dried in a decompressed state is shortened by sequentially moving a plurality of pellet containers that contain small amounts of resin pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Star-Techno Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Shiotani
  • Patent number: 7980001
    Abstract: Fabric conditioner dispensers capable of being maintained with one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Toan Trinh, Samuel James Morris, III, Lawrence Andrew Schumacher, John William Smith
  • Patent number: 7966744
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a food waste treatment apparatus that can effectively dispose food waste containing a large amount of water, rapidly dry food waste using microwaves, and remove odors and vapors generating during the drying process, thereby discharging clean air. The food waste treatment apparatus comprises a pulverizer (10) for pulverizing food waste, an endless track (20) for transferring food waste, a plurality of containers (30) installed on the upper surface of the endless track (20) for storing pulverized food waste, and a microwave dryer installed above the endless track for drying the pulverized food waste by making microwaves pass through the endless track in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the endless track (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventors: Soo Dong Kim, Sung Hwa Kim
  • Publication number: 20110056088
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impingement dryer and a method for reducing runnability problems caused by gas flows in an impingement dryer for a fibre web, which impingement dryer has gas blowing opening and gas exhaust openings. The fibre web to be dried is supported with a support fabric. The support fabric and the fibre web to be dried are moved in the machine direction inside the impingement dryer past the blowing openings and exhaust openings. At the same time hot gas is blown from the blowing openings toward the fibre web to be dried and gas is removed from the vicinity of the fibre web to the exhaust openings. At least one edge control strip is moved in the machine direction edges of the impingement dryer in front of the blowing openings or the exhaust openings or both. With its aid a desired number of blowing openings or exhaust openings or both are covered and thus their effect is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Petri Norri, Hans Sundqvist
  • Publication number: 20090217546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: John College, Felipe J. Yanes, David Corbin
  • Publication number: 20080307669
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20080063493
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substrate dryer, a substrate treating apparatus including the substrate dryer, and a substrate treating method. The substrate dryer includes a chamber, a process chamber constituting one part of the chamber and provided for supplying supercritical fluid to a substrate to dry the substrate, and a high-pressure chamber constituting the other part of the chamber and provided for boosting the process chamber above a critical pressure. According to the present invention, the substrate drying chamber is boosted fast by the high-pressure chamber to change to a supercritical state and thus a substrate dry treatment is performed using supercritical fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Jung Keun Cho, Kyo-Woog Koo
  • Patent number: 7260901
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the temperature of objects, especially for drying or cooling objects, said device comprising a housing containing at least two tempering units which are arranged in a functionally parallel manner. Each tempering unit comprises a tunnel-type usable space in which tempered air is applied to the objects. Said objects can be displaced through the usable spaces by means of a respective transport system. According to the invention, the at least two tempering units are superimposed in the housing essentially above the same base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Doll
  • Patent number: 7202484
    Abstract: A cognitive stimulating sterilizing device for providing visual, tactile and, or audible stimulation for infants while selectively sterilize select items and the surrounding ambient, including a housing adapted for removable connection to cribs, changing tables and similar furniture, ultraviolet light generating source in the housing for sanitizing items in the housing when closed and the ambient when opened, audio source and compartments for holding and storing select items. The housing may include reflective and, or transparent surfaces for directing, reflecting and, or passing ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: Sylvia Tantillo
  • Patent number: 6954994
    Abstract: A moisture removal mechanism comprises a drying zone through which product to be dried passes. A fluid circulation path is in fluid communication with the drying zone. A forced fluid feed device directs drying fluid to and from the drying zone, the fluid feed device being mounted in the fluid circulation path. A heater is arranged in the fluid circulation path for heating the drying fluid prior to entry of the fluid into the drying zone. A fluid control arrangement is arranged in the fluid circulation path for controlling moisture content of the drying fluid, the fluid control arrangement being responsive to flow of fluid in the fluid circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cherng Linn Teo, Eng Guan Yeo, Seng San Koh
  • Publication number: 20030150127
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extending the shelf life of produce are disclosed which provide an accelerated drying process for washed produce in order to further clean and fully crystallize a layer of solute-laden slurry that has been applied on the external surface of an item of produce (20). The drying process typical comprises three basic steps. The first step (10) is to mechanically remove excess moisture from the solute-laden slurry to form a moisture-reduced slurry layer (22) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The second step (12) is to employ heat and/or light energy to accelerate the in-situ moisture removal process to create a protective stratum (24) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The third step (14) is to further remove remaining moisture to permit the formation of crystalline structures (26) on the external surface of the item of produce (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Charles R. Meldrum
  • Patent number: 6523276
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extending the shelf life of produce are disclosed which provide an accelerated drying process for washed produce in order to further clean and fully crystallize a layer of solute-laden slurry that has been applied on the external surface of an item of produce (20). The drying process typical comprises three basic steps. The first step (10) is to mechanically remove excess moisture from the solute-laden slurry to form a moisture-reduced slurry layer (22) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The second step (12) is to employ heat and/or light energy to accelerate the in-situ moisture removal process to create a protective stratum (24) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The third step (14) is to further remove remaining moisture to permit the formation of crystalline structures (26) on the external surface of the item of produce (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Charles R. Meldrum
  • Patent number: 6499229
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage maeans after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6493961
    Abstract: A processing unit for a substrate has a vertical thermal processing furnace 4 having a bottom and an opening 4a provided at the bottom. A boat 3 holding substrates W in vertical multistairs can be placed on a first lid 17, and the first lid 17 can open and close the opening 4a of the vertical thermal processing furnace 4 with the boat 3 placed thereon. The processing unit also has a boat-placing portion 19 on which the boat 3 and another boat 3 can be placed and a boat conveying mechanism 21 for conveying the two boats 3 alternatively between the boat-placing portion 19 and the first lid 17. A second lid 18 hermetically closes the opening 4a of the vertical thermal processing furnace 4 when the first lid 17 opens the opening 4a but no boat 3 passes through the opening 4a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6487794
    Abstract: A substrate changing-over mechanism in a vacuum processing apparatus which includes a substrate supporting means arranged within a vacuum tank which has at least two openings at a side wall of the tank, the openings being openable or closable by gate valves, the substrate supporting sections in upper and lower spaces and an ascending or descending driver section for driving the substrate supporting means; thereby allowing the supporting means to be stopped in a vertical direction at a plurality of predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6487791
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6467189
    Abstract: A transport enclosure arranged between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, all located in a clean room, is shielded from the clean room and maintained a degree of cleanliness which is cleaner than that of the clean room. Accordingly, the volume of space within the clean room requiring the highest degree of cleanliness is minimized, thereby reducing overall costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6463678
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6430839
    Abstract: A transport enclosure arranged between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, all located in a clean room, is shielded from the clean room and maintained a degree of cleanliness which is cleaner than that of the clean room. Accordingly, the volume of space within the clean room requiring the highest degree of cleanliness is minimized, thereby reducing overall costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6360452
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Food Machinery Espanola S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Ramon De Gracia
  • Patent number: 6357140
    Abstract: Apparatus for drying substantially ellipsoid products, such as, for instance, eggs, which are conveyed over a conveying path by a conveyor. The apparatus includes a number of nozzles which are connected to a compressor. The nozzles are designed and arranged relative to the conveying path, such that the drying air blown out by these nozzles has a main flow direction which is both directed substantially perpendicularly to the surface of a passing product and blows directly onto at least the areas adjacent the points of a passing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Heyer, Ad van Pinxteren
  • Patent number: 6332280
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6282812
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: St Assembly Test Services Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwee Nam Wee, Peter Hock Ming Ng, Sean Shiao Shiong Chong
  • Patent number: 6277443
    Abstract: A batch process for making galvanized steel products with a low lead or no lead zinc coating is described. Metal parts are cleaned, rinsed, pickled and rinsed and are immersed in a hot, pre-flux solution and thoroughly dried before they are immersed in a molten zinc bath. The dryer system includes a mechanism for rotating the batch of parts as they are dried. In one embodiment of the invention, a batch of steel pipe is dried by hot air having a maximum temperature of 125° C. The descrambler system rotates the pipe and moves the pipe in contact with the divider apparatus to separate the pipe in the dryer. The pipe, thoroughly dried, is immersed into a molten zinc bath having less than 0.05% by weight lead, and the use of a top-flux on the molten zinc bath is optional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: John Maneely Company
    Inventor: Gary M. Stefanick
  • Patent number: 6247245
    Abstract: A processing unit for a substrate has a vertical thermal processing furnace 4 having a bottom and an opening provided at the bottom. A boat holding substrates in vertical multistairs can be placed on a first lid, and the first lid can open and close the opening of the vertical thermal processing furnace with the boat placed thereon. The processing unit also has a boat-placing portion on which the boat and another boat can be placed and a boat conveying mechanism for conveying the two boats alternatively between the boat-placing portion and the first lid. A second lid hermetically closes the opening of the vertical thermal processing furnace when the first lid opens the opening but no boat passes through the opening. The processing unit can effectively reduce the undesirable influence from the opening when the first lid is taken off from the opening and the boat is conveyed out, and can also reduce the wasted energy by preventing the fall of the temperature in the interior of the thermal processing furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6195908
    Abstract: A method and device for thermal drying of a solid product in small pieces utilizing a first contact element and a second contact element between which a layer of the solid product can be brought into contact. The first contact element and, opposed thereto, the second contact element, are arranged so that at least one contact element is heated comprising a heat source forming part and at least one of the contact elements is gas permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: D.S.P. N.V.
    Inventor: Guido Crul
  • Patent number: 6115939
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of flat-form material, especially of coated printed circuit boards, wherein the printed circuit boards are subjected to various treatment processes in succession, such as airflow treatment, drying, and cooling, while they are being transported through a housing in which treatment processes are carried out, there are provided in the housing, for the purpose controlling of the process and increasing the adaptability of the treatment installation, individual treatment zones separate from one another, and the printed circuit boards are conveyed into the individual treatment zones in groups, a separate treatment process being carried out in each treatment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.
    Inventor: Kaspar Kuster
  • Patent number: 6101738
    Abstract: A process and system for treating sludge are provided. Sludge is dewatered by introducing pressurized air to the sludge, while the sludge is being moved continuously. The air strips the sludge of its water, thus increasing total solids captured with respect to time. The throughput of the system is therefore also increased. In addition, the pressurized air passing through the sludge support purges contaminants from the pores of the support, thus keeping them clean without the necessity to backwash same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Gary Gleason
  • Patent number: 6058620
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for the rapid drying of crockery, cutlery, glasses, and similar objects using the passage of a drying material. Inside of a body or housing there is included a loading plate (11) for the objects to be dried; a tank (13) of drying material; and some ducting (14) for the conveying and blowing of the drying material from the tank to the objects on the said loading plate from different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Hyppocampus S.r.l.
    Inventor: Emilio Rolfi
  • Patent number: 5943789
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating green woods for the purpose of creating lumber of suitable quality for the implementation of building. The woods are placed in a treatment chamber with a sealed atmosphere, the temperature of the chamber is increased, and the woods are maintained at a specific temperature and humidity for a given period of time, the woods are the sprayed with hot water until the moisture content of the woods are allowed to decrease to a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Yugen Kaisha Yamamoto Kagu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5921001
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Consolidated Process Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Heath L. Hartwig
  • Patent number: 5813138
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventors: Richard Barabe, Yvan Boisvert
  • Patent number: 5752328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or preventing distortion of woods. Woods are heated at a temperature, a relative humidity and for a time sufficient to uniformly distribute lignin and cellulose therein. These woods are then sprayed with heated water and then dried to a desired moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Yugen Kaisha Yamamoto Kagu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5746008
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teppei Yamashita, Masanao Murata, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Teruya Morita, Hitoshi Kawano, Mitsuhiro Hayashi, Atsushi Okuno, Akio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5711086
    Abstract: Apparatus for continuous drying of moist materials in superheated steam comprises a drying enclosure 10, open-ended inlet and outlet ducts 11, 12 communicating with the enclosure, and conveyors 13, 14, 15 for conveying the material to be dried along the inlet duct, through the enclosure and along the outlet duct. Superheated steam is generated in the enclosure from the moisture in the material 19 being dried by circulating the initial gas within the enclosure between a heat source 23 and the material, and/or by the injection into the enclosure of superheated steam from an external source. The inlet duct 11 and outlet duct 12 both extend downwardly from the enclosure 10 and a vent duct 22 from the enclosure has an outlet 26 normally at a level midway along the two ducts. In use, superheated steam tending to pass downwardly along the ducts meets external air tending to pass upwardly along the ducts and forms within each duct a temperature and density differential stratification layer 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Heat-Win Limited
    Inventor: Thomas John Stubbing
  • Patent number: 5678322
    Abstract: An end wall of a multi-conveyor wood veneer dryer includes a plurality of sight glasses that are vertically aligned with each other. Each sight glass is elevated just above a respective roller conveyor, with the conveyors being located in the dryer. A laser generator portion of a laser apparatus is positioned adjacent each sight glass outside the dryer, such that a laser beam is directed through each sight glass. Each laser apparatus includes a light detector for detecting reflected laser light. The preferred laser apparatus generates a distance signal representative of the distance between the generator and an object in the path of the laser beam, based on the period from when the beam was generated to when the reflected beam was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: AKI Dryer Manufacturers, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph T. Potter
  • Patent number: 5664338
    Abstract: A horizontal cooler/dryer having a continuous traveling conveyor, the conveyor being a chain conveyor formed of a plurality of links adjoined in end-to-end relationship, each of the links being pivotally pinned at its ends to adjacent links; a housing about the conveyor, the housing having a cooling gas inlet, a gas exhaust, a product inlet through which material to be cooled may be deposited on the conveyor and a product outlet through which cooled material can be discharged; and a plurality of non-perforate material pans mounted to the conveyor in juxtaposed overlapping relationship to form a substantially continuous surface about the conveyor. The product bed is leveled by dragging the lower edge of a hollow pivoting quarter drum across the product. The leveling is produced by the weight of the quarter drum pivoting down against the product. Counter weights can be used to control the leveling pressure against the product to avoid crushing or other product damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: California Pellet Mill Company
    Inventor: Kelsey C. Thom, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5653044
    Abstract: A horizontal cooler/dryer having a continuous traveling conveyor, the conveyor being a chain conveyor formed of a plurality of links adjoined in end-to-end relationship, each of the links being pivotally pinned at its ends to adjacent links; a housing about the conveyor, the housing having a cooling gas inlet, a gas exhaust, a product inlet through which material to be cooled may be deposited on the conveyor and a product outlet through which cooled material can be discharged; and a plurality of non-perforate material pans mounted to the conveyor in juxtaposed overlapping relationship to form a substantially continuous surface about the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: California Pellet Mill Company
    Inventor: Kelsey C. Thom, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5634281
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Universal Drying Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Nugent
  • Patent number: 5537758
    Abstract: A drier for the continuous drying and conditioning treatment of hides and fabric products has a drying chamber having first and second areas, a loading unit for conveying product to the first area, a conveyor for transporting product from the first area to the second area and an unloading belt for conveying material out of the second area. The drier has a first heater and humidity control for heating and circulating air in the first area and a second heater and humidity control for heating and dehumidifying air circulated in the second area. The second heating and humidifying control includes a heat pump which has a compressor and a refrigeration circuit and a heating and condensing battery. Water saturated air is circulated through the condensing battery in heat exchange relation with the refrigeration circuit for removing water saturated air from the second area and delivering the air to the heating battery which reheats the air for circulation back into the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Baggio Tecnologie SRL
    Inventor: Angelo Guarise