Including Conveyor Patents (Class 34/429)
  • Patent number: 9605902
    Abstract: A conveyor floor for conveying bulk material like cement clinker in a conveying direction from a bulk material inlet to a bulk material outlet, with longitudinal reciprocating planks which extend in parallel to the conveying direction and are arranged one besides of the other with moving gaps in between provides enhanced conveying at lower costs, if each plank has a mean coefficient of friction Cf for moving of the bulk material in the conveying direction relative to planks being significantly lower than the mean coefficient of friction Cb for moving of the bulk material against the conveying direction relative to the respective plank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alite GmbH
    Inventor: Karl von Wedel
  • Patent number: 9239191
    Abstract: A mobile furnace apparatus and system configured to process payload is disclosed. A plurality of mobile furnaces may be interconnected to form a modular mobile furnace train. A fire line is an area where heat is applied to the payload, while a service line is an area where loading of payload, unloading of payload, inspection, and ongoing maintenance may take place. The modular mobile furnace train allows separation of the fire line and service line, which may improve worker safety and decrease overall costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventor: Donald B. Gibson
  • 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: 7320183
    Abstract: The invention provides a honeycomb formed structure drying method including causing undried honeycomb formed structures 10 placed on stands 12 to pass through a drying apparatus 1, thereby drying the undried honeycomb formed structures through high-frequency heating, to thereby form dried honeycomb formed structures 11; removing the dried honeycomb formed structures 11 from the stands 12; cooling the stands 12 which have been heated dried in the drying apparatus 1 are cooled to a temperature lower than the gelation temperature of the undried honeycomb formed structures 10; placing newly formed undried honeycomb formed structures 10 on the cooled stands 12; drying the undried honeycomb formed structures by passing through the drying apparatus 1; and repeating these operations. The honeycomb formed structure drying method prevents deformation such as warpage of partition walls of honeycomb formed structures during drying thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Ishii, Yuji Asai, Makoto Nakajo
  • 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: 7065902
    Abstract: A blueberry drying apparatus is disclosed that includes a longitudinally extending produce conveyer and a drying chamber through which the conveyer passes. The conveyer belt is constructed of a wire mesh, which allows air flow through the conveyer. The drying chamber includes two separate sets of fans. One set of fans is mounted above the conveyer and blows air directly onto the berries carried atop the conveyer. The other set of fans is mounted below the conveyer and draws air through the conveyer and around the berries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventors: Robert L. Williamson, Luis M. Monterde
  • Patent number: 6754977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying long fiber hay. A first step involves providing round bales of long fiber hay. A second step involves separating the bales to form a loose mass of long fiber hay. A third step involves feeding the loose mass of long fiber hay into a rotary dehydration drum. A fourth step involves separating the loose mass of long fiber hay from air containing entrained moisture by passing the long fiber hay through a cyclone separator with a first stream of air passing to an exhaust and a second stream of the loose mass of long fiber hay passing into an air lock. A fifth step involves cooling the loose mass of long fiber hay. A sixth step involves passing the loose mass of long fiber hay through a hay baler, whereby the loose mass of long fiber hay is formed back into bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Peace River Timothy Inc.
    Inventor: Robert John Allan Roberts
  • Publication number: 20030136020
    Abstract: Flux management systems and methods are provided for filtering vaporized flux from the gas of a reflow soldering oven. A flux management system includes a cooling chamber having a cooling medium through which the gas passes. The vaporized flux condenses on the surfaces of the cooling chamber and drips into a collection pan, thereby preventing it from dripping onto circuit boards passing through the oven. The flux management system may further include a self-cleaning feature that includes a compressed gas, which is allowed to enter the cooling chamber through a solenoid valve. The compressed gas may then be directed through a heater, which increases the temperature of the cooling chamber, thereby causing a decrease in viscosity of the flux, which allows it to flow freely into a drain tube. The flux may then be transported by gravity into a collection container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Richard W. Miller, Jonathan M. Dautenhahn, Marc C. Apell
  • Patent number: 6581300
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying veneer wherein the feeder upstream of the drying station displaces the veneer at different speeds on the right and left sides of the transport path of the veneer as seen in the direction of transport so as automatically to impart an inclined orientation of the veneer of 20° to 60° to a line perpendicular to the transport direction before the veneer reaches the drying station. In the drying station and the cooling station the veneer retains this inclined orientation and in these stations the veneer is subjected to multiple rerouting or the application of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Babcock-BSH GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Grebe, Helmut Wünsche
  • Patent number: 6487790
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously drying unpackaged food products, in particular vegetables, comprises conveyor means for conveying the products to be dried and circulating means for feeding dry air on the product to be dried and for collecting wet air coming from the products, and being characterized in that the apparatus further comprises means for dehumidifying the wet air, said means comprising an adsorption dehumidifier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Pasquale Damiani
  • Patent number: 6481117
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuously drying vegetables, particularly leaf vegetables, comprising a mechanical drying section and a thermodynamic drying section, said mechanical drying section comprising a preliminary dripping section and a water removal section, or de-watering section, and said thermodynamic drying section comprising a hot section and a cold section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Turatti Srl
    Inventor: Antonio Turatti
  • Patent number: 6381873
    Abstract: An method for the formation of coating films on substrates which consists of a main high-temperature and high pressure drying chamber with two additional chambers located in front and behind the working chamber, respectively. The front drying chamber, which is installed between the loading station and the working chamber, is intended for drying the coating films at room temperature, while the rear drying chamber is intended for cooling after drying at high temperature and high pressure in the main working chamber. The front and rear chambers are provided with means for adjusting the respective drying and cooling processes by means of respective heating and cooling systems. This allows initial drying in a wider temperature range and final cooling under most optimum conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Vladimir Peremychtchev, Joseph Kristul, Igor Rakhvalsky
  • Patent number: 6345453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus of drying a fiber web (5) which is dried between two tight bands (1, 2) that move in parallel and turn around turning rolls (6a, 6b, 7a, 7b), the first band (1) being heated and the second band (2) being cooled, the fiber web (5) being arranged to run through the drying zone defined by the bands (1, 2) together with at least two felts or wires (3, 4) such that the fiber web (5) is in contact with the surface of the first band (1), a coarse wire (4) is in contact with the surface of the second, cooled band (2), and a fine wire (3) is between the fiber web (5) and the coarse wire (4). The fine wire (3) is cleaned with a cleaning device (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jari Ilomäki, Seppo Mustonen, Timo Ojala
  • Patent number: 6314659
    Abstract: A device and method for extending the useful life of a carrying fabric in a dryer by maintaining the edges of the fabric at a temperature below that at which thermal degradation occurs. This is achieved by applying a cooling liquid to the edges of the carrying fabric so that thermal energy can be transferred from the fabric to the liquid and thus maintain the edges of the fabric at moderate temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Parker
  • Patent number: 6240656
    Abstract: A method of using a conveyor dryer having a drying chamber and a conveyor disposed within the chamber for conveying a selected material through the chamber. A stationary conveyor support is disposed on each side of the conveyor for supporting the conveyor. A material guide is disposed adjacent each side of the conveyor for generally retaining material on the conveyor and wherein the conveyor support and material guide are disposed adjacent to each other such that they cooperate to form a generally air tight seal that minimizes the flow of air between the conveyor support and the material guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Aeroglide Corporation
    Inventor: Roy J. Gillespy
  • Patent number: 5970717
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a cooling unit for cooling a treatment substrate, a supporting body for supporting the treatment substrate before being transferred to the cooling unit and a cooling apparatus for cooling the treatment substrate supported by the supporting body. The apparatus cools the treatment substrate in a position where the treatment substrate stands by before being transferred into the cooling unit and thereafter cools the cooled treatment substrate in the cooling unit, which makes rapid and accurate cooling possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kiyohisa Tateyama
  • Patent number: 5924217
    Abstract: A liquid removal conveyor system that includes a liquid permeable conveyor belt, a vertically movable agitator and an air suction plenum. The agitator is positioned below and adjacent to the conveyor belt so that, when the agitator moves up and down, it intermittently deflects the conveyor belt. The air suction plenum is positioned below and adjacent to the conveyor belt near the agitator. As the agitator intermittently deflects the conveyor belt, it jostles the material carried on the conveyor belt and the air suction plenum sucks the liquid off the jostled material. The agitator consists of a rotatable shaft and a lobe attached to the shaft. As the shaft rotates, the lobe intermittently deflects the conveyor belt. The agitator lobe may be constructed as a single elongated member that extends across substantially the full width of the conveyor belt, or it may be constructed as two or more discontinuous segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Rey Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Huub Peeters
  • Patent number: 5893950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that prevents premature drying of a layer of a water-based coating composition on a substrate are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: The Dexter Corporation
    Inventors: Raffaele Martinoni, Paul Bohler, Christian Schmid
  • Patent number: 5598642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a fiber web is provided by pressing the web, preferably by impulse drying and then introducing the web into a gas pressurized zone followed by reducing the pressure in the zone, the reduction preferably being effected with cooling of the fiber web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Orloff, Timothy F. Patterson, Andrew M. Krause
  • Patent number: 5551167
    Abstract: A continuous-flow grain steeping and slow grain cooling process and apparatus. The continuous charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air dryer into the top of a grain container in a layer of approximately uniform thickness is accomplished by use of grain spreading equipment. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated by thermostatically controlled sweep and discharge augers located in the bottom of the bin. The grain flows at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for a predetermined period of time, typically from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a continuous upward flow of ambient air is provided by a fan to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is controlled by a thermostat to provide air flow at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone for a predetermined cooling time which is dependent on the airflow rate in cfm/bu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry van Fossen
  • Patent number: 5551168
    Abstract: A continuous-flow, slow grain cooling process including the charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air grain dryer into the top of a grain container in an even layer. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a controlled upward flow of ambient air is provided to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is provided at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone until it is cooled close to the ambient air temperature, but the upward flow is controlled such that it will not cool any grain until it has been properly steeped. Cooled dry grain from a layer near the bottom is then discharged from the bottom of the grain container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 5375342
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling warm granular product. The apparatus includes a grate system having a first grate overlying and second grate. The first grate has a plurality of parallel generally spaced apart members, whereas the second grate has a plurality of parallel equally spaced apart beams. The first and second grate reciprocate relative to each other between a first position in which the product is retained on the grate system and a second position in which the product flows through the grate system. Each of the members in the first grate includes an air flow deflector defining a primary and secondary air outlets for dividing a flow of air into primary and secondary air streams. When the grates are in their relative second position, the secondary air stream is increased to minimize fluidization of the pellet product as it flows through the grate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Donmar Welding & Fabricating Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary D. Giesler