Abstract: A method of processing grain from a dryer includes maintaining a transition zone within a volume of received grain, the transition zone being a cross section of the volume of the received grain that is at a same temperature, by cooling and drying the received grain; and extracting cooled grain.

Abstract: An improved desolventizer toaster and methods are provided wherein a solvent vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle solvent vapor throughout a portion of the desolventizer portion of the apparatus housing. In other embodiments of the invention, a water vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle water vapor throughout a portion of the toaster portion of the apparatus housing. The solvent vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate meal dust separator, blower and superheater. The water vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate ejector or blower and superheater. Water vapor recovered in the solvent extraction process may be used as a water vapor feed to the heated water vapor recycling system.

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.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a method for detecting water in plastics and a water removal system for plastic materials that enable an amount of water contained in a plastic to be measured accurately and rapidly. [Solution Means] A plastic 13 of known moisture state is irradiated with electromagnetic waves of a bandwidth of 50 GHz to 1000 GHz from an oscillating apparatus 11 and remaining electromagnetic waves not absorbed by the plastic 13 are received and measured by a receiver 12 to acquire a first measurement value in advance. The plastic 13 of unknown moisture state is then irradiated with the electromagnetic waves of the bandwidth of 50 GHz to 1000 GHz from the oscillating apparatus and the remaining electromagnetic waves not absorbed by the plastic 13 are received and measured by the receiver 12 to acquire a second measurement value. The first measurement value and the second measurement value are compared to compute the moisture state of the plastic of unknown moisture state.

Abstract: A retrofit turner and sensor unit includes, on its upper portion, a grain turner for moving grain from a central portion in the grain pathway to a defined outer space for measurement. On its lower portion, the retrofit unit includes a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor provided in a plate configuration in line with the outer wall of the grain dryer for sensing moisture and temperature of grain in the defined space. In the preferred configuration, the plate sensor includes redundancies, and is mounted on a hinged door. The retrofit unit is easily installed into an existing grain dryer with columns and continuous flow capabilities, and electrically connected with a controller/processor and a motor for metering rolls which determine grain speed through the dryer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, compositions and systems for drying coal fines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for purifying contaminated soil, which restores soil contaminated by a variety of pollutants to the condition before the contamination, and which itself provides the driving source required for the purification. The system includes: a dryer which dries contaminated soil, separates waste gas generated during the drying from the contaminated soil, and discharges the waste gas; a pyrolysis apparatus which indirectly heats the dried contaminated soil in a hermetic condition to divide the contaminated soil into purified soil and pyrolysis gas, and separately discharges the purified soil and the pyrolysis gas; a transfer fan for forcibly transferring the discharged pyrolysis gas; a burner for oxidizing the waste gas discharged from the dryer and the pyrolysis gas forcibly transferred by the transfer fan, to heat the pyrolysis apparatus; and a cooling facility for directly spraying cooling water on the discharged purified soil to cool the purified soil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for drying coal using activated alumina. The method and system dries the coal by combining coal with the activated alumina. While in combination, the mixture is agitated to maximize surface contact between the activated alumina and the coal. As the coal contact the activated alumina, the surfactant moisture on the coal is then absorbed by the activated alumina. The activated alumina allow for the water molecules to pass into the sieves, thus being removed from the coal. After a period of agitation, the method and system thereby separates the activated alumina and the coal.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method that reduces a moisture content of an agricultural product, particularly by using moisture sensors and/or temperature sensors. The apparatus includes at least one moisture sensor, optionally at least one temperature sensor, a controller, a flow regulator and/or a dryer. The method includes obtaining a moisture content and a temperature to calculate a product flowrate and optionally an energy input. A product flowrate signal is used to vary the flow regulator and an energy input signal is used to vary the energy regulator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining the condition of a pneumatic system air dryer are provided. An output of the pneumatic valve or of a conduit interconnected to the outlet of the pneumatic valve is positioned such that a discharge passed through the pneumatic valve while the valve is open is in view of an operator and/or is directed to a moisture sensor. Moreover, the discharge and/or an output device interconnected to the moisture sensor is in view of the operator while the operator is in a position to operate the pneumatic valve. An observation volume with a sight glass or window and/or a moisture sensor can be provided to facilitate the observation or detection of moisture or oil in the discharge.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method that reduces a moisture content of an agricultural product, particularly by using moisture sensors and/or temperature sensors. The apparatus includes at least one moisture sensor, optionally at least one temperature sensor, a controller, a flow regulator and/or a dryer. The method includes obtaining a moisture content and a temperature to calculate a product flowrate and optionally an energy input. A product flowrate signal is used to vary the flow regulator and an energy input signal is used to vary the energy regulator.

Abstract: The subject matter of the disclosure is an apparatus for loading and unloading a tray (16) of a freeze drying plant (10) with a number of vials (18), with a transfer table (20) provided upstream of the freeze drying plant (10) for receiving temporarily said vials (18), and with a pusher apparatus for displacing said vials (18) from said transfer table (20) to said tray (16) or from said tray (16) to said transfer table (20), said pusher apparatus including a right-handed and a left-handed transport carriage (30) and a loading element (38).

Abstract: The object of the disclosure is an apparatus for loading and unloading a tray (16) of a freeze drying plant (10) with a number of vials (16), with a transfer table (20) provided upstream of the freeze drying plant (10) for receiving temporarily said vials (18), and with a pusher apparatus for displacing said vials (18) from said transfer table (20) to said tray (16) or from said tray (16) to said transfer table (20), said pusher apparatus including a right-handed and a left-handed transport carriage.(30). To provide an apparatus for loading and unloading a tray of a freeze drying plant that allows for proper unloading of the tray even if the distance between neighbouring trays of the freeze drying plant is reduced to a minimum is achieved in that the pusher apparatus further includes a loading element (38) and an unloading pusher (50), said loading element (38) being disposed outside of the freeze drying plant (10) whilst the unloading pusher (50) is arranged inside the freeze drying plant (10).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying a product comprising placing the product on a first side of a support surface, and directing dry radiant heat toward the second side of the surface to heat the product. A sensor can be included to measure at least one characteristic of the product, such as the temperature or moisture content thereof. The temperature of the heat source can be regulated as a function of the measured characteristic. The support surface can also be made so as to be movable relative to the heat source. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of control zones are defined and through which the product is successively passed. Each of the control zones has at least one associated heat source and an associated sensor so as to regulate the temperature of the heat sources associated with each control zone independently of those associated with another zone.

Abstract: A heating and blowing apparatus includes a main body housing having an inlet port and a discharge port; a rotatingly driven fan and a heating unit arranged on an air flow path, the air flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port; and an ion generator including a discharge electrode and an opposing electrode arranged in a bypass flow path, the bypass flow path branching off from the air flow path and leading to an ion emission port. Further, it includes a cover, arranged at the ion emission port, having an opening through which ions pass and one or more protrusions provided on a rear surface of the cover, the protrusion making contact with the opposing electrode placed closer to the cover than the discharge electrode is, wherein the cover is grounded through the opposing electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for desolventizing particulate material having a solvent carried thereby wherein an upper indirect heating zone and a lower direct heating zone is provided. Each of the zones has a plurality of spaced apart horizontal trays for receiving particulate material. The trays define a vertical series of compartments through which the particulate material passes. Steam is provided to the particulate material indirectly in said indirect heating zone and directly in said direct heating zone are also included. An integral air tight flash chamber below the compartments enhances solvent recovery via vaporization of residual solvent from the condensed steam adhered to the particulate material traveling through the direct heating zone prior to discharge of the particulate material. The recovered residual solvent is delivered under pressure to a predetermined compartment in the direct heating zone provide heat for desolventizing the solvent-laden particulate material.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and method which can prevent accidents in advance so as to ensure safety against interruption of operations of the apparatus and leakage of processing substances. In a substrate processing method in which wafers W are processed are processed by feeding an ozone gas 5 to the wafers W loaded in a processing vessel 2 while an interior atmosphere in the processing vessel is being exhausted to be passed through an ozone killer 10, the ozone gas 5 is fed under the conditions that the processing vessel 2 is tightly closed, and the ozone killer in its normal state. When the processing is interrupted, an interior atmosphere in the processing vessel 2 is forcedly exhausted. When the gas leaks, the interior atmosphere and a peripheral atmosphere of the processing vessel 2 are forcedly exhausted while the feed of the ozone gas 5 is paused.

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.

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.

Abstract: The invention is a distributed airways airflow dryer system for coffee beans and other such bulk crops. The interior volume or container of the dryer or dehydrator system that holds the bulk crops, is filled with an airways network structure that provides uniformly distributed open wall airflow passageways in the bulk crops. The airflow passages communicate with airflow openings in the walls or bottom of the container, to divide and admit the drying airflow into and through the full volume of the bulk crops as a large number of individual airstreams. Corrugated, ribbed, or cross-ribbed airflow plates are preferred embodiments that provide narrow open grooves or channels that expose the beans or kernels of the bulk crop directly to the airflow. This results in faster drying and greater uniformity of the drying effect on the full volume of the bulk crops.

Abstract: A roller assembly positioned downstream of a printing station in a web-fed rotary printing press for pneumatically guiding a web of paper after it has been printed upon, without the risk of smearing the printings. The assembly includes a roller in the form of a hollow cylinder defining a plenum chamber therein and having formed in its surface a multiplicity of air outlet openings in communication with the plenum chamber. Air supplied under pressure to the chamber is therefore expelled from the air outlet openings in order to avoid contact with the roller the web traveling over the rollera baffle encloses at least part of the circumferential part of the roller surface for confining the air being expelled from said at least part of the other circumferential part of the roller surface and for redirecting the confined air into a pair of spaces, spaced, between the web and the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for desolventizing particulate material having a solvent carried thereby wherein an upper indirect heating zone and a lower direct heating zone is provided. Each of the zones has a plurality of spaced apart horizontal trays for receiving particulate material. The trays define a vertical series of compartments through which the particulate material passes. Steam is provided to the particulate material indirectly in said indirect heating zone and directly in said direct heating zone are also included. An integral air tight flash chamber below the compartments enhances solvent recovery via vaporization of residual solvent from the condensed steam adhered to the particulate material traveling through the direct heating zone prior to discharge of the particulate material. The recovered residual solvent is delivered under pressure to a predetermined compartment in the direct heating zone provide heat for desolventizing the solvent-laden particulate material.

Abstract: An automatic system for drying high moisture content material from a source. The system includes a dryer enclosing a bed inclined upwards from the bottom portion thereof to the top portion thereof, and a slat and picker drive motor for urging material downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the bed. A first material feed system transports the high moisture content material from the source to the top portion of the bed, and includes a surge bin disposed between the source and the dryer for assuring a constant supply of material to the dryer for constant operation thereof. There are sensors for detecting the amount of material delivered to the surge bin; and a controller, responsive to the sensors, which adjusts the rate of material transferred from the surge bin to the dryer and the rate material is processed through the dryer.

Abstract: A heater for a grain bin is attached to the inlet flange of a centrifugal inline blower and comprises a housing having a vertical front wall attached to the inlet flange of the blower and a parallel vertical rear wall. The front wall has an opening aligned with the opening into the blower. The rear wall has an opening aligned with the opening in the front wall so that the majority of the air entering the blower passes straight through the housing from the rear wall to the front wall. A sleeve surrounds the opening in the rear wall and induces some flow from the housing to mix with the flow into the blower. The combustion chamber is attached to the rear wall through an opening in the rear wall above the sleeve. The housing has two side walls converging to an open top through which air can escape. When heated air is required an air flow is induced from the combustion chamber to mix with the air flow through the housing to heat the total air flow.

Abstract: A clothes dryer fabric softener sheet dispenser with a fabric softener sheet dispenser mounted on a door of a clothes dryer, a filling chamber in the dispenser for holding a roll of fabric softener sheets, a sheet guide inside the filling chamber guiding the sheets away from the filling chamber, a pair of electric motors allowing the driving of the sheets away from the sheet guide and allowing the driving of the sheets away from the filling chamber toward a dryer compartment of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer fabric softener sheet dispenser also has belts for engaging the sheets driven from the sheet guide in order to facilitate movement toward the dryer compartment.

Abstract: An improvement to a coal processing system where hard materials found in the coal may cause jamming of either inflow or outflow rotary airlocks, each driven by a reversible motor. The instantaneous current used by the motor is continually monitored and compared to a predetermined value. If an overcurrent condition occurs, indicating a jamming of the airlock, a controller means starts a "soft" reverse rotation of the motor thereby clearing the jamming. Three patterns of the motor reversal are provided.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment device evaporates water from contaminant containing wastewater, to produce a contaminant concentrated residue. The device includes a transport, such as pump, for transporting wastewater to a wastewater applicator, and a wastewater applicator for applying the wastewater to an evaporating surface of an evaporator drum. A rotatable evaporator drum has a heat conductive evaporating surface, and a heater for heating the evaporating surface to foster the evaporation of water from the wastewater. A motor, chain and drive shaft are provided for rotating the evaporator drum, and a scraper is provided for removing the contaminant concentrated residue from the evaporating surface. A controller is provided for controlling the operation of the device.

Abstract: A computer based material processing system 10 allows for the processing of contaminated material in a manner which allows the material to be discharged into a sewage facility or placed in a landfill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying and curing a coating which as been applied in liquid form to a metal substrate. The process and apparatus include a precuring or drying of the coating by rapidly heating the sheet in an electromagnetic induction coil to volatilize solvents in the coating. The precured sheets are then immediately conveyed to a conventional convection oven for further heating the sheets by baking the sheets at a temperature and for a duration in accordance with the drying and curing specifications of the coating manufacturer. The induction coil is designed to heat the sheet metal in a narrow transverse band as the sheet moves through the induction coil. The power supply to the induction circuit is designed to permit the induction coil to be turned on under varying load.