Air balance tunnel for spiral conveyor
US11485581B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2207/24
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An air balance tunnel (40) includes a tunnel housing (76) positioned inside of a thermal processing chamber adjacent an outlet opening (36). A conveyor belt (24) travels through the housing on its way out of the processing chamber. An air pervious ejector assembly (78) is positioned within the housing at an elevation above the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious evacuation sheet (80) is located within the housing at a location beneath the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious cover assembly (150) is positioned over the conveyor belt (24) at a location just before the conveyor belt enters the air balance tunnel (40). The cover sheet (150) is connectable to the ejector assembly (78) so as to remove the ejector assembly from the tunnel housing (76) by manually moving the cover assembly (150).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.