Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for drying articles in a continuous feed process

US5019994A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
15References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 1989
Grant dateMay 28, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 31, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D22/02
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for drying articles flowing through a drying chamber by introducing heated air into the drying chamber. In normal steady-state operation, the inlet and outlet temperatures of the air are monitored, and the inlet temperature is maintained at a normal operating inlet temperature. When the inlet and outlet temperatures approach each other, a stoppage or reduction of the normal steady-state flow of the articles is indicated, in response to which the inlet temperature is reduced to an energy saving temperature. After the inlet temperature is reduced to the energy saving temperature, monitoring of the inlet and outlet temperatures continues. When the difference between the energy saving inlet temperature and the outlet temperature increases, resumption of the normal steady-state flow of the articles is indicated, and in response thereto the inlet temperature is increased from the energy saving temperature to the normal operating inlet temperature. A drying apparatus that carries out the method of the invention has a drying chamber with an article inlet aperture, an article outlet aperture, an air inlet aperture, and air outlet aperture formed therein. The dryer apparatus further…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.