Apparatus for drying a material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348967-A1
Application number	US-201615232952-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 10, 2016
Priority date	Aug 7, 2007
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for drying a material is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a superheated steam generator, inlet and outlet ports disposed relative to the housing and an extraction unit for extracting volatile substances from the atmosphere within the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for drying an extruded material, comprising:
a housing for holding a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a means for generating a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam inside the housing, a first transport means for transporting material through the inlet port into the housing, a second transport means for transporting the material through the outlet port out of the housing, and, an extraction unit for extracting volatile substances from the gaseous atmosphere.

2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet port is disposed at a free end of an outlet duct.

3 . The apparatus claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outlet port is disposed at a free end of an outlet duct.

4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the inlet and/or the outlet duct extend(s) downwards from the housing.

5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a ventilation line communicates with the housing and has an exit aperture at a height below the housing and above the inlet port and the outlet port and leading to the outside.

6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an extraction line communicates with the housing and is conducted via a fan to a condenser.

7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second transport means has/have a perforated conveyor belt.

8 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , where a conduit subjected to elevated or reduced pressure is disposed along a part-section of the first transport means, communicating with the housing, especially the lower portion thereof.

9 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein a flow guide or sealing means is disposed between the conduit and the partial section of the first transport means in order to ensure that there is an intensive flow around or through the transport means through the gaseous atmosphere.

10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a packing station is provided for packing the dried material.

11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second transport means extends as far as the packing station.

12 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the extraction unit takes the form of a spinning cone column for extracting volatile substances from condensate from the gaseous atmosphere.

13 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a circulation fan is disposed in the housing.

14 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a cyclone separator, which purifies the gaseous atmosphere, is disposed in the housing.

15 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the cyclone separator is disposed in series with a flow guide means and with one or more fans.

16 . An apparatus for drying an extruded material, comprising:
a housing for holding a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, one or more generators for generating a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam inside the housing, a first moving support for transporting material through the inlet port into the housing, a second moving support for transporting the material through the outlet port out of the housing, and, an extraction unit for extracting volatile substances from the gaseous atmosphere.

Assignees

• Mars Inc

Inventors

• Schmidt Siegfried
• Toivonen Maria

Classifications

• F26B21/40

  using gases other than air · CPC title

• A23B2/425

  in solid state · CPC title

• A23B2/90

  by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution · CPC title

• F26B25/006 Primary

  Separating volatiles, e.g. recovering solvents from dryer exhaust gases · CPC title

• F26B15/18

  the objects or batches of materials being carried by endless belts · CPC title