CONTINUOUS CONVEYER-TYPE DRYING PLANT Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: drying solid semiproducts; short-cut macaroni, for example, tea, berries, medicinal herbs, vegetables and fruits. SUBSTANCE: plant has framework 1 made from vertical and horizontal uprights 3 and 4 inclined relative to spreader 15 smoothly distributing products over entire width of belt. Belts of upper conveyer are mounted in parallel relative to one another. Framework is assembled from individual sections. Last section from spreader is provided with drive mechanism; infra-red radiation heating elements mounted above upper working run of belt in each section are rigidly connected with framework and are provided with reflectors which give support for lower runs 12 of belt. Adjacent conveyers are made for rotation of belts in opposite directions; odd conveyers are shifted lengthwise towards spreader by amount sufficient for transfer from conveyer to conveyer. Heating elements are switched on individually by means of toggle switches. Shielding panels 17 mounted above ends of belt have form of ladles made from synthetic material; they are rigidly connected with framework and exclude pouring of material in transfer. Continuous belts are made from synthetic material. Loading bin 16 is located in first section (from spreader) above working run of belt and unloading chute is mounted under lower conveyer in last section. Drive mechanism consists of DC electric motor, spiroidal reduction gear, chain transmission, V-belt transmission and drive drums. Driven drums, tensioner 25 and electric cabinet are located in first section (from spreader). Driven and drive drums are connected in pairs by means of belts. Guide angles available in framework give support for working runs of each belt. Detachable attached casings are mounted on framework above upper conveyer. Drying the product is effected by progressive method of intermittent radiation when heating of the product by infra-red rays is combined with cooling said product by air, thus excluding cracking and warpage. Modular construction of framework makes easy maintenance of drive mechanism with no limitation pertaining to length of motion, volume of product and partial load of mechanism. Noiseless heating elements reduce level of noise. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency and reliability. 2 cl, 3 dwg