Spiral conveyor mezzanine seal
    1.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11525513B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-12-13

    申请号:US16663247

    申请日:2019-10-24

    IPC分类号: F16J15/3268 B65G15/02

    摘要: A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An inner mezzanine (40) is disposed within the circular interior of the stack (26) and an exterior mezzanine (42) encircles the spiral stack. The mezzanines divide the processing chamber (32) into a plurality of processing zones. A sealing system (90) seals the interior mezzanine (40) relative to the spiral stack (26). A sealing system (130) seals the outer mezzanine (42) relative to the exterior of the spiral stack, and a seal system (132) seals the outer mezzanine relative to the walls (56, 58) of the housing, thereby to limit the leakage of the processing fluid between the mezzanines and the spiral stack (26) and housing walls so that as much as the thermal processing medium is possible is forced through the spiral stack for processing work products carried on the conveyor system (22).

    Spiral conveyor drive control and lubrication

    公开(公告)号:US11008173B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-05-18

    申请号:US16670771

    申请日:2019-10-31

    IPC分类号: B65G21/18 B65G45/08 B65G23/16

    摘要: The bottom tier (24) of a conveyor belt (22) arranged in a spiral stack (26) is supported by and driven by inner and outer drive chains (28) and (30). The inner and outer drive chains are supported on and ride along support rails (32) and (34). The inner and outer drive chains are driven by a drive system (35) composed of inner and outer drive systems (36) and (38), each including a drive motor with a drive gear engaged with the inner and outer drive chains. Each of the motors is controlled by a separate variable frequency drive unit (114) and (116) which in turn are controlled by a control system (44). The control system (44) also controls the operation of a lubrication system (40) that supplies lubricant to the drive chains.

    CONVEYOR BELT BLOWER
    3.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20210122582A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-29

    申请号:US16667721

    申请日:2019-10-29

    IPC分类号: B65G45/22 B65G45/26 B65G15/28

    摘要: A conveyor belt blower for a conveyor belt having an infeed portion and a return portion having a width includes a pressure distribution assembly located between the infeed portion and the return portion, a plenum body having first and second ends, wherein the plenum body extends across at least a portion of the width of the return portion, a nozzle assembly having at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air onto the return portion, and an air movement device in communication with the first end of the plenum body for flowing air into the plenum body.

    Thermal processing apparatus
    4.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10912317B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-02-09

    申请号:US16165353

    申请日:2018-10-19

    摘要: A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in at least one spiral conveyor unit (32) or (34) is arranged in tiers forming at ascending spiral stack (38) and/or a descending spiral stack (40). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack. A circulation fan (60, 62) draws spent thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64) located above the ceiling. The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70, 100, 200) is formed in the ceiling between the heat exchanger and the diametrically distal end of the spiral stack from the circulating fan thereby to provide an alternative flow path for a portion of the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from above, thereby resulting in more uniform treatment of the work product being carried by the conveyor of the spiral stack.

    Method and system for reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment

    公开(公告)号:US10900705B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-26

    申请号:US15923924

    申请日:2018-03-16

    摘要: A method of reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes increasing a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level, decreasing the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment. A system for reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes a coil assembly configured to increase a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level and decrease the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and a drain for draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment.

    Air balance tunnel for spiral conveyor

    公开(公告)号:US11485581B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-11-01

    申请号:US16666898

    申请日:2019-10-29

    摘要: 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).

    THERMAL PROCESSING APPARATUS
    7.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220340366A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-27

    申请号:US17660578

    申请日:2022-04-25

    IPC分类号: B65G23/04 B65G15/02 B65G21/18

    摘要: A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in tiers at spiral stack conveyor unit (32) and/or (34). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack(s). A circulation fan (60, 62) draws thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64). The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70) is formed in the ceiling downstream of the heat exchanger and into the interior of the conveyor drive hub. The outer wall of the drive hub is partially open thereby to provide an alternative flow path for the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from the interior of the drive hub.

    RADIO FREQUENCY AND CONVECTION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

    公开(公告)号:US20210068213A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-04

    申请号:US16651929

    申请日:2018-10-01

    IPC分类号: H05B6/64 H05B6/78 A23L3/01

    摘要: A system includes a first unit configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) energy to a load positioned in the first unit during a first time period, wherein the load is at a first temperature at a start of the first time period and at a second temperature different from the first temperature at an end of the first time period, and a second unit configured to receive the load at the second temperature and to cause heat transfer by convection to the load during a second time period different from the first time period, wherein the load is at a third temperature at an end of the second time period. First and second time periods together is less than or equal to a time period for the load to change from the first temperature to the third temperature from convective processing and without application of the RF energy.

    METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING MOISTURE CONTENT OF A COOLING COMPARTMENT

    公开(公告)号:US20190285330A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-09-19

    申请号:US15923924

    申请日:2018-03-16

    IPC分类号: F25D17/04 F25B47/02

    摘要: A method of reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes increasing a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level, decreasing the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment.A system for reducing moisture content of a cooling compartment includes a coil assembly configured to increase a temperature of the cooling compartment to a minimum temperature level and decrease the temperature of the cooling compartment to a maximum temperature level, and a drain for draining any condensed moisture from the cooling compartment.