Drying apparatus and methods

摘要

Apparatus and method for drying a product comprising placing the product on a first side of a support surface, and directing dry radiant heat toward the second side of the surface to heat the product. A sensor can be included to measure at least one characteristic of the product, such as the temperature or moisture content thereof. The temperature of the heat source can be regulated as a function of the measured characteristic. The support surface can also be made so as to be movable relative to the heat source. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of control zones are defined and through which the product is successively passed. Each of the control zones has at least one associated heat source and an associated sensor so as to regulate the temperature of the heat sources associated with each control zone independently of those associated with another zone.

主权项

1. A drying apparatus comprising:
a contiguous non-porous support surface having a product support side and an opposite side and configured to support a product on the product support side; one or more dry radiant heat sources, all of which are located below the support surface; wherein the support surface is at least partially transparent to radiant heat from the one or more dry radiant heat sources below and directed across a gap toward the opposite side of the support surface to allow radiant heat to pass through the support surface to the product, and wherein the support surface is movable relative to the one or more heat sources; a hood positioned above the support surface and in fluid communication with a source of conditioned air outside of the hood; and an air-flow source configured to create a flow of the conditioned air that flows from the source of conditioned air, underneath the hood and over the product and then upwardly through the hood into an outlet duct; wherein the source of conditioned air is at a position outside of an area beneath the hood and the support surface such that the flow of the conditioned air flows from an area outside of the area beneath the hood and the support surface into space underneath the hood and over the product and then upwardly through the hood into the outlet duct, wherein the space underneath the hood and over the product is bounded by the hood at a top of the space and by the product at a bottom of the space when the product is supported on the support surface.