| 摘要 |
<p>A food and materials dryer (10) having one or more cylindrical hollow rotary tunnels (12, 14, 16) each consisting of an outer cylindrical shell (18) and an inner lining cylinder (32). The inner lining cylinder has perforations and is mounted substantially concentrically within the outer shell. The inner lining cylinder has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the outer shell such that air for drying may be directed between the outer shell and inner lining cylinder, passing through the perforation in the inner lining cylinder (32) for drying material within the inner lining cylinder. Mounted in each inner lining cylinder is an agitating auger (40) which has a central shaft (42) and outwardly projecting helical blades (44) for agitating and moving food products within the inner lining cylinder of a rotary tunnel. Also provided are devices for rotating the auger (96a-c, 98a-c) and devices for directing air (112a-c, 110a-c) for drying through the agitating auger and between the outer shell and inner lining cylinder of each of the rotary tunnels. Air for drying is directed opposite the direction in which food is being moved through the inner lining cylinder to increase drying efficiency. Also, the blades of the augers may include positive and negative feedback diverter vanes (52, 56) which serve to further agitate the food product for increased drying efficiency.</p> |
