Automatic fruit drying process - delivers hot air between conveyor runs without contact with combustion gases

摘要

The process dries fruit and other products continuously and automatically, and delivers hot air between the rums of each conveyor without it every having been in contact with the combustion gases used to heat it. The heater unit can comprise a combustion chamber and two fans discharging hot air downwards into vertical conduits at the end near the cooler. Hot air is circulated between the runs of each conveyor by guide passages supported by two pairs of columns. The passages have at their ends pivoting shutters protruding slightly into the drying chamber, and are formed by parallel horizontal sheets fixed to the columns and held apart by distance pieces. They are inclined slightly towards each other at the rear ends to give an even air flow, which takes place over the entire conveyor width.