Device and method for drying work pieces

A method for drying workpieces, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) conveying workpiece-carriers through a pre-heating zone on a first conveyor,
• b) moving the workpiece-carriers vertically from the first conveyor to a first drying tunnel conveyor in a drying tunnel;
• c) conveying the workpiece-carriers through the first drying tunnel conveyor;
• d) moving the workpiece-carriers vertically from the first drying tunnel conveyor to a second drying tunnel conveyor arranged beneath the first drying tunnel conveyor;
• e) conveying the workpiece-carriers through the second drying tunnel conveyor;
• f) moving the workpiece-carriers from the second drying tunnel conveyor to a second conveyor in a discharge zone, the second conveyor being positioned adjacent the first conveyor;
• whereby:
• g) workpieces to be dried are transferred to a workpiece-carrier through an access which is located in a dryer chamber which comprises the pre-heating chamber and the drying tunnel;
• and
• h) dried workpieces are removed from a workpiece-carrier through the access which is located in said dryer chamber without requiring removal of the workpiece-carriers from the dryer chamber.

A device for drying workpieces comprising:

• a) a dryer housing which borders a dryer chamber and has an access to the dryer chamber;
• b) a conveying system which conveys workpiece-carriers loaded with workpieces through the dryer chamber;
• c) a transposing apparatus;
• d) a transverse conveying apparatus arranged adjacent the access, the transverse conveying apparatus providing a first conveying position and a second conveying position for workpiece-carriers, wherein the transposing apparatus removes dried workpieces from a workpiece-carrier through the access when the workpiece carrier is in the first conveying position, and the transposing apparatus transfers workpieces to be dried to the workpiece-carrier through the access when the workpiece carrier is in the second conveying position, so that
• e) the workpiece-carriers can be conveyed in circulation through the dryer chamber without leaving the dryer chamber.