Method and apparatus for the controlled conveyance of a workpiece through a fluidized bed dryer

Fluidized bed dryers for drying product moving through the dryers, comprising:

• a first dryer having an input end for receiving product and an output end for outputting product;
• a second dryer located adjacent to and slightly below the first dryer, the second dryer having an input end for receiving product from the output end of the first dryer, and an output end for outputting product;
• a first perforated bed in the first dryer, and a second perforated bed in the second dryer, upon which product moves;
• a first conveyor in the first dryer and a second conveyor in the second dryer for moving the product along the bed from the respective input ends to the output ends, wherein the conveyors comprises at a plurality of paddles for segmenting the conveyors and moving product along a length of the beds;
• a first pan of the first dyer for supporting the first bed and a second pan of the second dryer for supporting the second bed;
• a first hood of the first dryer above the first bed and a second hood of the second dryer above the second bed, the hoods adapted to move between a closed position and an open position where a stream of air can flow into the dryer between the hoods and the beds for contact with the product;
• a plurality of aligned ports in the pans and the hoods creating a plurality of zones within the dryers;
• a plurality of blowers for introducing a heated stream of gas for fluidizing and drying the product through the ports in the pans and exiting through ports in the hoods, such that each blower can independently control the flow and temperature of the stream of gas through the ports in the blower zone;
• a first heating system for heating the stream of gas in the blowers, and a second heating system for providing heat to the first heating system;
• and
• a plurality of drive arms in operative communication with the pans for vibrating the pans and bed to create particle movement.