Method and apparatus for processing articles
AssigneeRadix System Limited
InventorMilan Fuchs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus is described for processing articles. It has a hollow drum having permeable walls. At one end there is an inlet for receiving articles onto an inside surface of the permeable walls. At the other end is an outlet for discharging articles from the drum. The drum is rotated about an axis having at least a horizontal component at such speed that centrifugal force acting on the articles is sufficient to overcome the gravity acting on the articles. A first jet of fluid is applied to the articles through the permeable wall, to displace the articles from the inside surface and in a direction away from the inlet, towards the outlet. In one application, the process is used to dry the articles. In another application the process is used to inspect the articles.
Claims12
Apparatus for processing articles, comprising a hollow drum having permeable walls, at one end an inlet for receiving articles onto an inside surface of the permeable walls;
- at the other end an outlet for discharging articles from the drum;
- means for rotating the drum about an axis having at least a horizontal component at such speed that centrifugal force acting on the articles is sufficient to overcome the gravity acting on the articles, and progressing means for applying a first jet of fluid to the articles through the permeable wall, to displace the articles from the inside surface and in a direction away from the inlet towards the outlet.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first jet is arranged to displace articles in a direction having a component normal to and towards the axis of the drum and a component parallel to the axis and towards the outlet of the drum.
A plurality of apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim arranged in sequence so that the outlet of one drum acts as an inlet to the next one.
A method for processing articles, comprising conveying the articles through an inlet and onto an inside surface of permeable walls of a hollow drum;
- rotating the drum about an axis having at least a horizontal component at such speed that centrifugal force acting on the articles is sufficient to overcome the gravity acting on the articles, and applying a first jet of fluid to the articles through the permeable wall, to displace the articles from the inside surface and in a direction away from the inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.