Vibratory bulk material processor and method

A method for processing bulk material, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and having inlet and outlet openings to said cabinet interior;
• (b) providing a pair of opposite sidewalls of said cabinet with inner and outer skins and a layer of insulation positioned therebetween;
• (c) providing a top panel of said cabinet;
• (d) providing a pair of layers of heat-producing material each positioned between a respective inner skin and a respective insulation layer;
• (e) providing an endless belt, drag link conveyor positioned within said cabinet interior and extending between said inlet and outlet openings;
• (f) driving said conveyor in an endless loop flow path through said cabinet interior;
• (g) receiving bulk material in said cabinet interior through said inlet opening;
• (h) conveying said bulk material through said cabinet interior by said conveyor;
• (i) irradiating said material with said infrared radiation within said cabinet;
• (j) providing a flow control assembly including a generally vertical flow control panel extending through said top panel and terminating at a lower edge positioned within said upper compartment;
• (k) hingedly mounting a flap on said flow control panel lower edge;
• (l) slidably, vertically adjusting said flow control panel;
• and
• (m) controlling a flow of said bulk material by selectively engaging said bulk material with said flap.

A method for processing bulk material, which includes the steps of:

• (a) providing a cabinet with upper and lower compartments;
• (b) providing the cabinet with a panel comprising inner and outer skins;
• (c) providing a heating element between said panel skins;
• (d) electrifying said heating element;
• (e) receiving said bulk material in said upper compartment of a cabinet;
• (f) conveying said material through said upper compartment, into said lower compartment and out of said lower compartment;
• and
• (c) subjecting said material to radiant energy within said cabinet by transferring radiant energy from said heating element through said inner skin and into said cabinet.

A method for processing bulk material, which includes the steps of:

• (a) providing a cabinet with upper and lower compartments;
• (b) providing a flow control panel in said cabinet upper compartment with a lower edge;
• (c) hingedly mounting a flap on said flow control panel lower edge;
• (d) receiving said bulk material in said upper compartment of said cabinet;
• (e) conveying said material through said upper compartment, under said flap in selective engagement therewith, into said lower compartment and out of said lower compartment;
• and
• (f) subjecting said material to radiant energy within said cabinet.