Drying apparatus

A drying apparatus for drying a material including moisture, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• and
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream, said mixing means comprising rotating means provided on a bottom of said container for rotating said container about said rotational axis, wherein said mixing means further comprises:
• a shaft provided inside said container at a bottom thereof and extending along said axis;
• a hammer arm rotatably mounted on said shaft;
• a first mixing plate provided on the inner circumferential side of said container and adjacent the bottom of said container to receive a free end of said hammer arm;
• and
• a second mixing plate provided on the inner circumferential side of said container and opposite said first mixing plate, said second mixing plate being shorter than said first mixing plate whereby when said container is rotated, said hammer arm is lifted up to a peak position by said first mixing plate and then falls down due to gravitational force to stir the material.

A drying apparatus for drying a material, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• wherein said heated air stream generation means comprises a heater, and fan means for moving air heated by said heater to produce the heated air stream;
• and
• wherein said fan means is comprised of a material having a heat radiation rate greater than that of a material of said container adjacent said fan means.

A drying apparatus for drying a material, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• said heated air stream generation means comprises a heater, and fan means for moving air heated by said heater to produce the heated air stream;
• and
• wherein said fan means rotates in a first direction reverse to a second direction in which said container rotates for a predetermined period during operation.

A drying apparatus for drying a material, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• a housing, said container being mounted in said housing, and a space being formed between said housing and said container, said space constituting a condensation chamber;
• heat insulating means provided in said container for reducing heat transmission from said container to said condensation chamber;
• and
• vapor pass means for passing vapor generated in said container to said condensation chamber so that the vapor is condensed to a liquid in said condensation chamber.

A drying apparatus for drying a material, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• mixing control means for controlling operation of said mixing means;
• wherein said mixing control means controls said mixing means to not operate at an initial stage of the drying process, and to operate intermittently during a middle stage of the drying process;
• wherein said mixing control means controls said mixing means to operate during the middle stage of the drying process such that intervals between periods of mixing are longer than the periods of mixing, respectively;
• wherein heating control means is provided for controlling operation of said hot air stream generation means;
• and
• wherein said heating control means operates in cooperation with said mixing control means.

A drying apparatus for drying a material, said apparatus comprising:

• a material receiving container;
• hot air stream generation means provided inside said container for producing a heated air stream inside said container to vaporize moisture in material received in said container into a vapor;
• mixing means for mixing the material received in said container so as to increase exposure of the material to said heated air stream;
• a vapor ventilation channel communicating an inside of said container with an outside of said container;
• cooling means for cooling said condensation chamber;
• temperature detection means for detecting a temperature in either one of said condensation chamber and another portion adjacent said condensation chamber and producing a temperature signal indicative said detected temperature;
• cooling control means operable in response to said temperature signal for controlling operation of said cooling means, whereby when said detected temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature, said cooling means is operated;
• mixing control means for controlling operation of said mixing means;
• wherein said mixing control means controls said mixing means to mix said material intermittently, and such that intervals between periods of mixing are longer than the periods of mixing, respectively;
• wherein heating control means is provided for controlling operation of said hot air stream generation means;
• and
• wherein said heating control means operates in cooperation with said mixing control means.

A drying apparatus for drying a material including moisture, said apparatus comprising:

• a vaporization container formed in an airtight manner for receiving the material;
• heating means provided inside said vaporation container for heating the material at a temperature greater than a boiling temperature of the moisture to produce a vapor therefrom;
• condensing means having an open first end and an open second end, said first end being connected to said vaporization container for taking the vapor therefrom and condensing the vapor into a liquid;
• an oxidation catalyst device having inlet and outlet ports and a catalyst provided between said inlet and outlet ports, said inlet port being connected to said second end of condensing means in an airtight manner for taking said vapor therethrough, said outlet port being open to the outside;
• and
• control means changing either one of vapor producing speed in said vaporization container and vapor condensing speed in said condensing means.