Apparatus for drying granular objects involving pre-heating process

An apparatus for drying granular objects until their water content reaches a predetermined water content value, said apparatus comprising:

• a holding means for holding therein the granular objects;
• a heated air generating means for generating a heated air;
• a pre-heating means for heating the granular objects flowing down from said holding means, said pre-heating means being provided beneath said holding means and having a plurality of air ducts horizontally arranged therein, the heated air generated by said heated air generating means being introduced to each of one ends of said plurality of air ducts;
• a drying air producing means connected to the other ends of said plurality of air ducts, in which the heated air from said air ducts is mixed with air taken-in from the outside of the apparatus so as to produce a drying air;
• a drying means for drying the granular objects by directly exposing the granular objects to said drying air, said drying means having a drying chamber to which the granular objects after having been pre-heated at said pre-heating means are supplied and to one end of which the drying air produced by said drying air producing means is introduced;
• an exhausting means connected to the other end of said drying chamber of said drying means, for exhausting the drying air involving humidity to the outside of the apparatus;
• and
• a taking-out means arranged beneath said drying means, for taking out the dried granular objects.