Veneer dryer and method of drying
OwnerRobert J. Wiseinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel includes a peripheral outer wall onto which are sequentially loaded veneer panels. The panels are held in place by cable runs against a heated outer surface of the wheel outer wall. Drying of the veneer panels occurs during wheel rotation. A heated fluid medium such as hot oil flows through an annular chamber of the wheel. A series of inlet conduits supply the annular chamber with the heated medium while return conduits return same to a heat source. Multiple tensioned runs of cable confine each panel in place during wheel rotation. A modified form utilizes a continuous screen for panel retention. A drive system imparts rotation to the wheel by powered components in contact with the wheel periphery. A panel pre-heater and jet dryers are supplemental heat sources.
Claims19
A dryer for veneer panels comprising,
- a framework,
- a wheel having a heated peripheral wall on which veneer panels are placed, supported by said framework, and
- panel retention means extending substantially about the periphery of said wheel for retentive contact with veneer panels on the wheel;
- fluid conduit means including a receptacle partially defined by the peripheral wall wherein a heated fluid imparts heat to the peripheral wall of the wheel,
- a drive system imparting rotation to said wheel in a continuous manner,
- an on-loading station whereat veneer panels are inserted intermediate the peripheral wall of the wheel and said panel retention means, and
- an off-loading station whereat veneer panels are discharged from the wheel.
A method of reducing moisture content in a wood veneer panel consisting in the steps of:
- presenting a wood veneer panel to a peripheral wall member of a wheel,
- imparting rotation to the wheel,
- retention of the wood veneer panel in place on the peripheral wall member of the wheel by at least one continuous flexible member entrained about the wheel,
- directing a heated medium into contact with the peripheral wall member of the wheel for contact heating of the veneer panel, and
- terminating retention of the wood veneer panel on the heated peripheral wall member at an off-loading site.
The drying machine for wood veneer panels and comprising,
- a wheel shaped structure having a peripheral wall,
- a chamber defined by the peripheral wall,
- conduits in communication with the chamber and with a heat source,
- a drive system imparting rotation to said wheel structure,
- continuous means extending about a major portion of the peripheral wall for retention of wood veneer panels in place on the peripheral wall, and
- on and off loading stations adjacent the wheel structure for installation on said removal of wheel structure peripheral wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.