Patent ID: 11964823
Assignee: JOHN BEAN TECHNOLOGIES AB
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A thermal processing apparatus comprising:
(a) a powered drive drum tower having a height and a covered exterior with openings formed in the covered exterior that constitute from about 5% to about 20% of the area of the covered exterior;
(b) a conveyor having a side edge engaged against the exterior of the drive drum tower in a spiral path around the drive drum tower to form a tiered spiral stack;
(c) a top sheeting disposed over the spiral stack to cover the spiral stack;
(d) a circulation system to collect gaseous thermal processing medium from the tiers on the spiral stack and direct processing medium along an upward flow path located outward of the spiral stack to an elevation above the top sheeting, and then across the top sheeting, and then in a downward flow path outward of the exterior of the spiral stack at a location across from the upward flow path of the thermal processing medium, to enter the tiers of the spiral stack,
(e) the top sheeting defining at least one entrance opening located above the drive drum tower to provide a flow route for a portion of the thermal processing medium flowing across the top sheeting to downwardly enter the drive drum tower and then flow out of the drive drum tower through the openings in the covered exterior of the drive drum tower and across the tiers of the spiral stack.