Patent ID: 9243843
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: F26B

Claim Text:
1. A drying apparatus comprising: a movable product conveyor having a product support surface for supporting a product to be dried; at least first and second heater supports, each heater support supporting one or more dry radiant heating elements and being movable relative to each other and relative to the conveyor to adjust the distance between each heater support and the conveyor; the product conveyor being configured to move relative to the first and second heater supports such that the product supported on the conveyor is successively heated by the heating elements of the first heater support and the heating elements of the second heater supports; and a controller configured to adjust the temperature of the heating elements of each heater support and the distance between the heating elements of each heater support and the conveyor such that the heating elements emit radiant heat at a predetermined wavelength and heat the product according to a predetermined product temperature profile, wherein the controller is configured to operate in first and second feedback loops, such that in the first feedback loop, the controller monitors the temperature of the product and adjusts the temperature of the heating elements, and in the second feedback loop, the controller monitors the wavelength of the heating elements and adjusts the distance between the heating elements and the conveyor such that the heating elements heat the product according to the predetermined product temperature profile and maintain the predetermined wavelength; a plurality of temperature sensors positioned to measure the temperature of the heating elements of each heater support, the controller being in communication with the temperature sensors and being configured to determine the wavelength of radiant heat emitted by the heating elements based on their temperature.