Patent ID: 6837706
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for drying gypsum boards, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of superposed conveyors extending at respective levels in a conveyor direction through an upstream high-temperature zone, a mid-stream low-temperature zone, and a down-stream cooling zone; means for driving the conveyors and displacing the boards downstream in the direction along the levels through the conveyors; upstream and downstream nozzles at upstream and down-stream ends of each level of the high-temperature zone and of the low-temperature zone; respective arrays of horizontal heat-radiating plates extending across most of the width and most of the length of each of the levels between the upstream and downstream nozzles in the high-temperature zone; and means for supplying hot air at respective treatment temperatures to some of the nozzles of the high- and low-temperature zones and for with drawing hot air through others of the nozzles of the high- and low-temperature zones, whereby the plates in the high-temperature zone are heated by the hot air from the nozzles and radiate the heat to the boards passing at the respective levels.