Method and apparatus for drying materials including veneers

• US 20050217136A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Base Point, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apollo Hardwoods Company
• Inventors: Todd, James, Constantine, Edward, Blankenship, Timothy, Himes, Junius, Lillesand, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/406
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 2210/14 Veneer, i.e. wood in thin sheets
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/045 for drying thin, flat articles in a batch operation, e.g. leather, rugs, gels
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/048 in combination with heat developed by electro-magnetic means, e.g. microwave energy
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/066 the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack F26B9/003 takes precedence; in combination with duct systems F26B21/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided to dry veneer or other items by vaporization of moisture in the item. Apparatus has an insulated chamber with a frame and a drawer with a door. A mesh surface of the drawer supports item for drying with a heater at sub-atmospheric pressure inside of the chamber. Item is placed on the layer of mesh of the drawer of the apparatus and secured with fasteners such as another layer of mesh. The drawer with fastened item is placed into the chamber of the apparatus. With the drawer fully engaged within the chamber, the drying apparatus is closed with an airtight seal. A pump draws a vacuum in the chamber and heat is directed at the item to raise the temperature of the item to less than 160° F., particularly between 120° F. to 150° F. Apparatus can dry veneer in less than five minutes.

Claims

1. A method of drying an item, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the item on a layer of mesh of a drawer of a drying apparatus;

securing the item to the layer of mesh with at least one fastener;

placing the drawer within a chamber of the drying apparatus with an airtight seal;

drawing a vacuum on the chamber with a pump;

directing heat at the item to raise the temperature of the item to less than 160°

F.; and

removing the item substantially dried from the chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drying apparatus comprises a chamber capable of sealed closure with a door of a drawer with a layer of mesh adapted to slide into the chamber in a position substantially parallel to a heating element adjacent a wall inside of the chamber.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the item is heated to a temperature between 120°

F. and 150°

F.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein sensors are provided to monitor the vacuum pressure and temperature in the chamber and temperature of the item.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum and heat directed at the item are selected to cause substantially all moisture removal from the item.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein directing heat at the item completes the substantially all moisture removal from the item in less than five minutes.

7. An apparatus for drying an item comprising a chamber capable of sealed closure with a door of a drawer with a layer of mesh adapted to slide into the chamber into a position substantially parallel to a heating element adjacent one wall inside of the chamber fitted with a pump.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of veneer, tobacco, foodstuff and any other material that requires drying.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the chamber is configured to withstand atmospheric pressure when a low vacuum is drawn in the chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the chamber is insulated with insulation.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the layer of mesh of the drawer allows passage of heat from the heating element.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the layer of mesh of the drawer comprises a screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one fastener secures the item to the layer of mesh of the drawer opposite the heating element.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pump is capable of drawing a low vacuum on the chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heating element is a flat panel heater.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein sensors are provided to measure the vacuum and temperature in the chamber and temperature of the item.

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heating element and the pump have a capacity to dry the item within five minutes.

18. An apparatus for drying veneer comprising a chamber capable of sealed closure with a door of a drawer, the drawer including a layer of mesh adapted to slide into the chamber to a position substantially parallel to a heating element adjacent a wall inside of the chamber.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the veneer is fastened to the layer of mesh of the drawer, and wherein the veneer is substantially dried by the heating element in the chamber under vacuum by a pump.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the chamber is configured to withstand atmospheric pressure when a low vacuum is drawn in the chamber.

21. An apparatus for drying veneer comprising:

a sealable drying chamber;

a heater;

a vacuum; and

a drying surface which receives the veneer, wherein the drying surface is in a stationary position during the drying process.