Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Process – By centrifugal force
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2001-01-09
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Process
By centrifugal force
C034S318000, C034S328000, C034S058000, C034S236000, C210S781000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170170
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE IVENTION
1Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device and method for transporting products such as leafed vegetables, including leafed vegetables, potatoes and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Before leafed vegetables are packaged for market, they are firstly washed and dried.
Devices for drying products such as washed leafed vegetables are known from the Dutch patent application 9301825 and the WO publication 90/00714.
A problem with these devices is that the continuous drying and transporting of products to a desired packaging area cannot be efficiently carried out.
An object of the present invention is to solve this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for transporting and drying products such as leafed vegetables, said device comprising:
an entrance for the products;
an exit for the products;
one or more transporters for transporting the products between the entrance and the exit wherein the transporters have the form of a centrifuge;
transporter driving means for driving the transporters; and
centrifuge driving means for driving the centrifuge.
Hence, products such as leafed vegetables can be continuously dried and transported utilizing the device according to the present invention. The combination of transporters, which also function as a centrifuge, makes it possible to simultaneously effect drying of the leafed vegetables, by means of the centrifugal working of the transporters, and transporting thereof.
The present invention furthermore provides a method for transporting products, such as washed leafed vegetables, wherein the articles are simultaneously dried and transported to a desired area, said process comprising:
placing of the articles on one or more driven transporters, whereby the articles are transported by the transporters, and wherein the transporters are simultaneously rotated around an axis whereby the articles are subjected to a centrifugal drying force.
The present invention furthermore provides a replaceable cassette for the above device, said cassette comprising one or more transporters for transporting products, and joining means for joining the cassette to the device.
Since the cassette is replaceable, the maintenance and cleaning of the device is facilitated.
Further preferred features of the present invention are referred to in the claims and in the specific description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3313034 (1967-04-01), Meyer
patent: 4461096 (1984-07-01), Suzuki
patent: 4493156 (1985-01-01), Siegmann
patent: 5027530 (1991-07-01), Vollmer et al.
patent: 5928072 (1999-07-01), Fulcher et al.
patent: 5992042 (1999-11-01), Mitchell et al.
patent: 29 18 008 (1980-11-01), None
patent: 0173676 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 2700925 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 9301825 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 9000714 (1990-01-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 13, No. 11 Japanese Publication No. 63-218269 A, 1 page.
Felcon Engineering B.V.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
Wilson Pamela
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