subject: Mesh Belt Dryer Used For Drying Printed Articles [print this page] A mesh belt dryer for drying printed articles comprising a drying chamber, a plurality of conveyor belts having first and second ends, the conveyor belts located substantially within the drying chamber, a motor adapted to drive the plurality of conveyor belts, and a burner adapted to supply heated air to the drying chamber.
One way to cure and dry the ink is to heat it. There have been many types of dryers previously used. The most common are electric or gas dryers. The gas and electric mesh belt dryer generate heat which cures and dries the ink. While these dryers are effective, they are quite bulky. The dryers are commonly twenty feet in length. If more drying is desired, the length of the dryer is increased. As a result, the dryers take up valuable floor space in a printing facility which could be put to more productive use. The dryer of the present invention reduces the required length of the dryer by using multiple conveyor belts which are arranged atop one another. The article enters the dryer at the top conveyor belt, is transferred to the lower conveyor belts within the mesh belt dryer, and exits the dryer at the bottom conveyor belt. This arrangement allows for a greater retention time in the dryer while at the same time reducing the dryer length.
The mesh belt dryer of the present invention comprises a drying chamber, a plurality of conveyor belts having first and second ends, the conveyor belts located substantially within the drying chamber, a motor adapted to drive the plurality of conveyor belts, and a burner adapted to supply heated air to the drying chamber.
