Horizontal Multistage Drying Apparatus for Veneer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical multistage drying apparatuses face challenges with wide floor space occupation, moisture inconsistency between layers of sheet materials, and inefficiencies in temperature control, leading to issues like cracks, warpage, and labor-intensive re-drying processes, especially when handling veneer sheets and plywood.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal multistage drying apparatus and method that includes a loader, hot press, open transpiration, and temperature control press devices, where sheet materials are conveyed in a standing state, allowing for uniform water vapor evaporation and precise temperature control, reducing space requirements and maintaining consistent moisture levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheet materials are conveyed in a horizontal state through vertical multistage drying apparatus, then the drying process can be performed, but the floor space occupied by the device becomes too wide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the conveying direction from horizontal to vertical, allowing sheet materials to be conveyed in the up-down direction through multiple stages. This dimensional change reduces the floor space occupation while maintaining the drying capability, as the apparatus utilizes the vertical dimension instead of spreading out horizontally.
2Manufacturing precision
If the transpiration step time is extended to secure water vapor evaporation from lower layer side, then moisture content of upper layer side improves, but the subsequent treatment cannot be executed at an early stage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transpiration process into multiple independent stages, with each stage having its own heating and drying capabilities. This segmentation allows different layers of sheet materials to be processed simultaneously at optimized rates, eliminating the need to extend the overall transpiration time to accommodate the slowest-drying layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different temperature and humidity parameters to different stages of the drying process. By controlling the thermal conditions in each stage independently, the system optimizes the evaporation rate for each layer, achieving uniform moisture content without requiring excessive total processing time.
3Productivity
If plywood is sawed immediately after hot pressing, then processing efficiency improves, but the plywood shrinks into below the prescribed dimensions due to thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a preliminary cooling and stabilization stage in the drying apparatus, where the plywood is gradually cooled from its hot pressed state to ambient temperature while being maintained under controlled conditions. This preliminary action prevents thermal expansion issues before the plywood reaches the sawing stage, allowing immediate processing without dimensional inaccuracies.
4Temperature
If cold plate temperature is adjusted according to outside air temperature, then cooling effect varies, but the finished temperature of sheet material becomes constantly variable, hindering subsequent work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that monitor the finished temperature of sheet materials and adjust the cold plate temperature accordingly. This feedback system compensates for variations in outside air temperature, maintaining a consistent finished temperature regardless of environmental conditions, thereby enabling reliable subsequent processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The horizontal approach minimizes space usage, ensures uniform moisture distribution, and allows for consistent sheet material quality, enabling immediate processing and reducing the need for labor-intensive re-drying and temperature adjustments, thereby enhancing manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an open transpiration device configured to evaporate water vapor from both surfaces of each sheet material to be treated
Implementation Method 2
a hot press device configured to sandwich, pressurize, and heat each sheet material to be treated from both surfaces
Implementation Method 3
a temperature control press device configured to sandwich, pressurize, and temperature-control each sheet material to be treated from both surfaces, wherein a finished temperature of each sheet material to be treated is maintained at a desired temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal multistage press apparatus 1 (multistage drying apparatus) includes conveyance paths R1 to R4 (first to fourth conveyance paths) in which the veneer sheet W1 (sheet material to be treated) is carried out in a standing state. The conveyance path R1 is positioned over between the loader device 10 and the hot press device 20, the conveyance path R2 is positioned over between the hot press device 20 and the open transpiration device 40, the conveyance path R3 is positioned over between the open transpiration device 40 and the temperature control press device 50, and the conveyance path R4 is positioned over between the temperature control press device 50 and the unloader device 60. The conveyance paths R1 to R4 are arranged in a straight line in plan view.