Installation for drying molded blanks

Claim 1

A drying installation for the drying of molded blanks such as plank bricks, large surface structural members of ceramic materials and the like comprising: a substantially closed longitudinally extending drying chamber separated into a plurality of adjacently arranged parallel drying channels, each said drying channel comprising at least one blower with adjustable flow direction, at least one heater, at least one air straightener, said parallel drying channels being separated into two groups, said chamber having an entry end and an exit end; air supply means coupled to each of said parallel drying channels for successively admitting and guiding dry air having different temperature, humidity, flow rate, and quantity; means for switching said two groups of said drying channels in series with respect to said air supply means to guide the dry air in an alternate direction through said parallel arranged drying channels; conveyor means for moving the blanks in a longitudinal direction through said drying chamber, said conveyor means being guided perpendicularly with respect to the flow of the dry air through said adjacently arranged drying channels; means for admitting drying air to one of said two groups of channels at the entry end where the blanks enter said drying chamber and in the same direction of movement as said conveyor means, means for admitting drying air to the other of said two groups of channels in a countercurrent flow opposite to the direction of movement of said conveyor means at said exit end where the blanks leave said drying chamber; and exhaust means in said drying chamber for drying air at the point in said drying chamber where the shrinking process of the blanks is completed, said exhaust means being located between said entry end and said exit end.