Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A dryer for plastic granules comprising: at least one drying container, a collecting duct connected to said drying container, a return duct connected to said drying container, providing drying air to chamber means for drying said plastic granules in said at least one drying container, said drying chamber having a valve chamber and a desiccant, first outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with said collecting duct, second outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with said return duct, third outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with the atmosphere, first reversing valve means contained in said valve chamber and adapted to connect said drying chamber means to said collecting duct through said first outlet opening means and to the atmosphere through said third outlet opening means, second reversing valve means contained in said valve chamber and adapted to connect said drying chamber means to said return duct through said second outlet opening means and to the atmosphere through said third outlet opening means, and coupling means for coupling said first and second reversing valve means such that said first and second reversing valve means are mechanically interlocked whereby in one position of said first and second reversing valve means said drying chamber means is connected to said collecting duct through said first outlet opening means and to said return duct through said second outlet opening means so that the plastic granules are dried and in another position of said first and second reversing valve means said drying chamber means is connected to atmosphere through said third outlet opening means so that the desiccant is regenerated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
A dryer for plastic granules comprising: at least one drying container, a collecting duct connected to said drying container, a return duct connected to said drying container, providing drying air to chamber means for drying said plastic granules in said at least one drying container, said drying chamber having a valve chamber and a desiccant, first outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with said collecting duct, second outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with said return duct, third outlet opening means for selectively placing said valve chamber in communication with the atmosphere, first reversing valve means contained in said valve chamber and adapted to connect said drying chamber means to said collecting duct through said first outlet opening means and to the atmosphere through said third outlet opening means, second reversing valve means contained in said valve chamber and adapted to connect said drying chamber means to said return duct through said second outlet opening means and to the atmosphere through said third outlet opening means, and coupling means for coupling said first and second reversing valve means such that said first and second reversing valve means are mechanically interlocked whereby in one position of said first and second reversing valve means said drying chamber means is connected to said collecting duct through said first outlet opening means and to said return duct through said second outlet opening means so that the plastic granules are dried and in another position of said first and second reversing valve means said drying chamber means is connected to atmosphere through said third outlet opening means so that the desiccant is regenerated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The dryer according to claim 1 wherein said first reversing valve means includes a first valve plate means and said second reversing valve means includes a second valve plate means, said first and second valve plate means being reciprocally mounted in said valve chamber in the same plane and wherein said first valve plate means selectively closes the first outlet opening means and said second valve plate means selectively closes said second outlet opening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The dryer according to claim 2 wherein said third outlet opening means includes first and second atmosphere outlet opening means and wherein said first valve plate means selectively closes said first atmosphere outlet opening means and said second valve plate means selectively closes said second atmosphere outlet opening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The dryer according to claim 3 wherein said first and second reversing valve means further include means for biasing said first valve plate means against said first outlet opening means and said first atmosphere outlet opening means and said second valve plate means against said second outlet opening means and said second atmosphere outlet opening means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dryer according to claim 1 further including limit switches actuated by said first and second reversing valve means for providing a signal representative of the position of said first and second reversing valve means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A dryer according to claim 1 further including separably controllable air heating elements in said collecting duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dryer according to claim 1 wherein said drying chamber includes a fan wwhich communicates with said return duct.