Dryer conveyor belt tracking system
The present invention provides a conveyor belt tracking system for a dryer having a web of a mesh material having a protrusion extending along the length proximal one lateral edge and above a flat surface and a first generally cylindrical roller having a three-tiered slot for receiving the protrusion and two flanking shallow tracks for receiving base flanges.
1. A multi-zone textile dryer comprising:
a housing having a first side wall, a second opposing side wall, a first end wall, a second opposing end wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, the housing having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposing second end;
a separation wall extending longitudinally within the housing dividing an interior of the housing into a first zone and a second zone;
a first conveyor having a first belt extending from the first opening of the housing through the first zone and to the second opening of the housing, the first belt having a horizontal surface for receiving articles to be dried, and a second conveyor having a second belt extending from the first opening of the housing through the second zone and to the second opening of the housing, the second belt having a horizontal surface for receiving articles to be dried, wherein the first belt is parallel to and coextensive with the second belt;
an air distribution system including:
a hot air blower for supplying hot air into the first zone and the second zone; and,
a fresh air blower for supplying fresh air into the second zone.
2. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 1 wherein the air distribution system includes a hot air valve for varying an amount of hot air supplied by the hot air blower to the first zone and second zone.
3. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 2 wherein the air distribution system includes a fresh air valve for varying an amount of fresh air supplied to the second zone.
4. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 1 further including a first plurality of air knives in the first zone and a second plurality of air knives in the second zone.
5. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 4 wherein each of the first plurality of air knives are horizontally spaced from another of the first plurality of air knives.
6. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 1 wherein the separation wall is retractable.
7. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 1 wherein the side walls of the housing are formed from sheet metal having double walled construction surrounding a layer of insulation.
8. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 1 wherein the first first belt and second belt are coterminous.
9. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 3 further including a controller for maintaining physical conditions in the housing.
10. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 9 wherein the controller controls the hot air valve.
11. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 9 wherein the controller controls the fresh air valve.
12. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 8 wherein the controller controls a speed of the first belt and a speed of the second belt.
13. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of sensors in the housing providing signals to the controller.
14. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 13 wherein a first one of the plurality of sensors provides an indication of a temperature in the first zone and a second one of the plurality of sensors provides an indication of a temperature in the second zone.
15. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 14 wherein the controller compares sensed physical characteristics with user inputted values and adjusts operating conditions in the housing.
16. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 15 wherein the physical characteristics include humidity in the housing and pressure in the housing.
17. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 8 wherein each of the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system have a same length.
18. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 17 wherein each of the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system are mounted for reciprocal translational motion.
19. The multi-zone textile dryer of claim 15 wherein the controller can maintain a first set of conditions in the first zone and a second set of conditions in the second zone that are different than the first set of conditions.
20. The multi-zone textile of claim 15 wherein the first zone is larger than the second zone.