Vibratory Spiral Conveyor

Abstract

A spiral cooler and a process for cooling workpieces are proposed. A very simple structure is enabled by the workpieces being cooled in counterflow by cooling air, preferably a negative pressure being produced in the conveyor channel by branching off and redelivering a partial flow.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . Spiral cooler for cooling of workpieces with cooling air, comprising: 
 a coiled or spiral conveyor channel for the workpieces, a workpiece entrance for delivery of the workpieces into the conveyor channel being provided in proximity to first end of the conveyor channel, and a workpiece discharge exit being provided in proximity to a second end of the conveyor channel,    an inlet air means for feeding the cooling air into the conveyor channel, and    exit air means for removing the cooling air from the conveyor channel,    wherein the inlet air means is provided in a region of the second end of the conveyor channel and wherein the exit air means is provided in a region of the first end so as to cool workpieces in the conveyor channel in a counterflow manner.    
   
   
       23 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the inlet air means has a preferably adjustable nozzle.  
   
   
       24 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the inlet air means is made such that the cooling air is delivered from obliquely overhead into the conveyor channel in the area of the second end.  
   
   
       25 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the inlet air means is adapted for delivering ambient air together with the cooling air into the second end.  
   
   
       26 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising a fan means for withdrawing a partial flow of cooling air from the conveyor channel at an exhaust located in front of the first end and for delivering it again into the conveyor channel at a higher speed for producing a negative pressure in the conveyor channel upstream of the second end.  
   
   
       27 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein a sensor for detecting the pressure in the conveyor channel or the flow of delivered ambient air is provided in an area of the second end for controlling the fan.  
   
   
       28 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the fan means is arranged for delivering the partial flow horizontally or tangentially into the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       29 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein a screening means is provided in the conveyor channel between the exhaust and the first end.  
   
   
       30 . Spiral cooler as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein a vibration generator means is provided for conveying the workpieces by vibration of the spiral conveyor from the first end to the second end of the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       31 . Spiral cooler for cooling of workpieces with cooling air, comprising: 
 a coiled or spiral conveyor channel for the workpieces, a workpiece entrance for delivery of the workpieces into the conveyor channel being provided in proximity to first end of the conveyor channel, and a workpiece discharge exit being provided in proximity to a second end of the conveyor channel,    an inlet air means for feeding the cooling air into the conveyor channel,    exit air means for removing the cooling air from the conveyor channel, and    fan means for withdrawing a partial flow of cooling air from the conveyor channel at an exhaust located in front of the first end and for delivering it again into the conveyor channel at a higher speed for producing a negative pressure in the conveyor channel upstream of the second end.    
   
   
       32 . Process for cooling of workpieces in a spiral cooler with a coiled or spiral conveyor channel, comprising the steps of: 
 delivering the workpieces into the conveyor channel at the first end,    discharging the workpieces at a second end of the conveyor channel, and    delivering cooling air into the conveyor channel in an area of the second end and discharging the cooling air from the conveyor channel in an area of the first end so as to cool the workpieces by a counterflow of the cooling air delivered into the conveyor channel.    
   
   
       33 . Process according to  claim 32 , comprising the further step of exhausting a partial flow of cooling air from the conveyor channel in front of the first end and delivering it back into the conveyor channel with a higher speed so that a negative pressure is produced in the conveyor channel upstream of the second end.  
   
   
       34 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the inlet air means delivers into the conveyor channel solely on the second end.  
   
   
       35 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , the inlet air means delivers into the conveyor channel from obliquely overhead in the area of the second end.  
   
   
       36 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , the inlet air means delivers ambient air together with cooling air is into the conveyor channel in the area of the second end by injector action.  
   
   
       37 . Process as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the proportion of ambient air in the total flow in the conveyor channel is 10% to 70%.  
   
   
       38 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the proportion of ambient air in the total flow in the conveyor channel is controlled, especially by varying the negative pressure in the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       39 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the partial flow is at least 50% of the total cooling air flow in the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       40 . Process as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the higher speed is greater at least by a factor of 2 than the flow velocity of the cooling air in the conveyor channel before exhaust.  
   
   
       41 . Process as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the partial flow is used as a control variable in order to control the negative pressure in the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       42 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein particles are screened out at least in areas in the conveyor channel and are removed from the conveyor channel.  
   
   
       43 . Process as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the workpieces are conveyed from the first to the second end in the conveyor channel.