Method and apparatus for the heat treatment of material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The schematic of FIG.
1 details a simple apparatus 10 which may be employed to heat treat materials such as thermoplastics capable of reaching a semicrystalline state.
Container 12 as shown is holding a liquid 14 such as water, for example.
Mixed with the water are pieces or particles 16 of a material to be heat treated.
A heated gas is pumped under pressure from a source 18 into chamber 20 separated form container 12 by a perforated dividing wall 22.
Wall 22 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 24.
The heated gas under pressure moves through the openings 24 as indicated by the arrows 26 into liquid 14.
The gas both heats and agitates the liquid and particles.
Once the material has been treated, the gas flow into chamber 20 is stopped by closing valve 28 and the liquid in container 12 is then free to flow into chamber 20 and out through drain 30 and associated open valve 32.
The treated material remains in container 20 and is removed or further treated as desired.
The continuous heat treatment apparatus of FIG.
2 is provided with a vibratory carriage assembly 40 comprising a container 42 and a chamber 44 separated by a perforated dividing wall 46 provided with a multiplicity of openings 47.
Wall 46 merges into an upwardly angled ramp 48 which abuts the top of one of the end walls 50 of assembly 40.
A particle drying and removal platform 52 is horizontally mounted to or is integrally connected with end wall 50 and extends away from the interior of container 12.
Positioned above platform 52 is a blower 54 and dry gas distributor 55.
A hopper 56 is located at one end of the platform to receive particles of material once drying has been completed.
Carriage assembly 40 is mounted on a plurality of springs 63 which are properly tuned to the frequency of vibratory motor 64 mounted against assembly 40 to impart appropriate vibratory motion thereto.
While any conveying apparatus may be employed to bring the material to the assembly for heat treatment, it has been found to be expedient to use a simple material conveying platform 58 mounted directly to end wall 59