WO2003034858A1

WO2003034858A1 - Shoes dryer using near infrared rays

Info

Publication number: WO2003034858A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyonghwan Lee; Youngcheol Lee; Sanggyu Cheon
Original assignee: Nanux Inc.
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-09-07
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: CN1510998A; CN1303920C; KR200265379Y1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a shoes dryer using near infrared rays. The shoes dryer functions to rapidly dry shoes after a gluing process. The shoes dryer includes a continuous moving track (60), and a sub-frame (100) provided in such a way as to cross the track at a position which is spaced apart from a top surface of the track. A chamber (200) is provided between the track and the sub-frame. The chamber is provided with an irradiating unit (210) to irradiate near infrared rays and with a reflecting plate (220) to downwardly reflect the near infrared rays generated from the irradiating unit. Further, a position adjusting unit (300) is provided with a fixed panel (310) and a plurality of manipulating rods (320) so that the fixed panel is connected to the reflecting plate by the manipulating rods, thus adjusting a position of the chamber in a vertical direction.

Description

SHOES DRYER USING NEAR INFRARED RAYS

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a shoes dryer, more particularly, to a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which rapidly performs a shoes drying process, thus enhancing productivity.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, in a shoes manufacturing process, an upper leather is glued to a shoe sole using a liquid adhesive. When producing shoes in large quantities, it is required to rapidly and continuously dry shoes after the gluing process is completed. In order to rapidly and continuously perform a shoes drying process, there have been proposed several types of shoes dryers.

For example, a conventional shoes dryer, disclosed in Korean Patent Appln. No. 10- 1991-0007208, will be described in the following. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the conventional shoes dryer.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shoes dryer includes a frame 1 which is partitioned into first and second drying chambers 1 A and 1 B by a partition plate 101. Sprockets 4 are provided in the first drying chamber 1 A. A chain conveyor 5 is supported by the sprockets 4 to form a continuous moving track, and is provided with a chain 5 A and pipes 5B. An air circulation chamber 2 is provided under the chain conveyor 5. A plurality of air intake holes 2 A are formed on a wall of the air circulation chamber 2. An air distributing chamber 3 is provided above the chain conveyor 5, and is provided with a plurality of air outlet holes 3 A. The air circulation chamber 2 communicates with the air distributing chamber 3 through an air circulation path 20. A heater 6, and an evaporator 10 of a cooler 9 are installed in the air circulation chamber 2 to heat or cool air. The hot or cold air flows from the air circulation chamber 2 to the air distributing chamber 3 through the air circulation path 20 by a fan 8 which is operated by a motor 7, and is distributed into the first drying chamber 1 A through the air outlet holes 3A. The second drying chamber IB is provided above the partition plate 101, and is provided with a conveyor belt 18 having the shape of a continuous moving track. The conveyor belt 18 is supported by rollers 19. An air circulation chamber 11 is provided above the second drying chamber IB, and communicates with the second drying chamber IB through an air intake port 13. A heater 14 is installed in the air circulation chamber 11 to heat air. As a fan 16 is operated by a motor 15, the hot air flows into the second drying chamber IB through air outlet holes 12A which are provided at an air distribution chamber 12.

However, the conventional shoes dryer has a problem that it is designed such that hot or cold air is forcibly fed into the drying chamber by the fan and air flows in and out of the drying chamber through the air circulation chamber, so it is complicated in structure.

Further, the conventional shoes dryer has another problem that an optimum temperature may not be set according to the kinds of shoes, since shoes are dried by hot air circulated in the drying chamber and a temperature is uniformly maintained in the drying chamber.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shoes dryer, which uses near infrared rays, thus rapidly perfoπriing a shoes drying process, and which is designed such that a chamber is partitioned into several sections, thus providing an optimum drying temperature according to the kinds of shoes.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which is designed such that shoes are put on a continuous moving track to be dried, the shoes dryer including a sub-frame provided in such a way as to cross the track at a position which is spaced apart from a top surface of the track, a chamber provided between the track and the sub-frame and provided with an irradiating unit to irradiate near infrared rays and with a reflecting plate to downwardly reflect the near infrared rays generated from the irradiating unit, and a position adjusting unit provided with a fixed panel and a plurality of manipulating rods so that the fixed panel is connected to the reflecting plate by the manipulating rods, thus adjusting a position of the chamber in a vertical direction, whereby the shoes dryer rapidly performs a shoes drying process under an optimum condition which is set according to the kinds of shoes. Generally, a shoes manufacturing industry is characterized in that a variety of kinds of shoes are produced in large quantities. Thus, in order to strengthen competitiveness, productivity must be increased. In order to increase productivity, the present invention provides a shoes dryer for drying shoes after gluing upper leathers, soles and others to each other, using near infrared rays, therefore reducing an cycle time, and simultaneously drying a variety of kinds of shoes.

Near infrared rays are similar to radiant heat of the sun, and have a wavelength of about 0.8-1.4μm. The near infrared ray is a short wavelength ray which is transmitted to an object to heat the object without heating air.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional shoes dryer;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, according to a primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the shoes dryer shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a front sectional view showing a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

A shoes dryer using near infrared rays according to the present invention will be described in the following with reference to several embodiments.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, according to a primary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the shoes dryer shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the shoes dryer using near infrared rays according to the present invention includes a main frame 50, a sub-frame 100, a chamber 200, and a position adjusting unit 300. The chamber 200 is provided with irradiating units 210 and a reflecting plate 220. The irradiating units 210 function to irradiate near infrared rays, and the reflecting plate 220 functions to downwardly reflect the near infrared rays generated from the irradiating units 210. Further, a position adjusting unit 300 is provided with a fixed panel 310 and a plurality of handled manipulating rods 320. The fixed panel 310 is supported at its both side ends by the sub-frame 100. The handled manipulating rods 320 are mounted to the fixed panel 310.

A continuous moving track 60 is mounted to the main frame 50, and driven by a motor (not shown) to be continuously rotated. Shoes to be dried are put on the moving track 60. The shoes are moved by the rotation of the moving track 60 while passing the chamber

200. While the shoes pass the chamber 200, the shoes are dried.

Those skilled in the art understand the basic structure and operation of the continuous moving track 60. According to the primary embodiment of the present invention, the moving track 60 includes a chain 61 and sprockets 62. A plurality of bars 64 each having a predetermined length are mounted on the chain 61. A plurality of drying plates 63 are mounted on the bars 64 so that shoes to be dried are put on the drying plates 63.

The sub-frame 100 is provided at a position which is spaced apart from a top surface of the moving track 60. The sub-frame 100 and the main frame 50 with the moving track 60 are separately manufactured. Wheels are mounted to a bottom of the sub-frame 100 which is in contact with a support surface, thus allowing the sub-frame 100 to be easily moved to a desired place. That is, the sub-frame 100 has a "U" shape which is opened at a bottom, and is separated from the main frame 50, thus being easy to install and move. As a matter of convenience, in the sub-frame 100, two members which are in contact with the support surface are hereinafter referred to as "vertical columns 100a" while a member which connects upper ends of the two members to each other is hereinafter referred to as a "horizontal plate". Of course, the sub-frame 100 may be assembled with the main frame 50 into a single structure, using bolts or through a welding method

Preferably, a control panel 110 is provided at a side of the sub-frame 100, that is, at one of the vertical columns 100a to control emission strength of the irradiating units 210, operation of the irradiating units 210, and a rotating speed of the moving track 60 The construction of the control panel is known to those skilled in the art.

The fixed bar 310 is connected to the vertical columns 100a in such a way as to be perpendicular to the vertical columns 100a, at a position below the horizontal plate 100b The chamber 200 is provided below the fixed panel 310 The chamber 200 is installed in such a way as to be spaced apart from the top surface of the moving track 60, and is adjusted in its vertical position as necessary In order to adjust a position of the chamber 200 m a vertical direction, the shoes dryer is provided with the position adjusting unit 300 having the fixed bar 310 and the handled manipulating rods 320 The handled manipulating rods 320 are mounted to the fixed panel 310 In this case, the manipulating rod 320 are connected at their lower ends to a top surface of the chamber 200 to move the chamber 200 in a vertical direction

Each handled manipulating rod 320 is externally threaded to engage with an internally threaded hole of the fixed panel 310 That is, since the manipulating rods 320 are connected at their lower ends to the top surface of the chamber 200, the chamber 200 is moved in a vertical direction when the manipulating rods 320 are rotated According to the primary embodiment of the present invention, the chamber 200 is adjusted in its vertical position by means of the manipulating rods 320 which engage with the fixed panel 310 However, the chamber 200 may be adjusted in its vertical position using other means without being limited to the primary embodiment of the present invention The irradiating units 210 and the reflecting plate 220 which are provided at the chamber 200 will be described in the following in detail. Preferably, a conventional near infrared lamp is used as the irradiating unit 210.

The reflecting plate 220 is provided on an inner surface of the chamber 200, and the irradiating units 210 are provided above the reflecting plate 220. The reflecting plate 220 is designed to have the same shape as the chamber 200. According to the primary embodiment of the present invention, the chamber 200 and the reflecting plate 220 each have a box shape which is opened at its bottom. The reflecting plate 220 is attached to a side of the chamber 200 to smoothly reflect near infrared rays to the moving track 60, thus enhancing the energy efficiency. Further, as shown in the drawing, the reflecting plate 220 is provided with partition walls 225 to partition the chamber 200 into three sections. Thus, the sections are independently adjusted in emission strength of the irradiating units 210, thus allowing different kinds of shoes to be simultaneously dried. That is, emission strength of the irradiating units 210, provided at the sections which are defined by the partition walls 225, is independently controlled, thus allowing the sections to have different temperatures.

The reflecting plate 220 may have an arch shape, without being limited to a flat shape of the primary embodiment. According to the primary embodiment of the present invention, the three sections are integrated with a chamber 200, so they are simultaneously moved in a vertical direction. However, the sections may be separately manufactured so that they are independently adjustable in their vertical positions.

Further, a temperature sensor 230 is mounted at an outlet side of the chamber 200 to sense a surface temperature of dried shoes. According to the sensed temperature, the intensity of near infrared rays which are irradiated from the irradiating unit 210 is controlled. That is, such a temperature sensor 230 allows an optimum amount of near infrared rays to be generated on the basis of a surface temperature of dried shoes. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the shoes dryer includes a chamber 200 and a reflecting plate 220. The chamber 200 and the reflecting plate 220 of the second embodiment have shapes different from those of the primary embodiment.

The chamber 200 of the second embodiment is equal to that of the primary embodiment in that it has three sections. But, according to the second embodiment, the three sections of the chamber 200 are independently adjusted in their vertical position. Further, the reflecting plate 220 has a parabolic shape different from the flat shape of the primary embodiment, thus allowing near infrared rays to be irradiated to a focal point of the parabola.

According to the present invention, a near infrared lamp is used as the irradiating unit. But, other devices may be used as the irradiating unit without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 5, the shoes dryer includes a two-stage continuous moving track having upper and lower stages 60a and 60b on which shoes to be dried are put. A main chamber 200 is provided at a position above the two-stage continuous moving track, and is assembled with a sub-frame 100 which stands on a support surface around the moving track. According to the third embodiment of the present invention, first and second irradiating units

210a and 210b are provided in the main chamber 200 to irradiate radiant heat to the upper and lower stages 60a and 60b, respectively.

That is, the first irradiating units 210a are provided at a position above the upper stage 60a in the main chamber 200. The second irradiating unit 210b are provided at left and right sides of the main chamber 200 above the lower stage 60b to inclinedly irradiate radiant heat to the lower stage 60b. The first and second irradiating units 210a and 210b each comprise a near infrared lamp. The first irradiating units 210a are installed in an inner chamber 200a which is provided at an upper portion of the main chamber 200. The inner chamber 200a is provided in the main chamber 200, and is adjustable in its vertical position. The inner chamber 200a may be moved in a vertical direction by handled manipulating rods 320, in the same manner as the primary embodiment of the present invention.

A reflecting plate is provided along upper and side surfaces of the inner chamber 200a in which the first irradiating units 210a are installed, thus reflecting radiant heat generated from the first irradiating units 210a to the upper stage 60a. The second irradiating units 210b are mounted to right and left sides of the chamber

200 to irradiate near infrared rays to the lower stage 60b. In this case, the second irradiating units 210b are provided at positions above the lower stage 60b to inclinedly irradiate near infrared rays.

According to the third embodiment, a part of near infrared rays generated from the first irradiating units 210a are transmitted to the lower stage 60b, thus serving as a drying heat source in cooperation with near infrared rays generated from the second irradiating unit 210b.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a shoes dryer, which uses near infrared rays to perform a drying process, thus reducing an operating cycle time, therefore enhancing productivity, and which is designed such that a main frame with a continuous moving track and a sub-frame are separately manufactured, thus being easy to carry and install. The present invention provides a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which is designed such that a chamber is adjustable in its vertical position, and is partitioned into several sections by partition walls in such a way that the sections are independently adjusted in emission strength of irradiating units, thus performing a drying process under an optimum condition which is selected according to the lands of shoes. In addition, the present invention provides a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which prevents vibration or noise from being generated during an operation different from a conventional hot-air dryer, and which is usable to dry semi-finished products, such as a shoe sole, as well as finished products.

Further, the present invention provides a shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which is designed to have a two-stage continuous moving track so that first and second irradiating units are installed in a chamber, thus more effectively using radiant heat generated from the first irradiating units.

The shoes dryer using near infrared rays of the present invention has an advantage that a surface temperature of dried shoes is sensed and immediately adjusted, differently from a conventional hot-air dryer.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A shoes dryer using near infrared rays, which is designed such that shoes are put on a continuous moving track to be dried, said shoes dryer comprising: a sub-frame provided in such a way as to cross the track at a position which is spaced apart from a top surface of the track; a chamber provided between the track and the sub-frame, and provided with an irradiating unit to irradiate near infrared rays and with a reflecting plate to downwardly reflect the near infrared rays generated from the irradiating unit; and a position adjusting unit provided with a fixed panel and a plurality of manipulating rods so that the fixed panel is connected to the reflecting plate by the manipulating rods, thus adjusting a position of the chamber in a vertical direction, whereby said shoes dryer rapidly performs a shoes drying process.

2. The shoes dryer according to claim 1, wherein said sub-frame is provided at a side thereof with a control panel.

3. The shoes dryer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said chamber is partitioned into several sections so that the sections are independently adjusted in a near infrared ray emission strength of the irradiating unit thereof and in a vertical position thereof.

4. The shoes dryer according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is further provided at an outlet side thereof with a temperature sensor to sense a surface temperature of dried shoes.

5. A shoes dryer using near infrared rays, comprising: a two-stage continuous moving track provided with upper and lower stages; and a main chamber supported by a sub-frame which stands on a support surface around the trac and including: a first irradiating unit provided at a position above the upper stage to irradiate radiant heat; and a second irradiating unit provided at a side of the main chamber above the lower stage to inclinedly irradiate radiant heat to the lower stage.

6. The shoes dryer according to claim 5, wherein a part of radiant heat generated from the first irradiating unit is transmitted to the lower stage to dry shoes in cooperation with radiant heat generated from the second irradiating unit.

7. The shoes dryer according to claim 5, wherein said first irradiating unit is installed in an inner chamber which is provided at an upper portion of the chamber, said inner chamber adjusted in a position thereof in a vertical direction.