Westmill Industries Veneer Dryer Machinery Parts and Service



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Westmill adds Dryer Infeed Accumulator to product line.

Westmill’s Dryer Infeed Accumulator keeps your Dryer line running uninterrupted during the changing of the infeed load stacks. Typically, a Dryer without an Accumulator will not be able to feed veneer sheets during a load change, which can take from 45 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on loads and operators.

By using an Accumulator, your veneer production through your Dryer remains constant. Aside for the obvious advantage of continuous veneer throughput (higher production), the use of an Accumulator also prevents your Dryer from running with an empty spot during a load change. Empty spots in Dryers can negatively affect the air humidity levels in the Dryer, as well as the temperature. Both can have a negative effect on final veneer moisture content.

The veneer Accumulator allows you to continue to feed veneer during a load change by supporting the veneer during the load change. The Dryer Infeed Operator activates a hand-operated valve, which causes all 4 pneumatic cylinders to retract. As the cylinders retract, the 2 rolls (each driven by a cylinder pair) come from the outsides and beneath the load to support the remaining 2” of each of the 3 stacks. The rolls move via a gear “rack-and-pinion” design, common to Accumulators used in the veneer industry today.

The design shown is for full 4’ x 8’ green veneer sheets; other designs are available for multiple veneer spur lengths. Any sheet species may be used, as the design can accommodate different species weights (due to differing densities and moisture sorts – heartwood, sapwood).

Westmill’s supply includes:

Free-standing main frame (independent of other machinery)
Roll assemblies with spur gears, rack, and slider assemblies.
Pneumatic cylinders and pneumatic lines to 1 main customer hook-up
Hand-operated manual valve
Filter/Regulator/Lubricator unit.
Airbag assemblies to lift sagging veneer ends before Accumulators advance (if required – to be determined at time of site visit for measurements)
Telescoping weld-on leg extensions for precise field positioning

Dryer Accumulator - Payback Formula

When fitted to your dryer, an Accumulator will save time normally lost waiting for a new load. The marketplace has become so competitive these days and the old cliché, “Time is Money” has never been so true.

It only takes a few minutes to calculate the payback on an accumulator – here is the formula:

F x T x C x N x E = S

F = Dryer Speed in FPM x number of decks x 13.5’ coverage (54” x 3)
T = Average time lost for new load in minutes
C = Cost of dryer operation per square foot sheet area inside dryer
N = Average number of loads per day
E = Net production time (after down time)
S = Savings per day using an Accumulator

The following example is based on averages and dates back many years. Your numbers for cost of operation will probably be even higher, but the savings are significant any way you calculate it!

F = 15 FPM x 4 decks x 13.5 = 810 (SAP )
F = 20 FPM x 4 decks x 13.5 = 1,080 (HEART)

F	x	T	x	C	x	N	x	E	=	S
810	x	1.5		.01	x	36	x	.85	=	$372
1080	x	1.5	x	.01	x	36	x	.85	=	$496

Savings when running Heartwood: $372 per day

Savings when running Sapwood: $496 per day