Cone Dryer-Shaker

a device for drying cones of coniferous trees and removing the seeds. It may be manufactured as a stationary or mobile unit. The most common stationary model, designed by V. G. Kapper, is a two-level device occupying an area of about 30 sq m. Two double-drum drying chambers and an air heater are housed on the first level, and a drying box for preliminary drying of the cones is located on the upper level. A temperature of 25°C is maintained in the drying box, while a temperature of about 55°C is maintained in the drying chambers. The drums of the drying chambers are made of wire mesh and are divided into four sections. During the drying process, the drums are turned every 20–30 min so that the seeds fall out of the dried cones. The drying time is approximately one day, and the output of one cycle is 4.5 kg of seeds. Mobile cone driers are mounted in truck bodies.