| abstract |
An apparatus and a method, for drying ceramic molded articles, are disclosed. A drying apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a drying chamber ( 10 ) for accommodating ceramic molded articles ( 8 ), a plurality of microwave generators ( 20 ) for supplying microwave energy into the drying chamber, and a conveyor ( 30 ) for charging the ceramic molded articles ( 8 ) continuously into the drying chamber ( 10 ), conveying the ceramic molded articles through the drying chamber, and delivering the ceramic molded articles from the drying chamber. The drying chamber ( 10 ) has arranged therein a plurality of the microwave generators ( 20 ) and at least a sensor ( 40 ) for detecting the distribution of the ceramic molded articles ( 8 ) in the drying chamber ( 10 ). Each microwave generator ( 20 ) is adapted to change the output thereof in accordance with the distribution of the ceramic molded articles ( 8 ) detected by the sensor ( 40 ). |