Cocoon Dryer

equipment for “stoving” and drying cocoons of the mulberry silkworm; in a broad sense it is a place for the reception and primary processing of cocoons. In order to preserve the cocoon casing intact, the pupae are killed by stoving. The cocoons are placed in drawers over steam at temperatures of 75°-80°C for 15–20 minutes, after which they are dried for 2–3 months in shaded dryers (racks), or they are treated with hot air on mechanical cocoon dryers (box or conveyor dryers), where both the killing and drying are done. Conveyor dryers have the highest productivity, killing and drying 7 or more tons of cocoons per day (the SK-150K processes 7 tons of cocoons daily). In 1972 there were about 650 cocoon dryers of varying capacity in the USSR. The Japanese conveyor cocoon dryer Yamato-Sanko W-34 ensures the complete drying of 15 tons of cocoons per day.