How long should the infeed and outfeed on my dryer conveyor be?
These lengths vary depending on (a) the maximum size of the stock you plan to print and (b) whether or not you plan to employ a takeoff. Without a takeoff, the infeed and outfeed have to be long enough (and wide enough) to accommodate a full sheet of stock. If you plan to use a takeoff in an in-line setup, the conveyor infeed must be at least the length of the takeoff. If you plan to use a right-angle setup, the conveyor belt must be wide enough to accommodate the long dimension of the stock. Since takeoff placement accuracy declines as production speeds increase, the conveyor should be somewhat wider that the length of the stock. Note: a right angle setup is not practical for larger presses, like M&R’s Patriot, Patriot LS, Renegade XL, and Renegade LS, because of the limitations on dryer width.
