Method and apparatus for drying regenerated cellulose tubing

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS TWO-STAGE METHOD OF DRYING AND REHUMIDIFYING GEL REGENERATED CELLULOSE TUBING WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY PASSING SAID TUBING HAVING A MOISTURE CONTENT OF FROM 55% TO 65% INTO A FIRST STAGE DRYER, CONTINUOUSLY INFLATING SAID TUBING AS IT PASSES INTO SAID FIRST STAGE DRYER, CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINING SAID TUBING INFLATED AS IT PASSES THROUGH SAID FIRST STAGE DRYER, CONTINUOUSLY SUBJECTING SAID INFLATED TUBING IN SAID FIRST STAGE DRYER TO A DRYING MEDIUM COMPRISING A STREAM OF DRYING AIR AT A VELOCITY OF FROM 1000 TO 2500 FEET PER MINUTE HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 140* TO 185* UNTIL THE MOISTURE CONTENT THEREOF IS FROM 7% TO 15% WHICH IS LOWER THAN THAT DESIRED IN THE FINAL PRODUCT, CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE THUS DRIED INFLATED TUBING FROM SAID FIRST STAGE DRYER, CONTINUOUSLY PASSING THE THUS WITHDRAWN INFLATED TUBING INTO A SECOND STAGE EQUALIZER WHEREIN IT IS SUBJECTED TO AN ATMOSPHERE OF APPROPRIATE RELATIVE HUMIDITY AT A VELOCITY OF FROM 750 TO 3000 FEET PER MINUTE AND AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 140*F. TO 160*F. UNTIL THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE TUBING IS EQUILIBRATED TO SUCH ATMOSPHERE; THE EQUILIBRATING ATMOSPHERE BEING OF A RELATIVE HUMIDITY CORRESPONDING TO THE DESIRED FINAL MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE PRODUCT OF FROM 8% TO 20% AND WHICH IS GREATER THAN THAT OF THE TUBING ORIGINALLY SUBJECTED TO THE EQUILIBRATING ATMOSPHERE.