Drying apparatus with moisture profile control

Claim 2

A unit for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of material being dried comprising a plurality of radiant heater means disposed in side-by-side relationship and adapted to laterally span and emit radiant energy onto the material being dried; control means for independently regulating the amount of radiant energy emitted from each of said radiant heater means; a plurality of gaseous fluid supply means disposed in side-by-side relationship and adapated to also laterally span the material being dried; means operable concomitantly with the operation of the radiant heater means for so directing a gaseous fluid from the plurality of supply means onto that portion of the material being dried by the impingement of radiant energy thereon as to scour away from the material volatiles evolved therefrom; and control means for individually regulating the amount of fluid directed from each said supply means onto the material being dried.

Claim 3

A unit for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of material being dried comprising casing means; radiant heating means disposed in said casing means, said radiant heating means comprising a plurality of fluid conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and an independently regulatable valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through each of said conduit means; means providing in said casing means a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the same direction as the fluid conduit means; an independently adjustable valve means for regulating the flow of gaseous fluid through each of said duct means; and means for directing fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried.

Claim 4

A unit for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of material being dried comprising casing means; radiant heating means disposed in said casing means, said radiant heating means comprising a plurality of fluid conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and an independently regulatable valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through each of said conduit means; means providing in said casing means a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the same direction as the fluid conduit means; an independently adjustable valve means for regulating the flow of gaseous fluid through each of said duct means; and means for directing fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried.

Claim 5

The profile correcting unit of claim 2, wherein there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of the fluid conduit means and the duct means for the gaseous fluid and including control means which comprises a signal generating concentration-of-volatiles sensor for each conduit means and the associated duct means and a controller responsive to the signals generated by said sensors, said controller being operatively connected to the valve means associated with the conduit means and to the valve means associated with the duct means and said controller being adjustable to control the valve means associated with the conduit means or the valve means associated with the duct means or both the valve means associated with the conduit means and the valve means associated with the duct means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for directing the fluid from said duct means toward the material being dried comprises nozzles having inlets in each said duct means and extending through the duct means to the exterior thereof, said nozzles being inclined from the vertical toward the sides of the duct means, part of the nozzles associated with each duct means being inclined toward one side of the duct means and the remainder of such nozzles being inclined toward the opposite side of the duct means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each said unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material against which the radiant energy is directed as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of said material, said profile correcting means comprising radiant heating means which includes a plurality of conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the direction of said path; means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid tHrough each said conduit means; and means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means; said profile correcting means further including a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent and extending in the same direction as said path; means operable concomitantly with the direction of radiant energy onto the material for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each said unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material against which the radiant energy is directed as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of said material, said profile correcting means comprising radiant heating means which includes a plurality of conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the direction of said path; means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid tHrough each said conduit means; and means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means; said profile correcting means further including a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent and extending in the same direction as said path; means operable concomitantly with the direction of radiant energy onto the material for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprising a plurality of conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the direction of said path and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said means comprising a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent and extending in the same direction as said path, means operable concomitantly with the direction of radiant energy onto the material for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through each said duct means, and means for directing said fluid from each said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material being dried, comprising means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the lateral portion of the material opposite the conduit means and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the lateral portion of the material opposite the duct means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprising a plurality of conduit means disposed in side-by-side relationship and extending in the direction of said path and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said means comprising a plurality of duct means disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent and extending in the same direction as said path, means operable concomitantly with the direction of radiant energy onto the material for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through each said duct means, and means for directing said fluid from each said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material being dried, comprising means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the lateral portion of the material opposite the conduit means and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the lateral portion of the material opposite the duct means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material being dried, said profile correcting means comprising radiant heating means which includes inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across the path for the material to be dried; a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path disposed between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means; means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; and valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid tHrough each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means, said profile controlling means further including a casing through which the conduit means of the radiant heating means extend disposed adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried; means providing inlet and exhaust plenums in the opposite ends of the casing; a plurality of partitions disposed in side-by-side relationship in said casing and extending parallel to the path of material movement to divide said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same diretion as the path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums; means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through each said duct means; means for directing said fluid from each said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 12

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material being dried, said profile correcting means comprising radiant heating means which includes inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across the path for the material to be dried; a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path disposed between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means; means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; and valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid tHrough each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means, said profile controlling means further including a casing through which the conduit means of the radiant heating means extend disposed adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried; means providing inlet and exhaust plenums in the opposite ends of the casing; a plurality of partitions disposed in side-by-side relationship in said casing and extending parallel to the path of material movement to divide said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same diretion as the path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums; means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid through each said duct means; means for directing said fluid from each said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 13

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprising inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across the path for the material to be dried, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path disposed between and communicating with said inlet and outlet headers, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer liquid through each said conduit means; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said last-mentioned means comprising a casing through which the conduit means of the radiant heating means extend adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried, means providing inlet and exhaust plenums in the opposite ends of the casing, a plurality of partitions disposed in side-by-side relationship in said casing and extending parallel to the path of material movement to divide said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as the path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums, and means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from said inlet plenum through said duct means into said exhaust plenum; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the lateral portion of the material opposite the conduit means and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the lateral portion of the material opposite the duct means; said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 14

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprising inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across the path for the material to be dried, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path disposed between and communicating with said inlet and outlet headers, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer liquid through each said conduit means; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said last-mentioned means comprising a casing through which the conduit means of the radiant heating means extend adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried, means providing inlet and exhaust plenums in the opposite ends of the casing, a plurality of partitions disposed in side-by-side relationship in said casing and extending parallel to the path of material movement to divide said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as the path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums, and means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from said inlet plenum through said duct means into said exhaust plenum; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried by individually regulating the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral portions of the material comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the lateral portion of the material opposite the conduit means and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the lateral portion of the material opposite the duct means; said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 15

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprsing inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending Transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of the heat transfer means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed; and means for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.

Claim 16

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom, said radiant heating means comprsing inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending Transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship in the same direction as said path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of the heat transfer means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed; and means for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.

Claim 17

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising radiant heating means which includes inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in spaced apart, side-by-side relationship in the direction of the path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid from said inlet header means through said conduit means to said outlet header means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of said radiant heating means for effecting a flow of a gaseous fluid from a location on the opposite side of the radiant heating means from the path of the material being dried through said radiant heating means and against the material being dried to scour from adjacent said material volatiles evolved therefrom; and valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy emitted from said heating means and directed against the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.

Claim 18

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising radiant heating means which includes inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in spaced apart, side-by-side relationship in the direction of the path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid from said inlet header means through said conduit means to said outlet header means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of said radiant heating means for effecting a flow of a gaseous fluid from a location on the opposite side of the radiant heating means from the path of the material being dried through said radiant heating means and against the material being dried to scour from adjacent said material volatiles evolved therefrom; and valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy emitted from said heating means and directed against the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the profile correcting means comprises two independently regulatable units, one of said profile correcting units being disposed at the wet end of the drying apparatus ahead of the radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units and the other of said profile correcting units being disposed at the dry end of the machine following the radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units.

Claim 20

The drying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for effecting the flow of gaseous fluid against the material being dried includes a casing disposed adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried, said casing having an inlet plenum in one end thereof and an exhaust plenum in the other end thereof; a plurality of partitions in side-by-side relationship in said casing, said partitions extending parallel to said path and dividing said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as said path aNd communicating with said inlet and exhaust means; and means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from the inlet plenum through the duct means to the exhaust plenum; and means for directing said fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried.

Claim 21

The drying apparatus of claim 12, together with means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of the dampers.

Claim 22

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said profile correcting means comprising a casing disposed adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried, said casing having an inlet plenum in one end thereof and an exhaust plenum in the other end thereof; a pluratlity of partitions in side-by-side relationship in said casing, said partitions extending parallel to said path and dividing said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as said path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums; means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from the inlet plenum through the duct means to the exhaust plenum; means for directing said fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 23

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said profile correcting means comprising a casing disposed adjacent and spanning the path for the material to be dried, said casing having an inlet plenum in one end thereof and an exhaust plenum in the other end thereof; a pluratlity of partitions in side-by-side relationship in said casing, said partitions extending parallel to said path and dividing said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as said path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums; means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from the inlet plenum through the duct means to the exhaust plenum; means for directing said fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereby controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 24

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against said materail as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said last-mentioned means comprising a casing disposed adjacent to and spanning the path for the material to be dried, said casing having an inlet plenum in one end thereof and an exhaust plenum in the other end thereof, a plurality of partitions in side-by-side relationship in said casing, said partitions extending parallel to said path and dividing said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as said path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums, means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from the inlet plenum through the duct means to the outlet plenum, and means for directing said fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereBy controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 25

Apparatus for drying material in web, sheet, and similar forms, comprising material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; radiant heating means adjacent said path for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom; means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against said materail as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed, said last-mentioned means comprising a casing disposed adjacent to and spanning the path for the material to be dried, said casing having an inlet plenum in one end thereof and an exhaust plenum in the other end thereof, a plurality of partitions in side-by-side relationship in said casing, said partitions extending parallel to said path and dividing said casing into a plurality of duct means extending in the same direction as said path and communicating with said inlet and exhaust plenums, means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from the inlet plenum through the duct means to the outlet plenum, and means for directing said fluid from each of said duct means toward the material being dried; and means for controlling the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising means for individually regulating the flow of fluid through each of said duct means and thereBy controlling the rate of impingement of the fluid on the portion of the material opposite the duct means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising a damper in each of said duct means and means for individually regulating the positions of said dampers.

Claim 26

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising radiant heating means which includse inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in spaced apart, side-by-side relationship in the direction of the path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid from said inlet header means through said conduit means to said outlet header means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of said radiant heating means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from a location on the opposite side of the radiant heating means from the path of the material being dried through said radiant heating means and against the material being dried to scour from adjacent said material volatiles evolved therefrom; valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy emitted from said heating means and directed against the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried; a moisture sensing means disposed in the direction of material movement from each said conduit means; and control means connecting each said moisture sensing means with the valve means which controls the flow of heat transfer fluid through the conduit means upstream from said moisture sensing means.

Claim 27

Apparatus for drying materials in web, sheet, and similar forms comprising a material support means for establishing a path for the material to be dried; at least one radiant heating-fluid impingement unit disposed adjacent said path, each such unit comprising radiant heating means for directing radiant energy against said material to evolve volatiles therefrom and means for so directing a gaseous fluid against said material as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from said material; and means disposed adjacent said path in series with said radiant heating-fluid impingement unit or units for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried, said last-mentioned means comprising radiant heating means which includse inlet and outlet header means at first and second locations along and extending transversely across said path, a plurality of conduit means extending in spaced apart, side-by-side relationship in the direction of the path between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of a heat transfer fluid from said inlet header means through said conduit means to said outlet header means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of said radiant heating means for effecting a flow of gaseous fluid from a location on the opposite side of the radiant heating means from the path of the material being dried through said radiant heating means and against the material being dried to scour from adjacent said material volatiles evolved therefrom; valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy emitted from said heating means and directed against the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried; a moisture sensing means disposed in the direction of material movement from each said conduit means; and control means connecting each said moisture sensing means with the valve means which controls the flow of heat transfer fluid through the conduit means upstream from said moisture sensing means.

Claim 28

A unit for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of material being dried comprising a radiant heater means adapted to laterally span and emit radiant energy onto the material being dried, said radiant heater means comprising inlet and outlet header meands capable of being so oriented as to extend transversely across said material, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of the radiant heating means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed; and means for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.

Claim 29

A unit for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of material being dried comprising a radiant heater means adapted to laterally span and emit radiant energy onto the material being dried, said radiant heater means comprising inlet and outlet header meands capable of being so oriented as to extend transversely across said material, a plurality of conduit means extending in side-by-side relationship between and communicating with said inlet and outlet header means, and means for effecting a flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means; means operable concomitantly with the operation of the radiant heating means for so directing a flow of a gaseous fluid against that portion of said material onto which the radiant energy is directed as to assist in evolving volatiles therefrom and as to scour evolved volatiles away from the surface of the material against which the radiant energy is directed; and means for correcting the volatiles profile across the width of the material being dried comprising valve means for individually regulating the flow of heat transfer fluid through each said conduit means and thereby controlling the intensity of the radiant energy directed onto the portion of the material opposite the conduit means and, therefore, the rate of evolution of volatiles from successive lateral regions of the material being dried.