Preconditioner for paper stock

Claim 1

In an apparatus for supplying paper, the combination of: a substantially closed housing having at least a discharge opening for said paper; a supply of said paper in said housing; means presenting a platen surface across which said paper is adapted to move as the paper is withdrawn from said housing through said discharge opening; means for heating said platen surface to dry said paper as the paper is withdrawn from said housing; means to circulate air through said housing, said air circulating means including at least one air inlet opening, and fan means adapted when energized to circulate said air; and baffle means for routing said circulating air first into juxtaposition with said platen surface whereby to prevent overheating of said paper while assuring uniform heating thereof and then into juxtaposition with said paper supply whereby to precondition said paper supply preparatory to movement of said paper across said platen, saiD baffle means include a baffling member disposed opposite to and spaced from said platen surface, said baffling member cooperating with said housing to form a first air passage paralleling the direction of movement of said paper and communicating with said fan means through which air from said fan means circulates; said baffling member cooper with said platen surface to form a second air passage between said first air passage and said platen surface, said second air passage paralleling the direction of movement of said paper, said second air passage receiving air from said first passage and circulating said air into juxtaposition with said platen in reverse flow with respect to the movement of said paper, said paper moving through said second passage and across said platen surface as the paper is withdrawn from said housing and means to discharge said air from said housing.