Patent US774906A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4575952A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4575952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot air dryer structure
Assignee: MEG SA
•
Filing: 1984-09-12
•
Granted: 1986-03-18
•
Expires: 2004-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A modular hot air dryer includes air jet support for a continuously moving, freshly printed flexible paper web. Air curtains are provided at the dryer entrance and exists to prevent excess fresh air penetration into the dryer. Air which is intentionally introduced is preheated before being introduced through the air curtains to help avoid tar build-up. Automatic control is provided of the exhaust flow rate to maintain constant vapor concentration. Each zone of the dryer is separately temperature-controlled.
Inventors
- 👤 Rene Bodenan
- 👤 Nicholas Teculescu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:47
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B23/00; F26B23/02; F26B23/022; F26B13/00; F26B13/005; F26B13/10; F26B13/101; F26B13/104; F26B21/00; F26B21/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for simultaneously drying in hot air a continuous web of flexible material carrying a solvent to be evaporated and supporting said continuous web of flexible material; said apparatus comprising: a casing having a web inlet opening and a web outlet opening for said web, said web traveling between said inlet opening and said outlet opening in a general path (D) which extends longitudinally through the interior of said casing; said casing comprising at least two modular sections which contain respective chambers in adjacent relation longitudinally of said casing; each of said two sections having an upper set of nozzles and a lower set of nozzles disposed respectively above and below said general path; each of said two sections including air recycling means having input means communicating with said interior of said casing and output means; heater means; air exhaust means for extracting air from the interior of said casing; duct means coupled between said output means and said upper set of nozzles and said lower set of nozzles of the respective said section; conduit means for placing said heater means in communication with said duct means for preheating the air recycled to said sets of nozzles by said output means of said recycling means; and solvent concentration sensing means for sensing the concentration of said solvent in the atmosphere within said casing; said solvent concentration sensing means being connected to said air exhaust means for controlling said air exhaust means, and second pressure sensing means sensitive to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of said casing; said second pressure sensing means connected to said air exhaust means for further controlling the flow through said exhaust means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for simultaneously drying in hot air a continuous web of flexible material carrying a solvent to be evaporated and supporting said continuous web of flexible material; said apparatus comprising: a casing having a web inlet opening and a web outlet opening for said web, said web traveling between said inlet opening and said outlet opening in a general path (D) which extends longitudinally through the interior of said casing; said casing comprising at least two modular sections which contain respective chambers in adjacent relation longitudinally of said casing; each of said two sections having an upper set of nozzles and a lower set of nozzles disposed respectively above and below said general path; each of said two sections including air recycling means having input means communicating with said interior of said casing and output means; heater means; air exhaust means for extracting air from the interior of said casing; duct means coupled between said output means and said upper set of nozzles and said lower set of nozzles of the respective said section; conduit means for placing said heater means in communication with said duct means for preheating the air recycled to said sets of nozzles by said output means of said recycling means; and solvent concentration sensing means for sensing the concentration of said solvent in the atmosphere within said casing; said solvent concentration sensing means being connected to said air exhaust means for controlling said air exhaust means, and second pressure sensing means sensitive to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of said casing; said second pressure sensing means connected to said air exhaust means for further controlling the flow through said exhaust means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heater means comprises at least one burner in a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having an input connected to receive recycled air from at least one of said recycling means, said input of said combustion chamber being disposed upstream of said conduit means relative to the respective recycling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heater means is a single heat supply means and said conduit means includes control means for controlling independently the heat supplied from said heater means to different ones of said sections thereby to control independently the air temperature at said nozzles of said different sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said control means includes means for controlling independently the heat supplied from said heater means to different groups of said nozzles in the same section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said air exhaust means includes a fan disposed within said casing and motor means disposed exteriorly of said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upper and lower external nozzle means are included and disposed outside of said casing and adjacent both of said web inlet and outlet openings, respectively, above and below said web path; said upper and lower external nozzle means having slits extending across the web path for blowing air onto said web, and means for heating and supplying external air to said external nozzle means exteriorly of said casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said slit means of said upper and lower external nozzle means consist of slit pairs spaced along the web path (D), the distance between said slits of said upper nozzles being offset from and overlapping the spaces between said lower slit pairs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 which further includes fan means for supplying external air both to said heater means and to said means for heating external air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for heating external air comprises heat exchange means which receives heat from said heater means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for heating external air comprises means for recovering heat from the dried web issuing from the casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for recovering heat from said dried web includes cooler means for cooling said dried web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for heating external air comprises means for recovering heat from the outlet of said air exhaust means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising longitudinal members carrying said nozzles; said longitudinal members forming tubes defining orifices for the passage of air which communicates with said nozzle; said tubes being open at their ends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 6, which includes an inner wall disposed in said external nozzle means to divide the interior of said external nozzle means into two external plenums, means for placing the respective external plenum of each external nozzle means more distant from said casing under negative pressure, and openings in said plenums communicating with web path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said external plenums are connected to said fan means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least two inner nozzles that are put in overpressure and provided with slits facing the web B are provided in each outlet nozzle means, the free end of said slits being directed backwards toward the direction of motion for the web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said slits of said upper and lower outlet nozzle means are alternatively disposed along the web.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said inner nozzles are connected to fan means having a suction side connected to said external plenums of said outlet nozzle means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18, which further includes a heat exchanger connected upstream of said fan means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said heat exchanger employs a cooling agent; said cooling agent comprising water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said external plenums are connected to said fan means through a control flap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for simultaneously drying a continuous web of flexible material carrying a solvent to be evaporated in hot air and supporting said continuous web of flexible material; said apparatus comprising: a casing having a web inlet opening and a web outlet opening for said web, said web traveling between said inlet opening and said outlet opening in a general path (D) which extends longitudinally through the interior of said casing; said casing comprising at least two modular sections which contain respective chambers in adjacent relations having an upper set of nozzles and a lower set of nozzles disposed respectively above and below said general path; each of said two sections including air recycling means having input means communicating with said interior of said casing and output means; heater means; air exhaust means for extracting air from the interior of said casing; duct means coupled between said output means and said upper set of nozzles and said lower set of nozzles of the respective said section; conduit means for placing said heater means in communication with said duct means for preheating the air recycled to said sets of nozzles by said output means of said recycling means; and upper and lower external nozzle means disposed outside of said casing and adjacent both of said web inlet and outlet openings, respectively, above and below said web path; said upper and lower external nozzle means having slits extending across the web path for blowing air onto said web, and means for heating and supplying external air to said external nozzle means exteriorly of said casing, said means comprising means for recovering heat from the dried web issuing from the casing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for simultaneously drying a continuous web of flexible material carrying a solvent to be evaporated in hot air and supporting said continuous web of flexible material; said apparatus comprising: a casing having a web inlet opening and a web outlet opening for said web, said web traveling between said inlet opening and said outlet opening in a general path (D) which extends longitudinally through the interior of said casing; said casing comprising at least two modular sections which contain respective chambers in adjacent relations having an upper set of nozzles and a lower set of nozzles disposed respectively above and below said general path; each of said two sections including air recycling means having input means communicating with said interior of said casing and output means; heater means; air exhaust means for extracting air from the interior of said casing; duct means coupled between said output means and said upper set of nozzles and said lower set of nozzles of the respective said section; conduit means for placing said heater means in communication with said duct means for preheating the air recycled to said sets of nozzles by said output means of said recycling means; and upper and lower external nozzle means disposed outside of said casing and adjacent both of said web inlet and outlet openings, respectively, above and below said web path; said upper and lower external nozzle means having slits extending across the web path for blowing air onto said web, and means for heating and supplying external air to said external nozzle means exteriorly of said casing, said means comprising means for recovering heat from the dried web issuing from the casing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said heater means comprises at least one burner in a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having an input connected to receive recycled air from at least one of said recycling means, said input of said combustion chamber being disposed upstream of said conduit means relative to the respective recycling means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said heater means is a single heat supply means and said conduit means includes control means for controlling independently the heat supplied from said heater means to different ones of said sections thereby to control independently the air temperature at said nozzles of said different sections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said control means includes means for controlling independently the heat supplied from said heater means to different groups of said nozzles in the same section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said air exhaust means includes a fan disposed within said casing and motor means disposed exteriorly of said casing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said slit means of said upper and lower external nozzle means consist of slit pairs spaced along the web path (D), the distance between said slits of said upper nozzles being offset from and overlapping the spaces between said lower slit pairs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 22, which further includes fan means for supplying external air both to said heater means and to said means for heating external air.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for heating external air comprises heat exchange means which receives heat from said heater means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for recovering heat from said dried web includes cooler means for cooling said dried web.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for heating external air comprises means for recovering heat from the outlet of said air exhaust means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said web carries a solvent to be evaporated by said apparatus; and solvent concentration sensing means for sensing the concentration of said solvent in the atmosphere within said casing; said solvent concentration sensing means being connected to said air exhaust means for controlling said air exhaust means, and second pressure sensing means sensitive to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of said casing; said second pressure sensing means connected to said air exhaust means for further controlling the flow through said exhaust means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 22, comprising longitudinal members carrying said nozzles; said longitudinal members forming tubes defining orifices for the passage of air which communicates with said nozzle; said tubes being open at their ends.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 22, which includes an inner wall disposed in said external nozzle means to divide the interior of said external nozzle means into two external plenums, means for placing the external plenum more distant from said casing of each external nozzle means under negative pressure, and openings in said plenums communicating with web path.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said external plenums are connected to said fan means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least two inner nozzles that are put in overpressure and provided with slits facing the web B are provided in each outlet nozzle means, the free end of said slits being directed backwards toward the direction of motion for the web.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said slits of said upper and lower outlet nozzle means are alternatively disposed along the web.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said inner nozzles are connected to fan means having a suction side connection to said external plenums of said outlet nozzle means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 38, which further includes a heat exchanger connected upstream of said fan means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said heat exchanger employs a cooling agent; said cooling agent comprising water.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said external plenums are connected to said fan means through a control flap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-17 | 1989-09-16 | 1990-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-17 | 1993-09-16 | 1994-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-17 | 1997-09-16 | 1998-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |